Obamacare FAQ >

What is Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act?

Obamacare is the shorthand name for the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010.

This wide-reaching law does many things, but most significantly it:

protects consumers -- for example, by requiring insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing conditions and preventing them from arbitrarily canceling your coverage
allows states to expand Medicaid coverage
creates marketplaces (also called "exchanges") for health insurance plans that meet the requirements of the ACA, and
establishes new funding for public health and prevention.

Until 2019, the law also required most U.S. citizens and legal residents to have health insurance or, if they didn't, to pay a tax penalty. Beginning in 2019, however, the penalty goes away in all states except those that have enacted their own penalties. Currently, the list of states with health insurance requirements includes California, D.C., Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

At ObamacareByZipCode, we focus on helping you understand how the Affordable Care Act works in Wyoming, to help you get the coverage you need.

Learn More

Here are some topics that answer frequently asked questions about Obamacare.

Do I Have to Get Obamacare in Wyoming?

How Much Does Obamacare Cost?

How Can I Save Money on Obamacare?

How Do I Sign Up for Obamacare in Wyoming?

Obamacare FAQ >

Is Obamacare different from the Affordable Care Act?

They are identical. Obamacare is just a nickname for the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Here are some articles that answer frequently asked questions about Obamacare and the ACA.

What Is Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act?

Do I Have to Get Obamacare in Wyoming?

How Much Does Obamacare Cost?

How Can I Save Money on Obamacare?

How Do I Sign Up for Obamacare in Wyoming?

Obamacare FAQ >

What do Obamacare health insurance plans cover?

All health plans purchased through Healthcare.gov, the health insurance marketplace for Wyoming, must include the following benefits whether or not you have a pre-existing health condition.

These are known under the Affordable Care Act as “essential health benefits”:

Ambulatory patient services (meaning outpatient care you receive without being admitted to a hospital)
Emergency services
Hospitalization (including surgery)
Maternity and newborn care
Mental health and substance use disorder services (including counseling and psychotherapy)
Prescription drugs
Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices (for people with injuries, disabilities, or chronic conditions, to strengthen their mental and physical skills)
Lab services
Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
Pediatric services (including oral and vision care)

Companies that offer plans through Healthcare.gov will compete on price and quality of service in delivering these benefits.

Obamacare FAQ >

Will I be penalized if I don't have health insurance?

Prior to 2019, if you didn't have health insurance and didn't qualify for an exemption, you would owe a penalty when you filed your federal tax return. For now, at least, that penalty has gone away. You must still report your coverage status on your federal tax return, but you won't have to pay a penalty if you aren't covered.

For more health insurance basics, see What Wyoming Residents Need to Know About Obamacare.

Obamacare FAQ >

What if I already have health insurance?

If you used the marketplace to purchase a plan last year. Most people who purchased their 2020 insurance plan from an online marketplace will be able to automatically renew their coverage for 2021. While automatic renewal sounds convenient, it has serious downsides:

If your insurer decides to cancel your current plan, you could be switched to another plan without warning. The new plan may cost you more or change your eligibility for financial assistance.
Automatic re-enrollment could mean you aren't getting the right subsidy package. That could leave you facing higher monthly premiums now or -- if you take more assistance than you're eligible for -- a big tax bill later.
You may miss out on a better deal or better coverage if you don't compare all available plans to your current plan.

While allowing yourself to be automatically re-enrolled is better than going without insurance, it's best to take advantage of open enrollment and research your options. Shop around and evaluate new plans and costs. Even if you decide to stay with the plan you have, you can use open enrollment to confirm your personal information and ensure you're getting the right amount of financial aid.

If you purchased an individual or family insurance plan outside the online marketplace. As long as the plan meets Wyoming’s coverage requirements, you can keep it. Or, you may use Healthcare.gov to compare plans and replace it. If you keep your current plan, you won't be eligible for the cost-saving subsidies available for plans purchased through the exchange.

Be sure to check with your current insurance provider before canceling a health insurance policy; you may have to wait until the end of your current policy year to make a change.

If you have insurance through an employer. As long as you're happy with your plan, you can keep it. You're considered covered under the Affordable Care Act. On the other hand, if you're not satisfied with the coverage you have, you may be able to switch to an individual plan through Healthcare.gov.

