Getting everyone on the same page is a challenging but rewarding exercise.

I was reminded of this last month when most of Enroll Wyoming came together in Thermopolis for staff training and planning. Our meetings featured something different as our moderator employed a simple silver bell.

Some of our team members are hard of hearing. This typically is not an issue when people are talking normally and only one at a time. However, if you've partnered with our Navigators, it might not surprise you that we can get excited when talking about our work.

Whenever our words overlapped, the bell would remind us to slow down and be respectful of our audience. This system worked well because we could all hear the bell, we all knew what the bell meant, and we all responded accordingly. Take out one of those components, and you'll experience gaps in communication. Unfortunately, that's what happening when it comes to changes in Medicaid.

Not everyone has learned about new Medicaid eligibility requirements, the need to have updated contact information, or that free assistance is available for those struggling with applications or alternative coverage. When people don't know about on or more of those principles, a family is more likely to lose life-saving health insurance.

Enroll Wyoming is one of many groups ringing alarms. We hope to be heard over the daily chaos and properly understood so we can take direct action so people can take action to improve their lives. Please help us by adding to the chorus of helpful bells.

-- Caleb Michael Smith, Enroll Wyoming marketing director

We have reason to be repetitive with our messaging regarding new Medicaid requirements. We're not just following the standard practice of emphasizing important information (though that certainly is part of our strategy). We know that many people need to hear about changes to the program.

Polls indicate that a majority of Medicaid participants do not understand that they could be unenrolled in the coming months. Nationally, only 28 percent of enrollees knew states are allowed to remove people from the public health insurance program.

From 2020 to earlier this year, if you became enrolled in Medicaid, you remained enrolled with no questions asked. You didn't have to worry about regularly proving you still met requirements. That led to the number of people participating in Wyoming Medicaid growing to 83,000 at the start of 2023.

However, the eligibility policy has returned requiring annual reviews. This will be difficult for those who have never gone through the renewal process. The same survey from before found about half of all enrollees -- and about two-thirds of enrollees age 65 and up -- had never attempted to renew their coverage.

We keep playing the same song because it's important that people hear it. If you or someone you know relies on health insurance from Wyoming Medicaid, we suggest following these guidelines.

-- Make sure you have up-to-date contact information by calling 855-294-2127 or visiting www.wesystem.wyo.gov. Qualified families could lose their benefits if they cannot be reached or do not respond to Medicaid inquiries.

The national poll found that about 67 percent of enrollees did have updated information on file. However, that number dropped to 52 percent for those 65 and older.

-- Next, watch for updates through physical mail, email, or text messages. Wyoming Medicaid is reviewing almost 7,000 enrollees per month for the next several months. Some determinations will be made quickly, while some will require additional information.

-- Know that free assistance is available from Enroll Wyoming by calling 211 or visiting enrollwyo.org.

Those who rely on Medicaid don't have to go through re-enrollment alone. Enroll Wyoming provides information for free so families can review their options. Our Navigators provide assistance without the pressure of sales quotas or incentives. We are focused on identifying options so families can make informed decisions.

Those who lose their Medicaid benefits can qualify people for special enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace. It offers quality plans, and the costs can be even more affordable if people qualify for tax credits.

To connect with an Enroll Wyoming Navigator and explore your options, go to enrollwyo.org or dial 211.

We are asking partners and individuals to help spread the word by sharing informational materials through social media and newsletters. Find more informational resources like more graphics, sample text for newsletters, or opinion pieces here.



Too many families struggle to put food on the table regularly. Food security is defined as having access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life. Nearly 15 percent of households with children experienced food insecurity in 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Regular meals help kids learn better, behave better, and feel better. This doesn't change when school is out. That's why the Wyoming Summer Food Service Program offers free meals to those 18 and under - no questions asked. Find local sites by calling 211.

Scams are more likely to change form than completely disappear. If fraud techniques are becoming too familiar, criminals may change their tactics so they look different.

A few months ago, Enroll Wyoming passed on a warning from the Wyoming Department of Health that scammers are demanding money so people could keep or receive benefits. There is no cost to submit an application.

Now fraudsters have since added a new wrinkle and are threatening legal action if they do not receive a payment to keep or qualify for Medicaid of Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP). If people are demanding money to enroll, that is a sign they are not legitimate.

