Wyoming Mini-COBRA: Health Insurance Continuation Law

Compared to the federal COBRA law, which applies to employers with 20 or more employees and offers continuation coverage for up to 18 or 36 months, Wyoming’s Mini-COBRA law provides a more limited option. It applies to employers with between 2 and 19 employees and allows eligible individuals to remain on their employer-sponsored group health plan for up to 12 months following a qualifying event.

Mini-COBRA coverage helps ensure that individuals and their dependents can maintain health insurance during periods of transition, such as job loss or a reduction in work hours. However, individuals must pay the full cost of coverage, which may include a small administrative fee.

Wyoming's Mini-COBRA Law

Wyoming Statute § 26-19-113 requires certain small employers to provide continuation of group health coverage to employees and their dependents when they lose eligibility due to qualifying events. This state-level protection applies to group plans issued by employers with between 2 and 19 employees and ensures that coverage can continue for up to 12 months.

• Employer Size: Applies to employers with 2 to 19 employees offering group health insurance plans.
• Eligibility: Employees and their dependents who were enrolled in the group plan before a qualifying event and are not eligible under federal COBRA.
• Qualifying Events: Termination of employment (not due to gross misconduct), reduction in work hours, or other loss of eligibility under the plan.
• Coverage Duration: Continuation coverage is available for a maximum of 12 months under Wyoming law.
• Premium Payment: The individual must pay the full cost of coverage—up to 102% of the group rate.
• Election Period: The employer or insurer must provide written notice of continuation rights when group coverage ends.
• How to Apply: Eligible individuals must follow the instructions in the continuation notice to elect coverage and make timely premium payments directly to the insurer or plan administrator.

Alternative Low Cost Medical Plans in Wyoming

Continuing an employer plan in Wyoming with Mini-COBRA is around $1,119/mo, per individual. If COBRA is unavailable or is outside of your budget, you do have affordable other options for health coverage. See below.

The cost of health insurance is determined by your age and state of residency.