Keep in mind that if you buy a plan through the exchange:

Your employer will not have to pay a portion of your monthly premiums.
You may not qualify for cost-saving subsidies, even if your income falls within the eligible range. If your employer offers coverage that is considered affordable and sufficient under the law, you won't qualify to save on premiums or out-of-pocket costs for plans purchased through Healthcare.gov.

Obamacare FAQ >

Where can I get in-person help with my application?

In Wyoming, if you need help understanding your options for coverage under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) or signing up for a plan, you can get assistance from a trained enrollment assistant or from a health insurance broker or agent.

An enrollment assistant (sometimes called a navigator, enrollment counselor, or something similar) can explain your options, answer your questions, and help you apply for the plan you choose -- but they can't recommend a specific plan for you.

Private insurance agents or brokers can also help you understand your health care coverage options under Obamacare. Unlike government-trained navigators and counselors, they are allowed to suggest the best plan for you.

To find an assister in your area, go to Find Local Help at HealthCare.gov. There, you can enter your zip code to get a list of helpers near you.

Talk to a licensed broker. To directly connect with a Wyoming insurance broker who can help you evaluate Affordable Care Act insurance plans and choose a plan that's appropriate for your situation, call 800-943-6832. (We receive advertising income from the licensed brokers who offer their services through this telephone number.)

For more information, see How To Sign Up for Obamacare in Wyoming.

Obamacare FAQ >

What does "open enrollment" mean?

"Open enrollment" is the period of time, once a year, when you can choose or change your insurance provider or what kind of plan options you want -- for example, monthly premium and annual deductible amounts -- for the upcoming calendar year.

For the dates of the next open enrollment period, see What You Need to Know About Obamacare in Wyoming.

Choose your health care plan carefully, because after you make your choice, you must usually live with it until the next open enrollment period.

"Special enrollment" is an exception to the usual enrollment rules. If you qualify for special enrollment, you can sign up during a time period outside of the open enrollment period. The circumstances under which you may qualify for special enrollment include:

moving to a new state
having a baby or adopting a child
getting married or divorced
leaving a job and losing your insurance
losing coverage under your parents’ plan
losing coverage because someone on your plan has died
losing other types of health insurance
gaining status as a member of an Indian tribe
becoming an American citizen, or
getting out of prison.

Obamacare FAQ >

What if I live in more than one state?

Purchasing a new individual insurance plan under the Affordable Care Act can be complicated if you spend a significant amount of time in more than one state or travel frequently. Here’s an overview of points to consider.

If You Live in More Than One State

If you truly split your time between two states, the federal regulations covering plans offered through an ACA marketplace say that you can purchase health insurance in one or both places. This is true as long you spend “an entire season or other long period of time” in your second home.

Keeping insurance in just one state. It’s undoubtedly easier and less expensive to buy and keep health insurance in only one state. If you go this route, you’ll be covered only for emergency care when you are outside of that state. And even in an emergency, charges may swell beyond your insurer’s limits for “reasonable and customary” care, leaving you at risk for a big medical bill in the event of a medical crisis.

Getting insured in two states. If you want to establish residency in both of the states where you live, you can buy a new insurance policy every time you move. That’s possible because your move is considered “permanent” under federal regulations. As long as you were insured in the first state, you’ll qualify for a special enrollment period to buy a new policy in the second state.

However, in addition to giving you a paperwork headache, buying insurance twice each year could turn out to be a very expensive arrangement. For example, your deductible and out-of-pocket max will restart every time you move—and maybe even a third time, if your stay in one state crosses into the month of January, when all plans restart for the calendar year.

Carefully consider your situation and talk with potential insurers—then read policies carefully—to be sure you understand your options, potential expenses, and the true extent of your coverage as you move from state to state.

If You Travel Frequently

An insurance plan that meets the requirements of the ACA should cover you if you have to get emergency care out of state. For other types of care, your coverage will depend on the particulars of your plan.

You may want to read the article, Don't Forget to Pack Health Insurance, from HealthInsurance.org for a deep dive into options for travel health insurance.

Learn More

For more health insurance basics, see What Wyoming Residents Need to Know About Obamacare.

