We're not there yet, but we can almost see the end of the year from where we stand. Soon you won't have to crane your neck or strain your ears to make out the new year fireworks.

Between now and then we have a lot of holiday events to get through followed by the challenge of restarting routines and reworking resolutions. The most wonderful time of the year can also be the most chaotic.

I typically end the year in a sprint, but I marvel at the special meditative moments that I squeeze in. The end of the year provides a natural period to look back and to look forward. These moments may not last long and are easily interrupted, but I treasure the truths that I am able to grasp.

No matter your year-ending schedule or speed, I hope you make the time to do a little reflection. May you remember what is important to you and your family and may you find ways to share it together.

Doing so should help you conclude 2022 on a high note and begin 2023 with a clearer outlook and objectives.

-- Caleb Michael Smith, Enroll Wyoming marketing director

P.S. And don't forget about Open Enrollment, but we'll get to that in the next section.

Open Enrollment has begun and millions of people have turned to the Health Insurance Marketplace to find new coverage or re-enroll in current plans. Between Nov. 1 and Dec. 3, nearly 5.5 million picked health insurance plans. In Wyoming, which is one of the states that uses the federal marketplace, there were more than 14,000 plans selected.

With only about a month to go during this Open Enrollment period, there are some important deadlines to remember.

-- Thursday, December 15, 2022, is the last day to enroll in or change plans for coverage to start January 1, 2023.

-- Sunday, January 1, 2023, is when coverage starts for those who enroll in or change plans by December 15, 2022, and pay their first premium.

-- Sunday, January 15, 2023, is the last day to enroll in or change a 2023 health plan. After this date, you can enroll in or change plans only if you qualify for a special enrollment period.

-- Wednesday, February 1, 2023, is when coverage starts for those who enroll in or change plans Dec. 16, 2022, through January 15, 2023, and pay their first premium.

Free help from Enroll Wyoming is available to those who want to explore their options, better understand their coverage, or enroll in the marketplace. Our Navigators can schedule meetings in person, online, or over the phone.

Reach out today by dialing 211, visiting our webpage, or scrolling down to see our staff list.

Enroll Wyoming's Open Enrollment countdown clock as of midnight on Dec. 14.

By Enroll Wyoming Project Director Jason Mincer

We are officially over halfway through Open Enrollment for Health Insurance Marketplace plans, and it remains so important that everyone watch out for scams and misinformation. Unfortunately, without doing so, people pay over $1,000 for what they think is health insurance and actually covers little and sometimes none of the health care they access.

Another key term to watch for is “Health Care Ministry (HCM).” These have become more popular since the passing of the Affordable Care Act more than 10 years ago. Cost is a huge reason. HCMs brand themselves as insurance for a much cheaper cost, while in reality, they are not health insurance. 

Read the fine print. In almost all cases the maximum amount they pay out is less than $250,000, and there are also loopholes that allow these companies to deny claims for almost any reason. Their religious affiliation could mean that any illness caused by an immoral activity or one that goes against their religion is also not covered. Examples may include out-of-wedlock pregnancy and gluttony.

When looking at any insurance policy there are a couple of things to double check. Make sure it is deemed a “Qualified Health Plan (QHP).” This designation started as a result of the Affordable Care Act and puts in several protections for consumers that are critical. (See the following article for more about QHPs.) Also check the in-network coverage. Make sure the doctors in your community are covered under the insurance plan.

The even simpler ways consumers can assure they are not getting scammed and will have great health insurance coverage are to work with an Enroll Wyoming Navigator and to use no other websites outside of www.healthcare.gov. Enroll Wyoming Navigators are educated and trained to search out scams and to make sure our consumers get the coverage they are looking for. www.healthcare.gov is the only website where consumers can sign up for Marketplace health insurance plans.

If you see a scam, the best thing you can do is make Ruth Case at the Wyoming Department of Insurance know about it at 307-777-7402. She is the watchdog for these things and will take care of things.

At this point you might be questioning the coverage you currently have. Enroll Wyoming is happy to do an evaluation of your existing coverage to make sure you are getting benefits for the hard-earned dollars you are spending. Simply go to www.enrollwyo.org to schedule some time with a Navigator in your region of the state.

All health insurance plans found on the Health Insurance Marketplace must meet high standards to be listed. Marketplace plans are certified as "Qualified Health Plans" due to them offering required essential benefits.

