◆ Enroll Wyoming navigator goes over options.
Angela Thatcher from Enroll Wyoming is the navigator for the southwest portion of the state, and she is making sure the public understands options in the health insurance marketplace for open enrollment.
She says there are eleven navigators around the Cowboy state. Their purpose is to help people understand the options for the health insurance marketplace.
“And decide what best fits their needs,” Thatcher said.
She says Enroll Wyoming is a grant funded non-profit organization. This means it is free to talk options with a navigator. She also says she can drive to where you are to meet face to face.
“Everything is private in these consultations,” Thatcher said. “We also do consultations over the phone and over Zoom.”
She says she can help no matter what your questions are. Some might not have insurance through a job or perhaps you are looking to retire early. She also says that things have changed a lot in the last decade and so you might just have questions on understanding how it all works.
“The individual mandate has been lifted,” Thatcher said. “The income cap to qualify has been lifted.
“So, now if you are making a higher income, you can still get insurance on the health insurance marketplace.”
She says those who are worried about pre-existing conditions, it will not cost more to get insurance through the marketplace either. She also says each plan is required to cover “the ten essential health benefits” and these are things like prescriptions, pediatric care, preventative services, wellness services, and more.
“What’s nice about the health insurance marketplace you’re actually getting a quality plan,” Thatcher said. “A lot of work has been put in to make this more affordable.”
She says the two big players in the marketplace are Blue Cross Blue Shield and Mountain Healthcare Coop. She says the plans between the two are better or worse, they’re “just different”. She says she can easily show you the differences and such while she meets with you.
She also says now is the time to start considering what your options are. Open Enrollment began November 1 and goes to January 15.