Obamacare FAQ >

Information & Documents to Have on Hand

Here's the information to gather before you visit Healthcare.gov to apply for health insurance:

Your household size. HealthCare.gov offers a tool to help you figure out who to include in your household.
Birth dates, Social Security numbers, and addresses for everyone in your household applying for coverage.
Proof that you are a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or "lawfully present" in the United States.
Employer and income information for each member of your household. Include all income sources, such as your earnings from work, pensions, alimony, rental property, and other income. If you have a job, gather together pay stubs or W-2 forms. If you’re self-employed, have last year’s tax return handy, as well other records that can help you estimate your yearly income.
Your estimated household income for the coverage year. (For example, if you're applying in November of 2020 for coverage the next year, estimate your household income for 2021.)
Policy numbers and any Plan ID numbers for current health insurance plans covering you or other members of your household.
If you or anyone in your household is eligible for job-based health insurance, information about the plan costs and coverage for each available plan. (The Employer Coverage Tool offered by HealthCare.gov can help with this step.)
A good idea of your budget for health insurance, so you know how much you can afford to spend each month. This will help you choose the best plan from among those offered to you.

Finally, keep a list of any questions you want answered before you sign up for a health insurance plan. To get answers to many basic questions or for information on signing up for a plan, see How Do I Sign Up for Obamacare in Wyoming?

Obamacare FAQ >

Glossary of Obamacare and Affordable Care Act Terms

Glossary

A

Accountable Care Organization
Accreditation
Actuarial Value
Advanced Premium Tax Credit
Affordable Care Act
Affordable Insurance Exchange
Affordable coverage (as it relates to APTC)
Agent
Alimony
Allowed Amount
Annual Deductible Combined
Annual Limit
Appeal
Attest/Attestation
Authorized Representative

B

Balance Billing
Benefit Year
Benefits
Biosimilar Biological Products
Brand Name (Drugs)
Broker
Bronze Health Plan

C

COBRA
Cancelled Debts
Capital Gains
Care Coordination
Catastrophic Health Plan
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Certified Applicant Counselor
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
Chronic Disease Management
Claim
Co-op
Coinsurance
Community Rating
Competitive Bidding
Complication of Pregnancy
Conversion
Coordination of Benefits
Copayment
Cost Sharing
Cost Sharing Reduction
Court Awards
Creditable Coverage

D

Deductible
Dental Coverage
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Dependent
Dependent Coverage
Disability
Dividend
Domestic Partnership
Donut Hole, Medicare Prescription Drug
Drug List
Durable Medical Equipment (DME)

E

Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Services (EPSDT)
Eligibility Assessment
Eligible Immigration Status
Emergency Medical Condition
Emergency Medical Transportation
Emergency Room Care
Emergency Services
Employer Shared Responsibility Payment (ESRP)
Employer or Union Retiree Plans
Essential Health Benefits
Exchange
Excluded Services
Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) Plan
External Review

F

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)
Federally Recognized Tribe
Fee
Fee For Service
Flexible Benefits Plan
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Formulary
Full-Time Employee
Fully Insured Job-based Plan

G

Generic Drugs
Gold Health Plan
Grandfathered
Grandfathered Health Plan
Grievance
Group Health Plan
Guaranteed Issue
Guaranteed Renewal

H

HIPAA Eligible Individual
Habilitative/Habilitation Services
Hardship Exemption
Health Care Workforce Incentive
Health Coverage
Health Insurance
Health Insurance Marketplace
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
Health Plan Categories
Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Health Status
High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)
High Risk Pool Plan (State)
High-Cost Excise Tax
Home Health Care
Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)
Hospice Services
Hospital Outpatient Care
Hospital Readmissions
Hospitalization

I

In Person Assistance Personnel Program
In-network Coinsurance
In-network Copayment
Individual Health Insurance Policy
Inpatient Care
Insurance Co-Op
Interest
Investment Income

J

Job-based Health Plan

L

Large Group Health Plan
Lifetime Limit
Long-Term Care

M

Marketplace
Medicaid
Medical Loss Ratio (MLR)
Medical Underwriting
Medically Necessary
Medicare
Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C)
Medicare Hospital Insurance Tax
Medicare Part D
Medicare Prescription Drug Donut Hole
Member Survey Results
Minimum Essential Coverage
Minimum value
Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI)
Multi-Employer Plan

N

Navigator
Net Capital Gains
Net Rental Income
Network
Network Plan
New Plan
Non-preferred provider
Nondiscrimination
Not Yet Accredited (Health Plan)
Notice

O

Open Enrollment Period
Original Medicare
Out-of-Network Coinsurance
Out-of-Network Copayment
Out-of-Pocket Costs
Out-of-Pocket Estimate
Out-of-pocket maximum/limit

