More than 450 people have so far lost health coverage through Wyoming Medicaid or Kid Care CHIP as the state moves away from pandemic-era measures, the state health department reported at the end of June. Thousands more are expected to lose coverage over the next nine months.
The largest factors in losing eligibility were age, residency and income, according to Wyoming Department of Health spokesperson Kim Deti.
The health department has estimated that between 10,000 and 15,000 residents could lose access to Medicaid programs this year as it conducts a yearlong renewal process. Some free medical clinics expect the increase in uninsured residents to further strain resources.
That annual process was put on hold during the pandemic to ensure coverage for more people in exchange for a temporary increase in federal funding. Starting in April, Wyoming health officials began removing people who no longer qualify, but a more complete picture of these “procedural removals” is expected to come out next month.
Early reports from Montana show more than 70% of those at risk of losing coverage simply didn’t provide requested information to health officials.
Wyoming’s health department started updating people’s contact details back in March, the agency stated, to make sure those who are still eligible get the renewal notice.
“Because of the pause, our clients have not received these notices by mail over the last three years,” Lee Grossman, state Medicaid agent and senior WDH administrator, said in a March press release. “We know living situations may have changed during that time for many people.”
Income has been one of the largest factors in losing eligibility so far, but thousands of Wyomingites already fall into a “gap” where they make too much to qualify for Medicaid in the state but too little to afford private insurance. To shore up this gap, 41 states have expanded Medicaid, but Wyoming lawmakers have yet to do so, often citing concerns that the federal government won’t hold up its end of the bargain to help pay for it.
The state estimates Medicaid expansion would insure about 19,000 people over two years.
To ensure they get a renewal notice, Wyoming Medicaid enrollees can update their contact information at www.wesystem.wyo.gov or by calling 1-855-294-2127.
Please help spread the word that those who no longer qualify for Medicaid will likely qualify for an affordable Marketplace health plan. Go to http://www.enrollwyo.org for more information and to contact a Navigator who would be happy to run folks through all of their health coverage options and then help with any applications necessary to garner that coverage.
“More than 450 people have so far lost health coverage through Wyoming Medicaid or Kid Care CHIP as the state moves away from pandemic-era measures…” “Thousands more are expected to lose coverage over the next nine months.”
And yet, Wyoming will continue to support and vote for these same legislators who go out of their way to maintain and improve upon the cruelty they wield over their constituents. We the Citizens get the legislators we deserve. Hot Springs County Democrats #Here4Good
The incompetence of the our state legislature is a given at this point, but I will never understand the constant display of cruelty. A state can be judged by the way it treats its most vulnerable citizens. Wyoming has failed this test miserably.
Wyoming must want to stay backwards
WYO should be ashamed of the legislators and the people who voted for those who are not interested in keeping WY residence healthy, especially our children. Shame of you. Lorraine Saulino-Klein, RN
I lost my Kid Care CHIP because I made too much money after a year or 2 and it’s true I went up in income but I still couldn’t afford my local pediatric offices
The State of Wyoming has a root level negative bias towards Medicaid . One obvious downside to the Cowboy Conservative flavor of medieval Republican ideology we revere because we don’t really know any better. QED.
Just know that the phrase “make too much to qualify for Medicaid in the state but too little to afford private insurance” tells only part of the story. Medicaid eligibility in Wyoming is based on category as well as income. The biggest chunk of Medicaid money is spent on low-income residents of nursing homes; other categories include children, pregnant women, blind/disabled (as determined by social security). You can have cancer and be low-income and not qualify for Medicaid in Wyoming. It’s crazy and it’s cruel.
The ranchers in the state legislature appear to be proud of their cruelty to the poor.
Ranchers? I hardly think if they WERE ranchers that it would make an ounce of influence on how they voted on Medicaid. Unbelievable logic. We are ranchers and are by no means rich, can’t get Medicaid for my elderly mother or for our kids with medical issues, but I am not blaming any random group, I just have to figure out how to take care of us and get busy and figure out how to get insurance.. It is not the taxpayer’s responsibility to solve my or everyone else’s problems. Blame someone else: your solution to everything.