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Health Care Reform

What Does the Affordable Care Act Mean for You and Your Family?

Since 1945, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming has been trusted to offer superior health care coverage to residents and businesses in Wyoming even when challenged with rapid changes in medical care and insurance.

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Our experience and firsthand knowledge of Wyoming’s unique health care environment keeps us at the forefront of what’s happening and allows us to adapt quickly.

You and your family’s secure and reliable coverage continues to be our top priority. We remain committed to you.

For us, it’s more than insurance—It’s trust. Rest assured, we will continue to protect your health with insurance that covers you when and where you need it.

What's the Affordable Care Act?

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as the Affordable Care Act or ACA, was signed into federal law in March 2010, as part of Health Care Reform. The intent of the law was to decrease the number of uninsured Americans, improve the quality of care, and enhance patient safety.

The law currently includes the following:

Extended Coverage for Young Adults

Children are allowed to stay on their parent's’ plan until they turn 26 years old.

Free Preventative Care

Plans must cover certain preventive services such as mammograms and colonoscopies without any patient out-of-pocket costs.

Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credit

Eligible small businesses may use tax credit to help provide insurance benefits to their employees.

Elimination of Lifetime Limits

Lifetime dollar limits on essential health benefits are no longer allowed.

Individual Requirement to Have Insurance

U.S. citizens and legal residents were required to have health insurance through the 2018 coverage year or pay a penalty. The mandated penalty is not in effect for the 2019 coverage year and thereafter.

Health Reform Implementation Timeline
Explore an interactive timeline, courtesy of Kaiser Family Foundation.

Subsides & Tax Credits

Many low-income individuals and families are eligible for subsidies and tax credits to help cover the costs of purchasing health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, also called the Exchange. It provides health insurance options and application assistance to those needing to purchase health insurance. Please visit Healthcare.gov  for more information.

Health Insurance Marketplace / Exchange

The Health Insurance Marketplace, or Exchange, became available on October 1, 2013 as part of the Affordable Care Act. The Marketplace website for Wyoming residents is available through the federal government and open for shoppers to explore different plan options, apply for insurance coverage, and examine eligibility for cost assistance.

For more information, visit Healthcare.gov .

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Resources

Check back regularly for new updates.

Other Resources

2024 Rate Justification for Affordable Care Act (ACA) products

The primary factors considered in determining Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming’s 2024 premium rates for individual and small group products include:

  • Expected increase in the cost of medical care for both utilization and cost of services.
  • The impact of taxes and fees applicable to ACA products.
  • Expected changes in the health of the members enrolled in the products.
  • Expected impact of the ACA Risk Adjustment program.
  • Changes in cost-sharing levels.