Enroll Wyoming is proud that we offer assistance for free and is disgusted by those who would seek to prey upon those who are looking for help. Watch out for wolves hiding behind a wooly disguise.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports there are 72 million fathers in America, including 29 million grandfathers. That doesn't even begin to count the number of extended family members, neighbors, friends, teachers, and other mentors who act as father figures. We are thankful for those who cowboy up and to guide younger generations.

If you think of someone as "Dad," encourage them to take healthy steps so you'll have more time to spend together. Pennsylvania State University shared basic health tips to consider on Father's Day.

-- Get regular physical exams the same way you schedule routine oil changes to keep a vehicle running.

-- If you smoke, stop. If you don't smoke, don't start now.

-- Get active and stay that way. Regular exercise can reduce your risk for cancer, diabetes, heart disease and multiple other diseases, according to Dr. Eldra Daniels.

For more Father's Day figures, see this graphic.

Wyoming may be ranked 48 out of 50 when it comes to the wettest states, but that doesn't mean we don't have to worry about flooding. Recent weather has led to some flash floods, and some communities still bear the scars of previous storms.

The Wyoming Department of Insurance issued a warning about flood preparedness. Flooding is an emergency that doesn't leave much time for last-second maneuvers. Not having a flood plan can impact your physical and financial health.

The DOI notes that event though flooding is one of the most frequent and expensive natural disasters, it is usually not covered by homeowners or renter’s insurance plans. This can get expensive quickly as 1 inch of water can cause $20,000 or more in property dam

age. Supplemental coverage may be required.

In addition to getting flood insurance, Ready.gov recommends making an emergency plan that outlines how you will receive emergency alerts and warnings, where you will take shelter, what is the evacuation route, how you will communicate with family, and what to bring.

You want to work ahead before the waters rise. Keep important documents in a waterproof container and create password-protected digital copies. Protect your property. Move valuables to higher levels. Declutter drains and gutters. Install check valves. Consider a sump pump with a battery.

The government says if told to evacuate, do so. Listen to local responders, the Emergency Alert System (EAS), National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio, or local alerting systems for current emergency information and instructions.

Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters; turn around. Stay off bridges over fast-moving water, which can wash bridges away without warning. Stay inside a vehicle if it is trapped in rapidly moving water. Get on the roof if water is rising inside the car.

After the flooding stops, return home only when authorities say it is safe and avoid driving except in emergencies. Wear heavy work gloves, protective clothing and boots during clean up and use appropriate face coverings or masks if cleaning mold or other debris.

For more resources on how to deal with flooding, visit the DOI website.

Dr. Angela Thatcher smiles while surrounded by the Bandage Dans cutouts that she transported to staff training in Cheyenne in 2022.

Navigator Angela Thatcher has said goodbye to Enroll Wyoming and taken a new health insurance marketplace job in another state. We want to honor the skill and enthusiasm that she regularly put into her work.

Cynthia Nunley: I will miss Angela! She has such a kind spirit for her consumers! I have appreciated her tenacity in getting answers to questions and concerns for the team and a willingness to share her amazing methods of record keeping as well as her ways of conducting outreach! Her time with us was too short! I wish her the best in her continuing journey!

Festi Edwards: It was a pleasure to work with Angela. She was so helpful especially when I began as a navigator. I wish her the best in her new role.

Jason Mincer: Managing the Enroll Wyoming grant comes with many surprises and these surprises are sometimes sad and happy at the same time. Angela’s departure is one of those times. Angela built amazing relationships with partners in the southeast region and helped hundreds of Wyomingites find health coverage. Her dedication to Enroll Wyoming showed in everything she did. The sadness over her leaving is overshadowed by how excited I am for her, her family, and her zoo of pets as they all transition to a new way of life.

Rock this new chapter in your life, Angela!

Dasa Robertson: What can I say other than that I am so sad that Angela is leaving our little group. I am truly happy for her new endeavor because I know she is going to ROCK in the new position; BUT I am selfish because Angela's expertise and cohesiveness is going to be truly missed. Angela, I will always remember the first sad enrollment that we worked together. I saw just how deeply you care for people and how much it disturbed you when you had to tell the consumer they were not eligible for premium tax credits therefore not able to afford a health insurance plan. It took everything for you not to weep for this poor person. I just remember feeling such a deep-seated respect for you in that brief second. I wish you great success my friend. Please know you are always welcome to call or email me. 

I still think that our great minds will continue to think alike. 🙂 

Caleb Smith: Riding shotgun with Angela -- both physically and metaphorically -- has been some of the most fun I've had while working at Enroll Wyoming. When together I always learned something and came away with new ideas and strategies to try. I know she will bless her new team as much as she did us. May they be smart enough to collaborate with her to the fullest.