P

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Payment Bundling
Penalty
Pension (Retirement Benefit)
Physician Services
Plan
Plan Year
Platinum Health Plan
Point of Service (POS) Plans
Policy Year
Pre-Existing Condition
Pre-Existing Condition (Job-based Coverage)
Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion Period (Individual Policy)
Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion Period (Job-based Coverage)
Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)
Preauthorization
Preferred Provider
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
Premium
Premium Tax Credit
Prescription Drug Coverage
Prescription Drugs
Prevention
Preventive Services
Primary Care
Primary Care Physician
Primary Care Provider
Prior Authorization
Public Health

Q

Qualified Health Plan
Qualifying Life Event

R

Rate Review
Reconstructive Surgery
Referral
Rehabilitative/Rehabilitation Services
Reinsurance
Rental or Royalty Income
Rescission
Retirement Benefit (Pension)
Rider (exclusionary rider)
Risk Adjustment

S

Self-Employment Income
Self-Insured Plan
Service Area
Silver Health Plan
Skilled Nursing Care
Skilled Nursing Facility Care
Social Security
Social Security Benefits
Social Security Survivors Benefits
Special Enrollment Period
Special Health Care Need
Specialist
State Continuation Coverage
State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
State Insurance Department
State Medical Assistance Office
Subsidized Coverage
Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

T

TRICARE
TTY
Tax Household
Total Cost Estimate (for health coverage)

U

UCR (Usual, Customary, and Reasonable)
Uncompensated Care
Urgent Care

V

Value-Based Purchasing (VBP)
Vision or Vision Coverage

W

Waiting Period (Job-based coverage)
Well-baby and Well-child Visits
Wellness Programs
Worker's Compensation

Glossary source: HealthCare.gov

Obamacare FAQ >

About This Website

We built this website to get people the answers they need about the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Our goal is to guide you to reliable, local information about your new health insurance options.

When you choose your state or enter your zip code here, you will quickly learn:

whether or not you're required to get health insurance
what the available plans cover
how much coverage will cost, and
how to sign up in your state.

For those concerned about cost, we show you how to determine whether you qualify for subsidies.

Why We Care

This site was created by Albin Renauer, founder of LegalConsumer.com, and is coauthored by Renauer and legal editor and writer Shae Irving. LegalConsumer, which originally concentrated on consumer bankruptcy, began in 2005, when Congress overhauled federal bankruptcy laws.

“When politicians tried to make it harder to file bankruptcy, I vowed to make it easier. When I read about politicians making it hard to get information about Obamacare, it got my blood boiling -- and I realized I could help folks find that information the same way I do with bankruptcy.”

Some states hide the ball when it comes to options for health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act. We want to guide you to all the official local resources you need to make sure you get the maximum benefits under the law.

Who We Are

LegalConsumer.com has helped more than a million consumers navigate the bankruptcy process by providing a free online “means test calculator,” which shows people whether or not they’re eligible to file for bankruptcy.

Albin Renauer

Albin Renauer is an independent web and database developer and Webby Award judge. He created LegalConsumer.com as an online companion to his book, How to File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, to help people file for bankruptcy.

After receiving his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1985, Albin Renauer worked for various public-interest law firms in the Bay Area and as a staff attorney for Chief Justice Rose Bird of the California Supreme Court. He spent 17 years as an editor at leading do-it-yourself legal publisher Nolo, where he helped create numerous books and software programs, including the bestselling Quicken WillMaker. He also edited Law on the Net, the first online directory of legal resources, and was the architect of Nolo's Webby Award winning website.

Shae Irving

Shae Irving has been a legal editor and writer since 1994, when she joined Nolo, specializing in estate planning, health care, and family law issues. For almost a decade, she was the managing editor of Nolo’s bestselling Quicken WillMaker software. Her books include Living Wills and Powers of Attorney for California and Prenuptial Agreements: How to Write a Fair and Lasting Contract. Shae graduated from Berkeley Law and briefly practiced at a large San Francisco law firm before becoming an editor and author.

For More Information

Contact Albin Renauer.

Obamacare Basics for Wyoming

What is Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act?

Do I Have to Get Health Insurance in Wyoming in 2023?

What Wyoming Residents Need to Know About Obamacare for 2023

Wyoming Medicaid Expansion: Do I Qualify for Medicaid Under the ACA?

What do Obamacare health insurance plans cover?