Wyoming · Your rights

Wyoming medical bill rights and programs

What Wyoming rules and programs say about medical bills and medical debt, in plain English. Every item links its source. This is general information, not advice about your situation.

Time limit to sue on a medical debt

●Wyoming gives creditors 10 years to sue on a contract that is in writing (W.S. 1-3-105(a)(i)).
●Wyoming gives 8 years to sue on a contract that is not in writing, whether spoken or implied (W.S. 1-3-105(a)(ii)(A)).
●The statute does not use the words 'open account' or 'medical debt.' Which period fits a given bill depends on whether there is a signed writing, so we can't say which one applies to your bill.
●If a payment is made on a debt, or the person signs a written acknowledgment or promise to pay, the time to sue is counted from the date of that payment, acknowledgment, or promise (W.S. 1-3-119).
●If the debt began before the person moved to Wyoming, there is a separate 5-years-after-moving rule (W.S. 1-3-105(a)(iii)).

Source: wyoleg.gov

Wage garnishment limits

●For a continuing wage garnishment after a court judgment, Wyoming caps the take each week at the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings, or the amount by which weekly disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum hourly wage (W.S. 1-15-511). At the current $7.25 federal minimum, 30 times the minimum wage is $217.50 a week.
●'Disposable earnings' means pay left after deductions the law requires, such as taxes (W.S. 40-14-505(a)).
●W.S. 40-14-505(b) sets the same cap for judgments from consumer credit sales, leases, and loans.
●An employer may not fire a worker only because a creditor garnished the worker's pay for a judgment. The worker has 120 days to sue (W.S. 1-15-509).
●The general exemptions from garnishment still apply to continuing garnishments (W.S. 1-15-503(b)).
●A collector generally has to sue and win a court order before taking money from pay or a bank account (Wyoming Judicial Branch).

Sources: wyoleg.gov · wyoleg.gov · wyocourts.gov

Property exempt from collection

●Homestead: up to $100,000 in value is exempt from execution and attachment while the owner or family lives in it (W.S. 1-20-101, 1-20-102). A house, or a mobile or movable home on a lot, can qualify (W.S. 1-20-104).
●Motor vehicle: up to $5,000 of value is exempt (W.S. 1-20-106(a)(iv)).
●Household furniture, bedding, and similar items: up to $4,000 (W.S. 1-20-106(a)(iii)). Necessary clothing: up to $2,000 (W.S. 1-20-105).
●Tools or stock used in a trade or business, or a professional's library and tools: up to $4,000 (W.S. 1-20-106(b)).
●Retirement plans and IRAs are exempt from garnishment and other process (W.S. 1-20-110, per the Wyoming Judicial Branch exemption list).
●A Wyoming Judicial Branch exemption chart dated April 2025 still shows an older $20,000 homestead figure. The current statute text on wyoleg.gov (compiled May 2026) says $100,000, so we follow the statute. Check the current text before relying on a number.

Sources: wyoleg.gov · wyocourts.gov · wyoleg.gov

Medical debt credit reporting (state law)

●No Wyoming statute limits how medical debt is reported to credit bureaus was found in the current Wyoming statutes.
●In 2025, House Bill 195 would have barred medical facilities and collectors from reporting medical debt to credit bureaus starting July 1, 2025. A committee rejected it on a 5-3-1 vote (reported Feb 3, 2025).
●The Commonwealth Fund's 2025 state-protections appendix lists no Wyoming entry for credit reporting limits.
●At the federal level, a CFPB rule that would have kept medical debt off credit reports was vacated by a federal court in Texas in July 2025.
●No 2026 Wyoming medical debt credit reporting bill was found.

Sources: wyoleg.gov · accountsrecovery.net · commonwealthfund.org · consumerfinancemonitor.com · Check the source for the current wording.