And the final words go to Angela: As I sit down to compose this farewell, the words of Winnie the Pooh — of all things — play on repeat in my mind: “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard?” In my position with Enroll Wyoming, I have been so lucky in the colleagues with whom I’ve worked, the partnerships I’ve developed, and the clients I’ve served.

It has been such a privilege to work with the people of Wyoming. The stories my partners and clients have shared with me have inspired and motivated me and will continue with me as I start my new position. They are the reason I will continue in the work I started at Enroll Wyoming.

I have also been lucky to have found such wonderful colleagues. Everyone with Enroll Wyoming has taught me so much and pushed me to be better. Each person taught me new information, gave me different perspectives to consider, and shared with me their expertise. The work we’ve done together has been incredible, and I have no doubt that it will continue to grow, develop, and touch the lives of Wyoming-ites. I am so grateful to have been part of it.

I also want to say two special thank yous. First to Dasa Robertson, Enroll Wyoming’s lead navigator, who was my mentor when I first started; without you, I could never have settled into his role so quickly and thoroughly. You cheered me on with every success, empathized with me when things didn’t go as planned, and gave me a bar to which to aspire. Second, to the Enroll Wyoming project manager, Jason Mincer. Thank you for taking a chance on an academic transplant in Wyoming who wanted to try something new and make a difference in the world. And thank you for letting me do it with my own special brand of “Angela-ness.”

I am so excited for the next step of my professional journey. But my transition is bitter-sweet as it means leaving people I respect and admire and from whom I’ve learned so much. So to conclude, I offer a final thank you to my clients, my partners, and the Enroll Wyoming team for everything you’ve given me and for helping me on to my next adventure. What a truly lucky person I am to have known and worked with you, and I wish you nothing but the best always.

The Enroll Wyoming staff has been sad to watch talented team members leave, but we are excited about the new people who will join us.

Do you like helping people? Want a rewarding job where you make a positive impact on a one-on-one and community basis?

Enroll Wyoming looking for full-time health insurance marketplace Navigators to help families and individuals find quality, affordable health coverage in Region 4 (Sweetwater, Uinta, Lincoln, Sublette, and Teton counties) and Region 6 (Fremont County and the Wind River Indian Reservation).

See the Region 4 and Region 6 job listings for more details.

-- Enroll Wyoming will be at the Albany County Public Library on 310 South Eighth Street in Laramie on Thursdays.

-- Wyoming Health Fairs are hosting events in Buffalo. Enroll Wyoming will also be there from 7-10 a.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at the Johnson County Healthcare Center at 497 West Lott Street in Buffalo. The next dates are June 21 and July 5.



-- Look for the Enroll Wyoming table in downtown Sheridan from 4-9 p.m. June 15 and future Third Thursday festival days.

-- The Primrose Retirement Community of Cheyenne is rocking for donations and to raise awareness in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Enroll Wyoming will be at the event from 3-6 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, at 1530 Dorothy Lane in Cheyenne.

-- Watch the next Enroll Wyoming livestream online at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 22. We will review basic vocabulary and principles of health insurance.

-- Enroll Wyoming will be part of the 63rd annual Eastern Shoshone Indian Days Powow on Friday, June 23, and Saturday, June 24, at the Fort Washakie Powwow Grounds on 36 A Gaw Bombe Lane.

-- Enroll Wyoming is excited to be part of Family Fun Night on Friday, June 23, at Lovell Middle School on 325 West Ninth Street in Lovell.

-- The Mustang Days Vendor Show on Saturday, June 24, will include a table from Enroll Wyoming. Join us at The Barn at 1934 Highway 310 in Lovell.

-- Catch Enroll Wyoming at the Gillette event hosted by Wyoming Health Fairs on Friday, July 7, at the Holiday Inn Express on 1908 Cliff Davis Drive in Gillette.

-- Uinta County Public Health is hosting an event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, at the Mountain View Town Park at 405 WY 414 in Mountain View.

-- Learn how health insurance can support your job search and event expand your options at the Rawlins Job Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 18, at the Jeffery Center on 315 West Pine Street in Rawlins.

-- Enroll Wyoming will be part of the Caspar Collins Day festivities on Saturday, July 22, at the Fort Caspar Museum on 4001 Fort Caspar Road in Casper.

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, community resources, and ways to make our state better and brighter.