"Do you observe Día de los Muertos and/or half-price candy day?"

In addition to the Day of the Dead that acknowledges the symbiotic relationship between life and death and coincidental retail sales of leftover candy corn, Nov. 1 marks the beginning of Open Enrollment.

The majority of yearly enrollments occur during that period, so there's a lot to do in advance of that window, and even more to do when it arrives. Our preparations may overlap if you attend the annual CoverWyo conference next month.

Whether or not you are specifically counting the days to Open Enrollment, we hope you're keeping Enroll Wyoming in mind so you can reach us for free assistance with health plans, direct people to us, or partner with us so we can help others find the care they need.

-- Caleb Michael Smith, Enroll Wyoming marketing director

A lot of work at Enroll Wyoming is centered around the opportunities the annual Open Enrollment provides, but because the term is common and used in a lot of different ways, it is important to make sure we are all on the same page.

In our use, Open Enrollment refers to the yearly period in the fall when people can enroll in a health insurance plan for the next calendar year through the Health Insurance Marketplace. In addition, those who already have a marketplace plan can review options and make changes, if desired.

The upcoming Open Enrollment period runs from Nov. 1, 2022, to Jan. 15, 2023, for the 2023 calendar year. In the past, Open Enrollment ran about six weeks, but due to the coronavirus, an additional month was added last year. The expanded sign-up period continues this season.

The Navigators at Enroll Wyoming are happy to work with those who are interested in marketplace plans and potential savings. There is no cost to talk to us. All it takes is a little bit of time to see if you and your household qualify. Our Navigators are ready to answer questions, help compare plans, and walk people through the whole enrollment process, if that is what they want. Enroll Wyoming is here to help.

Register now for CoverWyo 2022, the annual open enrollment preparation conference organized by the Wyoming Primary Care Association and Enroll Wyoming. 

Wyoming's Certified Application Counselors (CACs), Navigators, and others interested in health coverage access can join us on Monday, Oct. 10, and Tuesday, Oct. 11, at the Ramkota Hotel in Casper for training, discussion, and networking.  

Meals will be provided for free such as a lunch and evening reception on Monday and breakfast and lunch meals on Tuesday. 

Register by clicking here or by scanning this QR code. Feel free to share the link with others you think would like to attend.

Shortly you will be able to register for rooms during the conference for $89 per night by calling the Ramkota at 307-266-6000 and asking for one of the rooms reserved for CoverWyo 2022 and organized by Enroll Wyoming and the Wyoming Primary Care Association.

For Wyoming Primary Care Association (WYPCA) members and CACs only: Some travel and hotel expense assistance will be available from the WYPCA. If you would like to learn about travel assistance, please contact Joe Rivera at Joe@qineservices.com or call 719-588-4145.

We look forward to seeing you in October!

In addition to the certified Navigators at Enroll Wyoming who are trained to help people find health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, groups known as certified application counselor designated organizations, or CDOs, provide similar assistance. Those interested in joining in these outreach efforts should know the deadline to become a CDO has been extended to Nov. 1.

The deadline to apply was extended partially due to the anticipated need when the current COVID-19 emergency declaration ends. The declaration has expanded access and funding to programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The declaration, that is currently scheduled through Oct. 13, is expected to extended by another 90 days.

When the emergency ends, people will have to reapply to see if they can continue in the program. As people no longer qualify or fall through the cracks of the reapplication process, many are expected to lose their health coverage and need to seek assistance elsewhere. With more families left uninsured, there will be a greater need for groups like Enroll Wyoming and CDOs.

For more information about the CDO program, visit here, and for application information, go here.

Assister certification training for 2023 is now available. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated the training curriculum.

The training is hosted on the Marketplace Learning Management System (MLMS); the online web-based training platform for assisters providing application and enrollment assistance to consumers in state-based marketplaces using the federal platform, like Wyoming. The system can be accessed here.

As the Marketplace Open Enrollment period approaches, we continue to hear about scammers attempting to impersonate groups like Enroll Wyoming who provide enrollment support.

Enroll Wyoming is proud that we provide assistance for FREE. Being grant funded, we do not have sales quotas or incentives to meet. If someone claims to be from Enroll Wyoming and is asking for payment to get help, that is a sign they are lying.

The Federal Trade Commission provides lots of advice on how to avoid and report scams. Tips to avoid a scam include:

-- Block unwanted calls and text messages

-- Don’t give your personal or financial information in response to a request that you didn’t expect

-- If you get an email or text message from a company you do business with and you think it’s real, it’s still best not to click on any links; instead contact them through a trustworthy website or phone number

-- Resist the pressure to act immediately.

