Cheyenne, Wyo. — As Wyoming prepares for its 2025–2026 health insurance open enrollment period (running November 1, 2025, to January 15, 2026), residents face a double challenge: a more limited and costly marketplace, paired with reduced support from Enroll Wyoming—the state’s leading nonprofit helper for health coverage navigation. The nonprofit itself is grappling with a 90% funding cut, forcing sweeping staff reductions just months before enrollment begins.
Marketplace Woes: Fewer Options, Higher Premiums Ahead
Caleb Smith, Enroll Wyoming’s outgoing Marketing Director, has issued a stark warning for residents: Starting January 1, 2026, individual and family health insurance plans on the marketplace will be both scarcer and more expensive. A key driver of the reduced options is the exit of Montana-based Mountain Health Co-Op, which will no longer offer coverage in Wyoming next year—removing a critical provider from the state’s already limited insurer pool.
Smith did not specify exact premium increase percentages, but industry trends and prior marketplace shifts suggest hikes could further strain household budgets, particularly for low- and middle-income Wyomingites who rely on marketplace plans. The loss of Mountain Health Co-Op, which often competed on price for rural and underserved areas, may also eliminate affordable options in parts of the state with few existing choices.
Enroll Wyoming Slashes Staff After 90% Funding Cut
Compounding the marketplace challenges, Enroll Wyoming is confronting a catastrophic funding reduction tied to federal cuts. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) — which funds “navigator” programs like Enroll Wyoming to help residents understand, compare, and enroll in health plans — has slashed its national navigator grant program from $98 million to just $10 million.
For Wyoming, this means Enroll Wyoming will not receive the $1.5 million it relied on in the previous year. The result: The nonprofit is cutting its staff from 10 full-time employees to 1 full-time and 1 part-time employee, effective August 27.
The staff reduction will drastically curtail in-person services, a critical resource for residents who struggle with digital tools, have complex health needs, or live in rural areas with limited internet access. Smith noted that while Enroll Wyoming will continue offering support via online platforms and phone lines, the shift will “limit our ability to meet people where they are”—a blow for a state with vast rural regions and an aging population that often prefers face-to-face assistance.
Nonprofit Vows to Persist Despite Challenges
Despite the upheaval, Smith emphasized that Enroll Wyoming’s mission remains unchanged. The organization, which has supported Wyoming residents for 12 years, has weathered funding fluctuations in the past—and plans to adapt again by leaning on digital tools and its statewide network of community partners.
“Our staffing may look different, but our dedication to empowering Wyomingites with the information they need to get quality health coverage hasn’t wavered,” Smith said. “We’re doubling down on our online resources, phone support, and partnerships with local organizations to make sure no one falls through the cracks during enrollment.“
Enroll Wyoming’s remaining team will focus on high-priority tasks: answering enrollment questions, helping residents apply for premium tax credits (which reduce monthly costs for eligible households), and guiding seniors or people with disabilities through Medicare or Medicaid transitions. The nonprofit also plans to expand its digital outreach—including video tutorials and virtual Q&A sessions—to compensate for lost in-person capacity.
What Residents Need to Know for Open Enrollment
With open enrollment less than three months away, Enroll Wyoming is urging residents to prepare early:
Mark key dates: Open enrollment starts November 1, 2025, and ends January 15, 2026. Plans selected by December 15 will take effect January 1.
Explore all options: Even with fewer insurers, residents should compare plans on the federal marketplace (HealthCare.gov) to check for tax credits or cost-sharing reductions.
Seek help early: Enroll Wyoming’s phone and online support will be available, but wait times may be longer. Residents can visit the nonprofit’s website (enrollwyoming.org) for updates on how to access assistance.
For a state where nearly 10% of residents lack health insurance (per 2024 U.S. Census data), the combination of a shrinking marketplace and reduced navigator support raises concerns about further gaps in coverage—especially as open enrollment, a critical window for securing affordable care, approaches.
Enroll Wyoming’s remaining staff and partners, however, are determined to mitigate those gaps. “We’ve been here for Wyoming through tough times before,” Smith said. “This is just another chapter in that work.”
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