Wyoming Medicaid Eligibility: Income Limits, Asset Rules & How to Apply

Wyoming Medicaid, administered by the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH), is a health Wyoming Medicaid is officially branded as EqualityCare — named in keeping with Wyoming’s identity as the “Equality State” — and is administered by the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH). It provides health coverage to low-income Wyoming residents including children, pregnant women, parents, seniors, and people with disabilities, funded jointly by federal and state dollars.

Wyoming presents one of the most distinctive Medicaid profiles in the country. The state has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA — one of a small remaining group of non-expansion holdouts. Non-disabled, non-elderly adults without dependent children have no EqualityCare pathway regardless of income. Wyoming’s parent/caretaker income limit is approximately 43% FPL ($984/month for a family of three) — one of the most restricted parent thresholds in the country.

Several other Wyoming-specific features stand out. The home equity cap is $602,000 — below the $730,000 national standard, making it one of the lowest in this series and the only state in the series to use a cap below $730,000. The burial trust exemption is $1,800 — the lowest in the series by a substantial margin (most states range from $1,500 to $10,000 for comparable exemptions). CHIP is called Kid Care CHIP, and Wyoming uses an unusual age-tiered children’s income structure — children ages 0–5 qualify at 154% FPL and ages 6–18 at 133% FPL (below the Medicaid CHIP level), with CHIP reaching 209% FPL for all children.

Wyoming requires a QIT (Miller Trust) for long-term care applicants with income above $2,901/month — consistent with the QIT approach, not the medically needy pathway. The primary HCBS waiver is the Community Choices Waiver. Wyoming has five federally recognized tribal nations, and the state’s ranching, oil and gas, and mineral extraction economy creates complex look-back planning for rural families.

This guide covers every major EqualityCare program, 2026 income and asset limits, the 60-month look-back rule, and how to apply through the Wyoming Eligibility System (WES). For a quick eligibility check, use our Medicaid Eligibility Calculator before applying.

Wyoming EqualityCare Programs

Institutional / Nursing Home Medicaid

An entitlement program with no waiting list — everyone who qualifies is guaranteed coverage. It funds care in nursing facilities, hospitals, and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID).

Applicants must demonstrate a Nursing Facility Level of Care (NFLOC). Wyoming’s nursing home industry is limited — concentrated in Casper, Cheyenne, Laramie, and Gillette. Wyoming is the least populous state in the country (approximately 580,000 residents), and many rural counties — particularly in the Big Horn Basin, the Wind River Range area, and the high plains of eastern Wyoming — have no local nursing facility, making the Community Choices Waiver home-based alternative critical.

Community Choices Waiver — Home and Community Based Services

Wyoming’s primary HCBS waiver is the Community Choices Waiver, covering in-home personal care, adult day services, delivered meals, home modifications, and other community-based supports for seniors and disabled individuals who meet NFLOC criteria.

The Community Choices Waiver is a non-entitlement program with limited slots and waiting lists. In the least populous state in the country, the home care workforce is extremely thin outside of Cheyenne, Casper, and Laramie. Rural Wyoming communities — from Lusk to Pinedale to Saratoga to Thermopolis — often have no local home care agency, making the waiver practically difficult to use even for those who qualify.

Apply as early as possible. While waiting, many Wyoming residents also qualify for food assistance — see our Wyoming SNAP benefits page.

Regular EqualityCare (Aged, Blind, and Disabled)

Covers elderly, blind, or disabled Wyoming residents with lower income and assets, without requiring nursing-level medical need. No look-back period applies. SSI recipients are categorically eligible.

For seniors on Social Security who also need food assistance, see our guide on whether seniors on Social Security can get food stamps.

Kid Care CHIP — Children’s Program (Age-Tiered)

Kid Care CHIP is Wyoming’s children’s coverage program with an unusual age-tiered income structure:

• Children ages 0–5: Medicaid up to 154% FPL ($2,008/month for a single-person household); CHIP extends to 209% FPL
• Children ages 6–18: Medicaid up to 133% FPL ($1,734/month); CHIP extends to 209% FPL ($2,791/month)

This age-tiered structure — similar to Mississippi’s approach but with different threshold levels — gives younger children more generous Medicaid access. No asset test applies. Families who qualify may also be eligible for WIC — see Wyoming WIC income guidelines or use our WIC Eligibility Calculator.

