Medicaid Unwinding in Wyoming: What You Need to Know If You Lose Coverage
Key takeaways:
Medicaid renewals in Wyoming are changing because of the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023. This is being referred to as the unwinding of Medicaid, and some people will lose coverage during this process.
During the PHE, Medicaid renewals were automatic and enrollees had continuous coverage. As part of the unwinding, automatic renewals for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) stopped nationwide on March 31, 2023.
Wyoming has started to determine who is currently eligible for Medicaid. Make sure Wyoming Medicaid has your current contact information. If you can’t be reached or no longer qualify for Medicaid, you could be dropped from coverage as early as May 1, 2023.
If you lose your Medicaid coverage, you’ll be notified of other low-cost insurance options for you and your children, including an alternative Kid Care CHIP program.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 in January 2020, which was renewed a dozen times through February 2023.
If you were enrolled in Medicaid at any point during the COVID-19 PHE, you kept your health insurance without eligibility reviews. That’s because Wyoming, like all states, was required to provide continuous coverage during the pandemic.
The PHE will end on May 11, 2023, along with automatic renewals for Medicaid enrollees. States, including Wyoming, are resuming reviews of Medicaid and CHIP enrollees to determine who is eligible to continue receiving coverage. This process is called redetermination.
Prescription Savings Are Just the Beginning
See what other benefits you qualify for—from cashback cards to cheaper insurance.
If you or your family members no longer qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, you could potentially lose coverage as early as May 1, 2023.
Here’s how to prepare for Medicaid changes in Wyoming and what to do if you lose your coverage.
Why is Medicaid changing nationwide?
After the PHE ends, COVID-19 will remain a public health priority — but not an emergency. As part of this process, Medicaid renewals will no longer be automatic. This is being referred to as the unwinding of Medicaid, and millions of people nationwide risk losing coverage. In Wyoming, 10,000 to 15,000 people may lose Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage.
The unwinding will affect Medicaid in every state, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories.
What’s happening with Medicaid renewal in Wyoming?
The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) is the Wyoming office responsible for overseeing Wyoming Medicaid. The state restarted case reviews in March 2023 and the process is expected to last through March 2024.
Many people still eligible for Medicaid will get a letter saying their coverage was automatically renewed. If the WDH can’t automatically renew your coverage because they need more information, they’ll let you know 45 days before your renewal date. This notice will have instructions on how to provide the information the department needs.
Read more like this
Explore these related articles, suggested for readers like you.
It’s important for your contact information with WDH to be correct. You can confirm or update your contact information — mailing address, phone number, and email — and report any recent changes to your income or size of your household by:
Visiting your Wyoming Medicaid/CHIP web portal
Sending an email to wesapplications@wyo.gov that includes your full name and date of birth or case number
Calling Wyoming Medicaid at 855-294-2127
Tribal health
Wyoming Medicaid liaisons are working to reach people who are enrolled in Medicaid and who are also members of or affiliated with American Indian tribes. The National Indian Health Board estimates that as many as 236,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives could lose coverage during the unwinding. Advocates are working to ensure eligible individuals in these groups keep their health insurance.
What should I do if I lose my Medicaid coverage in Wyoming?
You can receive Medicaid in Wyoming if you meet all of the following criteria:
You are a Wyoming resident.
You are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or legal resident.
You need healthcare or insurance assistance.
Your annual household income before taxes meets the limits for your household size.
And you are one of the following:
Pregnant
In charge of caring for a child 18 years old or younger
Blind
65 years old or older (under certain conditions)
Person with a disability, or have a family member in your household who has a disability
If you no longer meet the eligibility guidelines, your Medicaid in Wyoming won’t be renewed. This means you will no longer have Medicaid coverage.
If you lose coverage but believe you still qualify, you should reapply for Medicaid. If your Medicaid or CHIP is terminated, you can consider free and low-cost healthcare options. You can also use free GoodRx coupons to save on your prescription medications.
You should see if you qualify for coverage elsewhere or are eligible for another government healthcare program. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to find health insurance with one of these options:
Affordable Care Act marketplace: Through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchange, you may be able to find coverage for $10 or less per month if you qualify for a premium subsidy. If you lose your Medicaid coverage, you’ll be able to get a plan on the ACA marketplace during an unwinding special enrollment period that will last from March 31, 2023 to July 31, 2024.
Employer plan: You may now have a job that offers health insurance.
Medicare: If you have a qualifying disability or condition — such as end-stage renal disease or ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease) — you can enroll in Medicare at any age.
Partner’s plan: If you have a spouse or domestic partner who has insurance, you may be able to join their plan during an open enrollment or special enrollment period.
Special plans: Short-term insurance can be a great choice if you anticipate a better option, like job-based health insurance, to be available soon. You may also consider alternative and limited-benefit plans, such as fixed indemnity, accident, cost-sharing, and catastrophic insurance plans.
Student health plan: If you’re enrolled in a college or university, you may be eligible for a campus health plan.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): If you are an active-duty service member or a veteran, you may qualify for TRICARE coverage or VA benefits and services.
Wyoming Medicaid resources
Here are some sites where you can learn more about Medicaid in Wyoming and upcoming changes related to the end of the public health emergency:
Wyoming Medicaid office: Get general information from the Wyoming Department of Health, which oversees Wyoming Medicaid.
Wyoming Medicaid self-service portal: Log in to your Medicaid account 24/7 through the Wyoming Medicaid/CHIP web portal to confirm or update your contact information.
Wyoming Medicaid FAQs: Find answers to these frequently asked questions about Wyoming Medicaid.
Text message notifications: Learn how to receive or stop text message notifications from Wyoming Medicaid.
The bottom line
Automatic Medicaid renewals stopped nationwide on March 31, 2023 in advance of the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, 2023.
Wyoming will be reviewing Medicaid eligibility for enrollees through March 2024. During that time, you’ll be renewed automatically or you will be contacted by mail about an eligibility review. It’s important for Wyoming Medicaid to have your current contact information so you can be reached when it’s your turn for a review.
If you lose your Medicaid coverage, you may still qualify for health insurance elsewhere. Your options may include ACA marketplace plans, Medicare, or job-based insurance.
Why trust our experts?
References
Beck, M. (2023). Thousands in Wyoming could soon lose their health insurance. WyoFile.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2023). Unwinding and returning to regular operations after COVID-19.
National Indian Health Board. (2023). Medicaid unwinding. Tribal Health Reform Resource Center.
Tolbert, J., et al. (2023). 10 things to know about the unwinding of the Medicaid continuous enrollment provision. Kaiser Family Foundation.
U.S. Administration for Strategic Response and Preparedness. (2020). Determination that a public health emergency exists.
U.S. Administration for Strategic Response and Preparedness. (2023). Renewal of determination that a public health emergency exists.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2022). VA & TRICARE information.
Wyoming Department of Health. (n.d.). Medicaid & Kid Care CHIP return to normal.
Wyoming Department of Health. (n.d.). Wyoming Medicaid.
Wyoming Department of Health. (n.d.). Wyoming Medicaid Programs and Eligibility.
Wyoming Department of Health. (2023). Indian Health Service (IHS)/638 tribal health.
Wyoming Department of Health. (2023). Wyoming Medicaid restarting client renewals.