Hospital price transparency (new in 2026)

●Wyoming passed the Hospital Price Transparency Act in 2026 (Senate File 57). The governor signed it March 8, 2026. It is in W.S. 35-2-1501 through 35-2-1507 and takes effect July 1, 2026.
●Hospitals must post their standard charges online, free and without a login, covering at least 300 shoppable services or all services if they offer fewer. The lists must be updated at least once a year.
●The Wyoming Department of Health monitors compliance, can require corrective action plans, and can charge civil penalties. It may also weigh compliance when renewing a hospital license.
●The law ends (is repealed) July 1, 2029 unless the legislature acts.
●A separate 2026 bill, House Bill 179, would also have limited collection actions by hospitals in violation. Only its introduced text was verified, and no sign it became law was found, so it is not treated as law.

Sources: wyoleg.gov · wyoleg.gov · fastdemocracy.com · wyoleg.gov

Interest caps and hospital charity care

●No Wyoming statute capping interest on medical debt was found.
●No Wyoming statute requiring hospitals to offer charity care or financial assistance was found. The Commonwealth Fund 2025 appendix lists no Wyoming entries for interest caps or charity care.
●The 2026 rural health transformation law says incentive payments to participating critical access hospitals may include medical debt relief for Wyoming residents, subject to available funds (W.S. 35-25-706(b)(ii)). It does not create a right for any individual patient.

Sources: wyoleg.gov · commonwealthfund.org · Check the source for the current wording.

Surprise billing and where to complain

●No Wyoming balance-billing law beyond the federal No Surprises Act was found in the Wyoming insurance statutes (Title 26) or on the Department of Insurance consumer page.
●The Wyoming Department of Insurance Consumer Affairs section helps with questions about an insurance policy or claim. Phone 307-777-7402 or toll-free 800-438-5768. Main line 307-777-7401.
●The Department has an online complaint portal and a 'before you file' page at its consumer site.
●W.S. 26-40-103 lets a person who asks in writing get a written explanation from an insurer of how a claim payment was figured, when the insurer pays on a usual, customary and reasonable basis.

Sources: doi.wyo.gov · wyoleg.gov · Check the source for the current wording.

External review of health insurance denials

●Wyoming Department of Insurance oversees the process. The insurer assigns the case to a state-licensed Independent Review Organization (IRO) and tells the Department.
●The person must first finish the insurer's internal appeal or grievance process.
●A written request goes to the insurer within 120 days of the final denial letter, using the state's External Review Request Form, which the insurer should include with the denial.
●A standard review decision is due within 45 days after the IRO gets the request from the insurer.
●An urgent review can be requested when delay could seriously harm life, health, or ability to regain function. It needs a doctor's certificate and the IRO decides within 72 hours.
●The IRO decision is final and binding. The filing fee is $15 and can be waived for hardship. The insurer pays the review cost.
●Department consumer line: 307-777-7402. Page: https://doi.wyo.gov/consumers/iro

Source: doi.wyo.gov

Medicaid and CHIP in Wyoming

●Wyoming has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, according to a March 2026 Wyoming Department of Health coverage-options document.
●Children: Medicaid covers up to 154% of the federal poverty level (FPL) for ages 0-5 and 133% for ages 6-18. CHIP covers children up to 200% FPL.
●Pregnant women: Medicaid up to 154% FPL.
●Parents and caretakers: Medicaid (Family Care) covers a very low income band, about 46% of FPL per the Department's illustrative table. Childless adults who are not disabled have no Medicaid coverage, and those at 100% to 400% of FPL may qualify for Marketplace subsidies.
●Adults may also qualify through categories such as SSI, disability, nursing home or home-based care, breast or cervical cancer, and Medicare premium help.
●Apply online at https://www.wesystem.wyo.gov/ or call 1-855-294-2127 (TTY 1-855-329-5204). Fax 1-855-329-5205, email wesapplications@wyo.gov, or mail or drop off at 3001 East Pershing Blvd., Suite 125, Cheyenne, WY 82001. Paper applications are at Department of Family Services, Public Health, and WIC offices.
●Retroactive coverage: Medicaid can cover up to three months before the month the application is received, if the person owed medical bills and met all eligibility rules in each of those months (Wyoming Medicaid Adult Handbook).
●Presumptive eligibility gives temporary Medicaid while a full application is reviewed. Groups: pregnant women, children, parents and caretakers, breast or cervical cancer patients, and former foster youth. Wyoming Medicaid hospitals can become Qualified Hospitals that make these decisions. A list is at https://health.wyo.gov/healthcarefin/medicaid/pelinks/