Medicaid for Pregnant Women

Pregnant women qualify at income limits up to 159% FPL ($2,073/month for a single-person household) — one of the lower pregnancy thresholds in this series, comparable to Montana’s 158% FPL. Coverage extends 12 months postpartum. Presumptive eligibility is available for temporary prenatal care coverage while the full application is processed. No asset test applies.

Medicaid for Parents and Caretaker Relatives

Wyoming covers low-income parents and caretakers of dependent children at approximately 43% FPL ($984/month for a family of three) — one of the most restricted parent income limits in the country. For context, this is higher than Alabama’s 18% FPL but far below Missouri’s 133% FPL standard.

Wyoming Has Not Expanded Medicaid

Wyoming has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA. Adults aged 19–64 without dependent children and without a qualifying disability have no EqualityCare pathway regardless of income. This leaves an estimated 20,000–30,000+ Wyoming residents in the coverage gap — a significant number for a state of only 580,000.

Wyoming is one of a small group of states — alongside Texas, Florida, Georgia (partial), South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Kansas, and Wisconsin — that has not adopted full ACA expansion. Adults above 100% FPL who don’t qualify for Medicaid may be eligible for marketplace subsidies at healthcare.gov. See our guide on Special Enrollment Periods for marketplace coverage options.

General Eligibility Requirements

• Wyoming Residency: You must currently reside in Wyoming.
• Citizenship / Immigration Status: U.S. citizens, nationals, and qualifying immigrants — including permanent residents with 5+ years in the U.S., refugees, and asylees — are eligible. Undocumented immigrants are generally not eligible for full EqualityCare, though emergency services may be covered.
• Tribal Eligibility: Wyoming has five federally recognized tribal nations — the Eastern Shoshone Tribe and Northern Arapaho Tribe on the Wind River Reservation (the only reservation in Wyoming), the Crow Tribe (primarily Montana, with Wyoming members), and others. Tribal members may access EqualityCare through Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities on and near the Wind River Reservation.
• Income: Varies by program — see limits below.
• Assets: Limits apply for long-term care and aged/blind/disabled programs only.
• Medical / Functional Need: Nursing home EqualityCare and the Community Choices Waiver require documented NFLOC.

2026 Income Limits for Wyoming EqualityCare

Wyoming uses the standard 48-state FPL figures. The children’s program uses an unusual age-tiered structure, and the pregnancy threshold of 159% FPL is among the lower in the series. Income limits below are expressed as monthly amounts.

Important Notes on Income

QIT Required for Long-Term Care Excess Income: Wyoming is an income cap state. If income exceeds $2,901/month for nursing home or Community Choices Waiver applicants, a Qualified Income Trust (QIT) must be established before applying. WDH must be named as the QIT beneficiary.

Wyoming’s Personal Needs Allowance for nursing home residents is $50/month — in the middle range of the series, consistent with Wyoming’s overall Medicaid budget philosophy.

Married couples, one spouse applying: Only the applicant’s income counts toward the $2,901 limit. The community spouse may retain income up to a Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA) of $3,948/month, provided housing and utility costs exceed $793.13/month (effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026).

Use our FPL Calculator to check where your household falls, or see our Wyoming Medicaid income eligibility page for the full breakdown.

2026 Federal Poverty Level Reference (48 States & D.C.)

Asset Rules for Wyoming EqualityCare

Asset tests apply only to long-term care (Nursing Home / Community Choices Waiver) and Regular EqualityCare (aged, blind, and disabled). Kid Care CHIP children, pregnant women, and parents face no asset test.

Long-Term Care EqualityCare (Nursing Home and Community Choices Waiver)

Countable asset limits:

• Single applicant: $2,000
• Married, both applying: $3,000 total
• Married, one applying: $2,000 for the applicant; up to $152,020 for the non-applicant spouse (CSRA) — slightly below the $157,920 standard used by most states in the series

Home equity limit: $602,000 — this is the lowest home equity cap in this entire series and below the $730,000 federal standard. Wyoming’s $602,000 cap reflects a policy choice to use a lower threshold than the maximum allowed by federal law.

