Medicare Plans in Wyoming in 2022
As you near your Medicare enrollment age, it is important for you to understand your coverage options. This blog post will explore what Medicare plans are available in Wyoming in 2022 and what they entail.
Being aware of your state-specific Medicare rights can help you to find the best plan options possible. That’s why it’s so important to have a good understanding of the nuances of Medicare in your state. Read on to learn more about your Medigap, Medicare Advantage, and Part D options in Wyoming.
How To Apply for Medicare in Wyoming
If you are a Wyoming resident who is only interested in enrolling in Original Medicare, you can do so through your local Social Security office. You can sign up in-person, online, or over the phone as early as three months before your 65th birthday.
However, if you want to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare Supplement Insurance, or Part D drug coverage, we recommend you speak with a licensed insurance agent. They can walk you through the process and help you to find the right plan for you.
Reach out to a team member here at Medicare Plans Direct today to have all of your Medicare-related questions answered.
Medicare Supplement Plans in Wyoming
Which Medigap plans are available to you in Wyoming will depend on a number of factors, such as which insurance company you enroll with, where you reside, and why you qualify for Medicare.
There were 55,140 Wyoming residents enrolled in Medicare Supplement Insurance plans in 2019. This figure represented over half (50.6%) of all Medicare enrollees in the state that year, a significantly higher percentage than the national ratio of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medigap (24%).
The most popular Medigap plans in Wyoming include Plans F and G. These plans offer some of the most comprehensive coverage around.
However, beneficiaries who first became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020 will no longer be allowed to enroll in Plan F. Plans G and N are good alternatives.
Medigap Enrollment in Wyoming
If you are interested in enrolling in Medigap insurance in Wyoming, the best time to do so is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period (OEP).
This occurs when you first become eligible for Medicare and enroll in Medicare Part B, and it lasts for 6 months. During this time, you can enroll in any Medigap plan offered in your area regardless of your health history.
Unless you qualify for a guaranteed issue right, you may have to undergo medical underwriting if you want to sign up for a Medigap plan after your OEP finalizes. In this case, insurance companies reserve the right to deny you coverage and/or charge you higher rates.
Examples of guaranteed issue rights in Wyoming include moving out of your Medicare Advantage plan’s coverage area and losing your employer coverage.
Medigap in Wyoming for Disability Enrollees
Beneficiaries under the age of 65 who qualify for Medicare because of a disability are not granted any special Medigap protections in Wyoming. They can try to enroll in Medicare Supplement Insurance during the first six months that they become eligible for Medicare and enroll in Part B, though insurance companies aren’t obligated to sell them coverage, and in the case that they do, can charge them significantly higher premiums.
According to the Medicare Medigap plan finder tool, there were only three insurance companies that sold Medigap plans to beneficiaries under the age of 65 in 2021. However, these individuals also have the option to enroll in the state’s high-risk health insurance pool, known as the Wyoming Health Insurance Pool (WHIP).
Many high-risk pools disappeared after the Affordable Care Act eliminated medical underwriting in the private insurance market. Wyoming, along with a handful of other states, has maintained their pool to provide coverage options to Medicare beneficiaries who qualify for the program because of a disability.
WHIP offers two plan options to individuals who qualify for Medicare because of a disability: the Brown Plan and the Gold Plan. These plans work like traditional Medicare Supplement plans by filling in the gaps left over by Original Medicare.
People who enroll in Medicare before they turn 65 will have another OEP during the six months following their 65th birthday. When this happens, they are allowed to sign up for any Medigap plan offered in their area without having to undergo medical underwriting.
Medigap Premiums in Wyoming
In 2021, there were 26 insurance companies that offeredMedicare Supplement Insurance in Wyoming. State law allows each one to decide how they set monthly premiums, and almost all of them offer attained-age rated policies.
With attained-age rated policies, your monthly premium will likely increase as you get older, which is important to consider when choosing a Medigap plan.
A few companies offer issue-age rated plans. In this case, premiums are determined by the age you were when you enrolled in the policy.
Finally, one Wyoming company offers plans with rates that aren’t based on a beneficiary’s age. These are also referred to as community-rated plans. When it comes to these premiums, rates are typically the same for everyone in your area.
Though Medigap plans’ benefits are federally standardized, premium rates can vary significantly between insurance companies. For that reason, we always recommend consulting with a knowledgeable insurance agent before deciding on a Medicare Supplement policy to ensure that you are getting the best value plan for you.
Medicare Advantage Plans in Wyoming
Another coverage option for people looking for more benefits than those offered by Original Medicare is Medicare Advantage. Also known as Medicare Part C, these plans provide the coverage that you get under Original Medicare on top of additional benefits, which can include drug coverage, hearing coverage, vision coverage, dental coverage, and more.
Only 3.7% of Wyoming Medicare beneficiaries were enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan in 2021. That’s because up until recently, there was no Medicare Advantage coverage available in most of the state. As of 2018, there were only 3 plans offered in Wyoming, and residents of many counties didn’t even have the option to enroll in Medicare Advantage.
But in 2022, there are 9 Medicare Advantage plans available in the state (up from 6 in 2021), and 100% of Wyoming Medicare beneficiaries have access to at least one Part C policy, meaning that Medicare Advantage is now offered in all of the state’s 23 counties.
When it comes to monthly premiums, what you pay for your Medicare Advantage coverage depends on where you live, the plan that you choose, and more. In 2022, the average Part C monthly premium for Wyoming Medicare beneficiaries is $47.58. Plus, 100% of Wyoming Medicare enrollees have access to at least one plan with a $0 monthly premium.
Deciding which is the right Medicare Advantage plan for you is best done with the help of an experienced insurance agent. Here at Medicare Plans Direct we help you make the best Medicare choices possible at no extra cost to you. Reach out today to receive free Medicare advice.
Medicare Part D in Wyoming
Another thing for Wyoming Medicare beneficiaries to keep in mind is their prescription drug plan options. In 2022, there are 22 stand-alone Medicare Part D plans available to Wyoming Medicare enrollees.
How much you will have to pay for your Part D premium depends on where you live and which insurance company you purchase your plan through. In 2022, the average Part D premium in Wyoming is $48.57.
You can also find drug plans with $0 deductibles, though insurance companies usually charge higher monthly premiums for these plans. In 2022, there are four $0 deductible plans available to Wyoming residents, and the lowest-cost stand-alone drug plan with a $0 deductible has a monthly premium of $68.90.
It is typically a good idea to enroll in prescription drug coverage when you are first eligible if you foresee it being necessary in the future. If you don’t sign up for Medicare Part D when you first qualify and don’t have some other form of creditable drug coverage, you could face late enrollment penalty fees down the line.
Some Medicare Advantage plans may include coverage for your prescription drugs, but if you are enrolled in Original Medicare and/or a Medigap policy, you will need a stand-alone drug plan to cover your prescription medication costs.
As you can see, it is important to make well-informed decisions when choosing your Medicare coverage. Here at Medicare Plans Direct, we help seniors navigate their Medicare enrollment journeys. Reach out today for a free consultation with a licensed insurance agent.
