Wyoming would pay toward eligible retirees’ state group health insurance

The plan would receive monthly payments of $18.40 per service year for retirees not eligible for Medicare and $9.20 for Medicare-eligible retirees, counting up to 30 years. Coverage includes eligible state, University of Wyoming, and community college retirees enrolled in the plan, plus other participating employers’ retirees whose agreements tie contributions to the specified 2026 rates. For state and public college retirees, payments would shrink proportionally if their funding source runs short. For those same retirees, combined payments from all money set aside by lawmakers could not exceed the applicable monthly amount. The rates would apply beginning July 1, 2027. Starting July 1, 2028, rates would rise every two years if the medical care consumer price index increases.

Money in the retiree health account would remain authorized for insurance payments and carry over between budget periods. The account would cover eligible state and public college retirees who retired on or after July 1, 2008. Separate legislative funding would cover earlier retirees. The state would set a funding rate intended to cover payments, capped at 1% of each benefit-eligible employee’s pay. Agencies would request money through their budgets, and approved amounts would go into the account. These funding rules would take effect July 1, 2027.

Wyoming would set aside $610,000 from its general fund for the state auditor to cover retiree insurance contributions. This money would cover eligible state and public college retirees who retired before July 1, 2008. The money could be spent only when the specified 2026 funding falls short and could not be used for another purpose. Unused money that has not been committed would return to the state on June 30, 2028. The money would be available from July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2028.