Sources: health.wyo.gov · health.wyo.gov · health.wyo.gov · kff.org

Other Wyoming help (211, Medicare counseling, free civil help)

●Wyoming 211 is a free helpline: dial 2-1-1. It connects people to health and human services, including health insurance help. Website wyoming211.org.
●Wyoming State Health Insurance Information Program (WSHIIP) is run through the Wyoming Department of Insurance. Phone 800-856-4398 (toll free) or 307-856-6880. Website http://www.wyomingseniors.com/ (per the CMS directory).
●Equal Justice Wyoming, part of the Wyoming Judicial Branch, lists free help resources for civil problems on the wyocourts.gov site. Phone 307-777-8383 (administrative questions only).
●A statewide free help line for low-income Wyoming residents with civil problems: 877-432-9955, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm. Website lawyoming.org.

Sources: health.wyo.gov · cms.gov · wyocourts.gov · Check the source for the current wording.

Debt collector licensing and complaints

●No one may run a collection agency or act as a debt collector or solicitor in Wyoming without a license, except a collector employed by a licensed Wyoming agency, who needs no separate license (W.S. 33-11-102).
●The Wyoming Collection Agency Board is five members appointed by the governor (W.S. 33-11-103). It works with the Division of Banking, Department of Audit.
●Complaints about a licensed collection agency use the Board's Complaint Form-CAB and go to: Wyoming Collection Agency Board, Department of Audit, Division of Banking, Hathaway Building, 2300 Capitol Ave., 2nd Floor, Cheyenne, WY 82002. Board email: wycollectionagencyboard@wyo.gov.
●The Board only takes complaints against licensed agencies. For out-of-state agencies it points people to the FTC (1-800-382-4357).
●The state Consumer Protection and Antitrust Unit takes complaints online or by mail to 109 State Capitol, Cheyenne, WY 82002. Supporting documents: ag.consumer@wyo.gov. The page lists examples like deceptive billing and unfair trade practices, but does not mention debt collectors by name. The office cannot represent individual people.
●Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act claims generally must be filed within one year of the violation (per the Wyoming Judicial Branch).

Sources: wyoleg.gov · wyomingcollectionagencyboard.wyo.gov · wyomingcollectionagencyboard.wyo.gov · attorneygeneral.wyo.gov · wyocourts.gov

Federal clocks that apply in Wyoming too

30 days
Medical records request: a provider has 30 days to respond (one 30-day extension).
120 days
Self-pay dispute: within 120 days of a bill $400 or more over your Good Faith Estimate.
180 days
Insurance appeal: many plans allow about 180 days from the denial letter.
240 days
Nonprofit hospital financial assistance: at least 240 days from the first bill after discharge.

What we could not confirm

We only publish what we can source. We could not verify: Wyoming state law on balance billing beyond the federal No Surprises Act (none found); Wyoming state cap on interest for medical debt (none found); Wyoming state charity-care or financial-assistance requirement for hospitals (none found); Whether the AG Consumer Protection Unit takes debt-collector complaints (page silent; unverified); Whether 2026 House Bill 179 (collection limits tied to price transparency) passed (unverified); Whether a statute treats medical bills as 'open accounts' for limitation period (statute is silent); Wyoming 2026 medical debt credit reporting bill (none found).

Wyoming hospitals

Researched 2026-10-31. Rules change. Something wrong or out of date? Reply to any Ahem email and we'll fix it.

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