In most Wyoming residential markets, the $602,000 cap is rarely triggered. However, Jackson Hole — Teton County, Wyoming — is a different story entirely. Jackson Hole has some of the most expensive real estate in the United States. Even modest homes in the Jackson area approach or substantially exceed $1 million. The $602,000 cap would be exceeded by essentially any property in the Jackson market, and properties in the Teton Village, Wilson, and South Park areas are often in the $2–5 million range. Jackson Hole applicants for long-term care EqualityCare must carefully address the home equity situation before applying.

Non-countable (exempt) assets include:

• Primary home (subject to the $602,000 equity cap)
• One vehicle
• Household goods and personal effects
• Irrevocable burial trusts — up to $1,800 — the lowest burial/funeral trust exemption in this entire series
• Medicaid Compliant Annuities
• Life insurance with a face value of $1,500 or less

Wyoming’s 60-Month Look-Back Rule

Wyoming enforces a standard 60-month (5-year) look-back period for Nursing Home EqualityCare and the Community Choices Waiver. All asset transfers within that window are reviewed.

Gifts or transfers below fair market value — including transfers of Wyoming ranch land, mineral rights, or other assets — can trigger a penalty period of EqualityCare ineligibility.

Wyoming’s look-back landscape is shaped by three major asset types. First, ranch land — Wyoming is one of the most ranching-intensive states in the country. Cattle and sheep ranches, grazing allotments on federal land, and hay meadows in the Big Horn Basin, the Powder River Basin, and the Wind River Valley can have significant value. Second, oil, gas, and coal mineral rights — Wyoming is the largest coal-producing state in the country and a significant oil and natural gas producer. Mineral interests in the Powder River Basin (Campbell, Converse, and Natrona counties), the Green River Basin (Sweetwater County), and the Big Horn Basin (Park and Hot Springs counties) are common family assets. Third, Jackson Hole real estate — as noted above, even modest Jackson properties can create enormous look-back penalties given the market’s extraordinary values.

Consult a Certified Medicaid Planner with Wyoming ranch, mineral rights, and Teton County experience well before any care need arises. There is no look-back period for Regular EqualityCare.

Wyoming’s Medicaid Estate Recovery Program

After a Wyoming EqualityCare long-term care beneficiary passes away, Wyoming’s Estate Recovery Program seeks reimbursement from the estate. Ranch land, mineral rights, and Jackson Hole real estate passing through the probate estate can be very significant recovery targets. Consult a Wyoming elder law attorney for protective strategies.

Regular EqualityCare (Aged, Blind, and Disabled)

Asset limit is $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples. No home equity cap and no look-back period apply.

Medical and Functional Requirements

For Nursing Home EqualityCare and the Community Choices Waiver, applicants must demonstrate a Nursing Facility Level of Care (NFLOC) through a formal evaluation of:

• Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, mobility
• Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs): cooking, shopping, managing finances, taking medications
• Cognitive or behavioral issues — including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. A diagnosis alone does not satisfy NFLOC; documented functional limitations are required.

For Regular EqualityCare (ABD), applicants must document disability or blindness per Social Security Administration (SSA) criteria. NFLOC is not required.

Wyoming’s geography — 97,000 square miles with fewer than 580,000 people — creates extreme NFLOC assessment and nursing facility access barriers for rural residents. Some Wyoming counties (Sublette, Niobrara, Hot Springs, Crook) have no nursing facility, and residents may need to travel to a neighboring county or state for placement. The Community Choices Waiver is often the only realistic in-community care option for rural Wyoming seniors.

What Federal Policy Changes Mean for Wyoming EqualityCare

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025, introduces Medicaid changes phasing in through 2028. Wyoming’s non-expansion status means some changes affect a smaller population here than in expansion states.

Work Requirements (Starting January 2027): Federal work requirements apply to ACA expansion adults — a population Wyoming does not cover. However, work requirements may also apply to the parents/caretaker population. Wyoming’s limited Medicaid population reduces administrative burden relative to larger states, though implementation costs are still real for a small state. Seniors, disabled individuals, pregnant women, and children are exempt.

Reduced Retroactive Coverage (Starting January 2027): Coverage will only extend back 2 months from application, down from 90 days. Wyoming residents who delay applying after a health event — including ranch accidents and rodeo injuries common in Wyoming’s agricultural culture — will face more uncovered medical debt.

More Frequent Eligibility Renewals (Starting December 2026): Renewals every 6 months instead of annually. Wyoming’s sparse population and limited internet access in many rural and high-elevation areas may create renewal lapse risks.