-- Be suspicious of requests to pay through gift card, money transfer, or depositing a check and sending money back

-- Stop and talk to someone you trust

For more tips on how to avoid a scam, go here.

Every bee larva receives about 10,000 nurse bee feeding visits during development, according to Penn State Extension. That breaks down to being fed on average every 43 seconds.

A new rule seeks to reassure noncitizens that they can apply for and fairly receive benefits like health care without hurting their chances of permanently immigrating to the United States.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a final rule applicable to noncitizens who receive or wish to apply for benefits provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and states that support low-income families and adults. A press release said noncitizens can access health-related benefits and other supplemental government services to which they are entitled by law, without triggering harmful immigration consequences.

There will be no penalty for those who access most health-related benefits, including most Medicaid benefits, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), pandemic relief, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Using cash-based relief programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) will not automatically exclude an individual from admission or green card eligibility, and will instead be considered in a “totality of the circumstances” analysis.

“People with disabilities and older adults who are not U.S. citizens no longer have to fear that using services that can help them maintain their health, live independently and contribute to their communities will cost them legal residency in our country,” said Alison Barkoff, acting administrator of the Administration for Community Living.

The rule goes into effect on Dec. 23. To read more about related benefits and supplemental services, visit here.

We ask members of our staff to answer questions to help our partners and supporters learn a little more about our work and the team behind Enroll Wyoming.

-- Why did you apply for the Navigator position at Enroll Wyoming?

-- What experiences have you had that contributed to your character? I have spent three decades and counting working with and for people with developmental disabilities. I appreciate their gifts, talents and abilities. I served in the Wyoming Army National Guard in a utility engineer unit to pay for college. I appreciate the growth, the experience, and the opportunity to serve, although I most certainly can think of easier ways to pay for college!

I enjoy boating with my family and spending my summers at Alcova Lake. In the winter I enjoy beach vacations in warmer weather and by the ocean. I like to hang out with my family and my pets. In addition to my work with Enroll Wyoming, I also serve persons with developmental disabilities for employment supports and I serve as the treasurer on the state Wyoming Association for Persons Supporting Employment First board (WYAPSE). I enjoy volunteering and advocating.

From a trusted mentor I learned that it is important to make the best decision you can with the information you have at the time and to move forward to achieve results with your best effort and ability. If you receive new information, then a new decision needs to be made. Waiting for the perfect solution or indecision is still a decision, but not one that leads to progress.

I enjoy cooking and baking. My favorite recipe to make is my mom’s brownies from scratch (no, not those kind of brownies). I recently had some Thai food that I loved on a trip to Costa Rica and have recreated my version of a Thai sweet chili peanuts with lime that is delicious.

My favorite place is this world is on water in Fremont Canyon. This spot is only accessible by boat and the view amazing.

I would like to recommend reading “QBQ The Question Behind the Question” by John G. Miller. John is a local (Denver) author/trainer/motivational speaker. John talks about great customer service, personal accountability and responsibility. His work is top notch. P.S. He has a very interactive Facebook account and has published additional books.

Wyoming will always be my home, but I will be a great snowbird one day. Winter in warmer weather is appealing.

Like helping people? Want to make a positive impact in your community?

For more information, click on this link, or go to the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center's careers page and search for "Seasonal Health Insurance Navigator."

The CoverWyo 2022 conference is coming on Oct. 10-11, 2022.

-- Enroll Wyoming will make a presentation to members of the community about Medicare, Medicaid and the Health Insurance Marketplace at The Hub on Smith at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 211 Smith Street.

-- A Navigator from Enroll Wyoming will be tabling at the Wyoming Workforce Services Office in Rock Springs beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at 2451 Foothill Boulevard, Suite 100, in the White Mountain Mall.

-- There will be an Enroll Wyoming Table at the Age Well Conference on Thursday, Sept. 29, on 2401 East Pershing Blvd., Cheyenne.

-- Enroll Wyoming will be part of the Wind River Farmers Market that runs from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Frank B Wise Building at 3 Ethete Road in Fort Washakie.

-- Enroll Wyoming will be a presenter at the business development luncheon hosted by the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce running from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at The Lodge at Jackson Hole at 80 Scott Lane.

-- We will join the Parent Engagement and Educational Partnership with Schools (PEEPS) meeting at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at 2811 House Ave. Door No. 4, Cheyenne.

-- Enroll Wyoming will give a class at the Cheyenne VA to veterans and spouses at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, on 2360 East Pershing Blvd.

-- The CoverWyo 2022 conference will be on Monday, Oct. 10, and Tuesday, Oct. 11, at the Ramkota Hotel at 800 North Poplar St. in Casper.

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