As Wyoming’s 2025-2026 health insurance open enrollment period—running from November 1, 2025, to January 15, 2026—draws near, residents face a double challenge: a shrinking, costlier insurance marketplace and reduced support from the state’s leading nonprofit enrollment aid group, Enroll Wyoming.
Caleb Smith, Enroll Wyoming’s outgoing Marketing Director, has sounded the alarm about significant marketplace changes set to take effect January 1, 2026. Premiums for health coverage are expected to rise, and residents will have fewer options: Montana-based Mountain Health Co-Op will cease offering plans in Wyoming next year, further narrowing the pool of available insurers.
Compounding these marketplace pressures, Enroll Wyoming itself is grappling with a catastrophic funding cut. The nonprofit, which has long helped Wyomingites navigate health insurance choices, will see its funding reduced by 90%—a blow tied to a massive nationwide slash in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) navigator grant program. Nationally, CMS grants dropped from $98 million to just $10 million, leaving Enroll Wyoming without the $1.5 million it relied on last year.
The funding loss forces sweeping operational changes: effective August 27, the organization will cut its staff from 10 full-time employees to only one full-time and one part-time worker. Smith noted that this will drastically reduce in-person client meetings, a critical service for residents who prefer or require face-to-face assistance. However, Enroll Wyoming plans to maintain core support through online platforms and phone-based programs.
Despite the upheaval, Smith stressed the nonprofit’s unwavering commitment to its mission. “With us being around for 12 years, we’ve navigated highs and lows in funding before,” he said. “While our staffing may change, our dedication to empowering Wyoming residents with health insurance information remains strong.”
To adapt, Enroll Wyoming is doubling down on digital tools and its statewide network of partners, aiming to ensure residents still have access to guidance when open enrollment launches in November—even as resources grow tighter.
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