New Out-of-Pocket Costs (Starting October 2028): Non-exempt beneficiaries may owe up to $35 per specialist visit. Primary care and preventive services remain free.

Funding Cuts: Projected federal Medicaid cuts of approximately $1 trillion over 10 years would affect Wyoming’s small rural hospital network — many critical access hospitals in Cody, Lander, Pinedale, and Lovell operate at thin margins where EqualityCare is the primary payer. IHS facilities serving the Wind River Reservation are also at risk.

For how these changes affect SNAP benefits alongside EqualityCare, see our article on Big Beautiful Bill SNAP changes.

Options If Your Income or Assets Exceed the Limit

Qualified Income Trust (QIT): For Nursing Home EqualityCare and the Community Choices Waiver, if income exceeds $2,901/month a QIT must be established before applying. The trust is irrevocable and must name Wyoming Medicaid as the beneficiary. Must be drafted by a Wyoming-licensed attorney.

Irrevocable Burial Trusts (IBTs, up to $1,800): Wyoming allows irrevocable burial trusts up to $1,800 as exempt assets — the lowest cap in this series. This provides very limited planning flexibility. Confirm current rules with a Certified Medicaid Planner.

Asset Spend-Down: Converting countable assets into exempt ones — home improvements, vehicle purchase, paying off debt — can reduce countable assets below $2,000. Jackson Hole homeowners must be especially cautious about home improvement spend-down near the $602,000 equity cap. Ranch and mineral rights owners must structure transactions to avoid look-back violations.

Medicaid Compliant Annuities: In spousal situations, converting excess assets into a compliant annuity can reduce the applicant’s countable assets while generating protected income for the community spouse.

Certified Medicaid Planners: Wyoming’s QIT requirement, $602,000 home equity cap (the lowest in the series), Jackson Hole real estate planning, $1,800 burial trust cap (the lowest in the series), ranch land and coal/oil/gas mineral rights look-back complexity, and estate recovery exposure make professional planning essential. Given Wyoming’s small size, there are fewer Certified Medicaid Planners than in larger states — seek one with Wyoming-specific experience early.

While addressing an EqualityCare income or asset issue, check whether SNAP food assistance is available in parallel — see SNAP income limits for Wyoming.

How to Apply for Wyoming EqualityCare

Wyoming uses the Wyoming Eligibility System (WES) as the primary online application entry point.

Application Methods

Online via WES (Recommended): Apply at wesystem.wyo.gov or through the federal marketplace at healthcare.gov for marketplace coverage comparison. Before applying, use our Medicaid Eligibility Calculator to confirm which program applies. For step-by-step guidance, see our Wyoming Medicaid application guide.

Phone: Call the Wyoming Medicaid Customer Service Center at 1-855-294-2127 or 1-800-251-1269 for assistance.

In-Person or Mail: Download a paper application from health.wyo.gov and submit to a local WDH Office of Healthcare Financing. Given Wyoming’s sparse population, WDH offices are concentrated in Cheyenne, Casper, and a few other cities — phone and online applications are often the practical choice for remote residents.

Long-Term Care Support: Contact the Wyoming Aging Division or a local Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-442-2766 for help with Community Choices Waiver applications and NFLOC assessment coordination.

Documents You’ll Need

• Proof of Wyoming residency
• Social Security number
• Proof of income (pay stubs, Social Security award letters, tax returns, ranch income documentation, coal and mineral royalty statements)
• Proof of assets (bank statements, investment accounts, property records, ranch deeds, mineral rights documentation, Jackson Hole property valuations) — for long-term care and ABD applications
• Proof of citizenship, qualifying immigration status, or tribal enrollment
• Medical records documenting functional limitations (for Nursing Home / Community Choices Waiver applications)
• Disability documentation per SSA criteria (for Regular EqualityCare ABD)

Processing Times

Standard applications: Up to 45 days

Disability-based applications: Up to 90 days

Pregnant women: May qualify for presumptive eligibility for outpatient care while the full application processes.

Starting January 2027, retroactive coverage drops to 2 months before application. Apply promptly after any health event that generates significant medical bills.

Wyoming EqualityCare and Other Benefit Programs

SNAP (Food Stamps): Many EqualityCare recipients also qualify for SNAP. See our Wyoming SNAP page or Wyoming SNAP application guide.

If you already receive benefits, see how to check your SNAP balance in Wyoming.