QHPs must include 10 essential benefits, which include

birth control, pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care; emergency services; pediatric care, including dental and vision; prescription medications; and preventive and wellness services for adults.

In addition, marketplace plans must cover those with pre-existing conditions without rejecting applicants, charging more for coverage, or refusing to pay for essential health benefits.

Qualified health plans on the marketplace also abide by established limits on cost-sharing, like deductibles, copayments, and out-of-pocket maximum amounts.

To learn more about the certified plans found on the marketplace and other health coverage resources, schedule a free appointment with a Navigator from Enroll Wyoming.

If you have an account on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter, consider giving us a digital boost. Liking, sharing, subscribing, and following helps us spread our message and get more information in the hands of families that could use free assistance with health coverage concerns.

Those of us at Enroll Wyoming don't typically crow about the press we receive, but a recent article merits extra attention.

Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County reached out to produce an article for its blog that went a little bit more in depth than the average write up.

While it concentrates on Enroll Wyoming outreach efforts in the Southwest Region, it outlines our overall goals, what to expect during an appointment, what savings are available, and other enrollment details.

To read the article, click here.

Emerging Thought Leaders, a collaboration of the Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center, Colorado Public Health Association, and Regional Institute for Health & Environmental Leadership, is working to propel public health into the future by debuting impactful, innovative ideas and the people behind them.

Interested in being an ETL presenter? The online application is now live. For questions about the form, contact RM-PHTC Senior Project Coordinator Cassidy Ray at cassidy.ray@cuanschutz.edu.

Interested in attending an ETL session? Sign up using this form to be notified when registration opens for the first session of the virtual learning series! More information on the topic and presenter will be shared at a later date.

When it comes to companies providing for workers, a health reimbursement arrangement (or HRA) is an alternative to offering a traditional group health plan.

This account-based health plan allows employers to provide defined non-taxed reimbursements to employees for qualified medical expenses, including monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs, like copayments and deductibles. To use the funds, employees must be enrolled in individual health insurance coverage, like a plan they bought through the marketplace.

Healthcare.gov encourages employers to think about “affordability” when considering an HRA. An HRA may impact employees’ and their dependents' eligibility for a premium tax credit that helps lower monthly insurance payments for marketplace coverage.

Depending on how the HRA is set up, it may render ineligible for the cost-saving tax credits.

There are online tools and other resources available to calculate how an HRA might affect employees' eligibility for a premium tax credit. You can also speak with an Enroll Wyoming Navigator to understand your options and how they could impact your workers. If your goal is to provide quality coverage for your staff, Enroll Wyoming wants to help.

-- What are your goals for open enrollment?

-- Some Enroll Wyoming Navigators are maintaining regular office hours.

People can meet Navigator Erik Saulness at the Campbell County Chamber of Commerce on 314 South Gillette Ave. in Gillette every Wednesday in November and December between the hours of 3:30-4:30 p.m.

They can also visit Erik at the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce on 55 North Main Street in Buffalo every Friday in November and December between the hours of 9-11:30 a.m.

In Sheridan, Navigator Nancy Drummond will be at One Health at

201 East Fifth St. in Sheridan every Tuesday through Jan. 11, 2023. Call 307-674-6995 to schedule an appointment.

In Fremont County, Navigator Alicia Underwood can be found at the Central Wyoming College Library at 2660 Peck Avenue in Riverton from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

-- People can work with an Enroll Wyoming Navigator at the Evanston Regional Hospital on 190 Arrowhead Drive on Wednesday, Dec. 14, and Wednesday, Dec. 28.

-- Enroll Wyoming is one of the groups attending the diverse workforce event organized by the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce and Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. The event aimed at foreign and domestic workers will run from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, at The Lodge at Jackson Hole on 80 Scott Lane.

-- An Enroll Wyoming Navigator will be present at the Albany County Library at 310 South Eighth St. in Laramie on December 15, 22 and 29.

-- Enroll Wyoming will be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, at the Sheridan County Public Library on 335 West Alger Street in Sheridan.

Enroll Wyoming is meeting with people at the Park County Library on 1500 Heart Mountain St. in Cody. People can sign up for appointments at the library between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 27

As a statewide nonprofit, Enroll Wyoming works with many partners in dozens of communities around the Equality State.

Click here or the graphic below to see flyers for upcoming events, details about important campaigns, and ways to make our communities better and brighter.