-- Small businesses searching for health coverage can get free help

-- DOI offers insurance tips for young adults

-- CoverWyo conference page updated with agenda, link to discounted rooms

-- Suspect health fraud? Here's what to do

Health insurance can be a major struggle for small businesses. Offering quality coverage improves worker quality of life and services, but it can also be expensive and difficult to organize. Fortunately, Enroll Wyoming is a free resource that small businesses can work with to identify options.

As part of our monthly video podcast, we talked with Casper Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Tina Hoebelheinrich about the vital role health insurance plays in business. The discussion touched on topics such as health insurance being critical to success, the value in consulting a health insurance expert, reassurances that people shouldn't lose hope, and how a health insurance navigator can make a search easier. Watch the full interview on the Enroll Wyoming YouTube channel.

Figuring out your own health insurance is overwhelming, to say the least. But remember that you don’t have to figure it out alone because Enroll Wyoming is here to help you! Whether getting coverage through your employer or the health insurance marketplace, just remember that your understanding of the plan you pick is the most important thing. Plan selection is the time to ask as many questions as you need to understand what the plan will provide you and compare it to your estimated health needs for the year. Read the whole plan and ask all your questions before you sign onto the plan. Set a meeting with an Enroll Wyoming Navigator and get your questions answered.

For a comprehensive list of insurance terms, their meanings, and sample questions to ask, check out these tips from the Wyoming Department of Insurance. Just remember that you’ve got this, you’re not in it alone, and you will find a plan that works great for you. 

Open enrollment for the for the health insurance marketplace starts in 51 days on Nov. 1. Will you be ready to help those who are looking for health coverage that is both affordable and comprehensive?

CoverWyo is the annual event hosted by the Wyoming Primary Care Association and Enroll Wyoming to make sure assisters are ready to answer questions and help people enroll. This year's kickoff conference will take place from Oct. 8-9 at the Rock Springs Holiday Inn. We have updated our information page to include details on the tentative agenda and how to register for a reduced price hotel room. To register for the event itself, go here.

In months past, we have highlighted emerging scams to look out for. Should you encounter a hoaxer -- such as one seeking payment for families to keep Medicaid coverage or to apply for marketplace coverage -- follow this guide from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to get help.

Call CMS at 1-800-318-2596 and report your encounter with the fraudster so they can work to minimize the effect and work to catch the criminal. CMS is available all day, every day except holidays. For a list of additional scam-protection resources, visit the CMS website.

Recent stories featuring Enroll Wyoming include:

-- Wyoming nonprofit receives multi-year grant to help families find affordable health coverage

To find specific Enroll Wyoming events, see the Wyoming 211 calendar.