WYOMING LEGISLATURE MAY PREVENT CITIES FROM JOINING STATE HEALTH INSURANCE POOL

CASPER, Wyo. — Cities and towns in Wyoming currently have the option of joining the state’s health insurance pool to provide coverage to their employees.

Casper, for example, is set to join the state’s pool in January. But a bill that will come before the Wyoming Legislature in spring 2020 would prevent municipalities from joining the state pool.

The bill may put Casper in a position where the city would need to return to a self-funded health insurance model.

“No political subdivision other than a school district or board of cooperative educational services shall be eligible to elect to initially participate in the Wyoming state employees’ and officials’ group insurance plan on or after April 1, 2020,” the proposed bill reads. “Any political subdivision other than a school district or board of cooperative educational services which is participating in the plan prior to April 1, 2020 shall not be eligible to renew participation in the plan after the expiration of the political subdivision’s initial participation period.”