Wyoming residents are curious about the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion and how implementation of the new guidelines can affect those seeking affordable health care options. The ACA Medicaid expansion makes inexpensive health care coverage possible for millions of Americans. Under the Affordable Care Act Medicaid eligibility guidelines, more people are eligible for Medicaid benefits. However, the additional coverage, often referred to as Obamacare, is only available in states that accepted the new rules and regulations. However, the possibility for states to add the additional coverage exists. To find out what is the expansion of Medicaid and if Wyoming accepted it, read through the page below.
Learn About the ACA Medicaid Expansion in Wyoming
What is the Obamacare Medicaid expansion and did Wyoming accept it? The Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion is optional for Wyoming’s health care insurance program. Wyoming did not accept the ACA Medicaid expansion along with 18 other states in the country. Since Wyoming did not adopt the new guidelines, many thousands of residents, specifically adults who are not elderly, disabled, pregnant or caring for children, do not meet the requirements for Medicaid enrollment.
The ACA expansion of Medicaid creates a way for low-income individuals to obtain health insurance coverage. The increase in enrollment also presents other benefits. For example, in states that adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion, the medical industry saw an increase in the number of patients and as a means to manage the new workload, more medical staff were hired, creating thousands of jobs across the country.
Find out more about applying to Medicaid by reviewing the requirements of the program in our free guide.
What does opting out of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion mean for Wyoming?
Since the Affordable Care Act expansion was not implemented in Wyoming, there were no changes to the existing eligibility requirements for Medicaid. The ACA Medicaid expansion makes guidelines more lenient and allows claimants to qualify based on low income solely.
Applicants seeking to benefit from Medicaid will continue to follow the same application and review process. It is important to understand that those not eligible for Medicaid before the expansion will likely still not be eligible unless the previous requirements are met. The ACA Medicaid expansion tries to extend care to more individuals and families struggling with income. Since state officials chose not to accept the increased coverage, these residents remain without any medical coverage. Failing to expand Medicaid in Wyoming does not affect the services already provided by the program such as paying for doctor visits, lab visits, screenings and more. However, failing to expand Medicaid leaves thousands of residents in the state in a “coverage gap” and without any chance to get affordable medical insurance. Current estimates show that nearly 10,000 state residents cannot get health insurance.
The federal government created the Obamacare Medicaid expansion details, which the Department of Health manages on a local level. Opting out of the ACA expansion of Medicaid in Wyoming also means the state does not benefit from additional funding. As with Medicaid, the federal government funds the ACA Medicaid expansion almost entirely. However, after initial federal funding the state would eventually be responsible for Medicaid coverage costs. The ACA Medicaid expansion cost to states was a pivotal point that lawmakers considered before turning down the expansion.
Will Wyoming ever expand its Medicaid program?
The Affordable Care Act expansion of Medicaid is not likely to occur anytime soon in Wyoming. Lawmakers are concerned with the ACA Medicaid expansion cost to states, particularly as the program moves forward. Additionally, the Medicaid program is under review by lawmakers in Washington, which creates hesitation for state officials who think guidelines may change again soon.
The Affordable Care Act Medicaid application does not apply to Wyoming residents for now. Instead, the process to apply for Medicaid remains as it has been for many years. For individuals who do not know if they qualify for health care assistance through Medicaid, applying to the program is a way to verify eligibility. Although the ACA Medicaid expansion in Wyoming did not occur, residents who do not qualify for Medicaid may be eligible for other programs such as the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Download our free guide for information about Medicaid requirements.