-- We are in the final days of open enrollment

-- Remember to make insurance payments

-- Keeping up with your resolutions

-- Talking about what happens after open enrollment ends

-- Enroll Wyoming community calendar

Not much time is left for those who want to sign up for affordable health insurance through open enrollment, which ends Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.

More than 15 million people nationwide have already signed up for 2024 coverage through the health insurance marketplace, which was created to help more people access health insurance. Free assistance is available from Enroll Wyoming to review options and see if marketplace health insurance meets your needs and priorities. We ask interested individuals to act fast as in-person and virtual appointment slots are limited. To talk to a health insurance navigator for free, visit enrollwyo.org or call 211.

Enroll Wyoming reminds those who just enrolled in marketplace health insurance that they need to make a payment for their new health coverage to start.

Coverage does not begin until the first premium is paid. If the monthly premiums aren't received on time, the insurance provider could end coverage. Even if you qualified for tax credits that make premiums free, we suggest you check in with the health insurance company to confirm it has your information.

For more information on making payments, health insurance companies recommend that consumers contact them directly at Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Wyoming or Mountain Health Co-op.

Many people choose lifestyle changes as their New Year’s resolutions such as losing weight, quitting smoking or drinking, or dieting. These can seem like lofty goals at times, especially when the stress of large changes catches up to you. Here are some ways you can become more likely to achieve your New Year’s goals!

-- The No. 1 predictor of a successful life change is tracking the progress of your goal. Many people who maintain large life changes keep regular journals or diaries that track their progress.

-- Baby steps make goals seem more attainable. Make a game plan filled with tiny steps to lead you to your overall goal.

--  When faced with difficulties, keep in mind what benefits you are gaining by giving up a less healthy habit. Examples of this type of thinking can be found in this National Institutes of Health article. One way to deal with inevitable difficulties is to create a buddy system and keep each other accountable.

-- Most importantly is to be patient and kind to yourself. The first six to eight weeks will be the toughest until the change is fully integrated into your daily habits. You got this!

Enroll Wyoming strives to see a successful open enrollment season, and we aren't only thinking about this year. To achieve this goal, we are working with the Wyoming Primary Care Association to host an online debrief meeting from 1-3:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1.

It's an annual opportunity to celebrate what we achieved, share stories, review what went well and what we can improve, and discuss what comes next. Topics will include Medicaid re-enrollment and unwinding, helping people in the family gap, and special enrollment.

See our event resource page for more information or register here. We hope to see you there.

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