WIC: Pregnant women and young children qualifying for EqualityCare typically also qualify for WIC. See Wyoming WIC income guidelines.

Medicare: Many Wyoming seniors use both Medicare and EqualityCare simultaneously. Understanding the difference between Medicare and Medicaid is essential — particularly for long-term care coordination in a state where nursing facility access is so limited outside major population centers.

Marketplace Coverage: Adults in Wyoming’s coverage gap — earning above the parent/caretaker limits but not qualifying for EqualityCare as a non-disabled adult without dependents — may qualify for marketplace subsidies. See our guide on Special Enrollment Periods for when marketplace enrollment is available.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wyoming EqualityCare

What is EqualityCare?

EqualityCare is the official brand name for Wyoming’s Medicaid program, named in keeping with Wyoming’s identity as the “Equality State” — a reference to Wyoming being the first state to grant women the right to vote in 1869. It is administered by the Wyoming Department of Health and covers children, pregnant women, parents, seniors, and disabled individuals.

Does Wyoming have Medicaid expansion?

No — Wyoming has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA. Non-disabled, non-elderly adults without dependent children have no EqualityCare pathway regardless of income. Wyoming is one of a small remaining group of non-expansion holdouts.

Adults in the coverage gap may qualify for marketplace subsidies at healthcare.gov. See our guide on Special Enrollment Periods for enrollment options.

What is Wyoming’s home equity cap for Medicaid — and why is it lower than most states?

Wyoming’s home equity exemption cap is $602,000 — the lowest in this entire series and below the $730,000 federal standard. Wyoming chose to use a lower cap than the federal maximum allows.

For most Wyoming communities, this cap is rarely triggered — Casper, Cheyenne, and other Wyoming cities have median home prices well below $602,000. However, in Jackson Hole (Teton County), essentially every property exceeds this cap. Jackson Hole is one of the most expensive real estate markets in the United States — with median home prices exceeding $1 million and many properties in the $2–5 million range. Jackson Hole residents planning for long-term care must address home equity issues directly with a Wyoming Certified Medicaid Planner.

What is the Community Choices Waiver in Wyoming?

The Community Choices Waiver is Wyoming’s primary HCBS program for seniors and disabled individuals who meet nursing facility level of care criteria but want to remain at home. It covers personal care aides, adult day services, meal delivery, home modifications, and respite care.

Slots are limited — waiting lists apply. In the least populous state in the country, the home care workforce is extremely thin outside Cheyenne, Casper, and Laramie. For many rural Wyoming residents, the Community Choices Waiver is the only realistic alternative to nursing home placement — but actual service availability in remote areas is often limited by workforce shortages.

Does Wyoming EqualityCare count ranch land and mineral rights as assets?

Yes — non-homestead ranch land, grazing allotments, coal interests, oil rights, and gas interests are generally countable assets for long-term care EqualityCare purposes. Wyoming is the largest coal-producing state in the country and a significant oil, gas, and trona (soda ash) producer.

Transfers of ranch land or mineral rights within 5 years of applying for nursing home EqualityCare can create substantial penalty periods. Coal interests in the Powder River Basin (Campbell and Converse counties), natural gas interests in the Green River Basin (Sweetwater County), and oil interests in the Big Horn Basin (Park and Hot Springs counties) are all subject to look-back review.

Wyoming families with significant mineral interests should consult a Certified Medicaid Planner with Wyoming energy industry experience well before any care need arises.

What is Kid Care CHIP in Wyoming?

Kid Care CHIP is Wyoming’s children’s health coverage program with an age-tiered income structure. Children ages 0–5 qualify for Medicaid up to 154% FPL ($2,008/month) and for CHIP up to 209% FPL ($2,791/month). Children ages 6–18 qualify for Medicaid up to 133% FPL ($1,734/month) and for CHIP up to 209% FPL.

This two-tier structure gives younger children more generous Medicaid access — similar to how Mississippi structures its children’s Medicaid with different thresholds by age. There is no asset test for Kid Care CHIP.

Can Wind River Reservation tribal members access EqualityCare?

Yes — the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes on Wyoming’s Wind River Reservation may access EqualityCare through Indian Health Service facilities and tribal health programs. The Wind River Reservation is the only Indian reservation in Wyoming, covering approximately 2.3 million acres in Fremont and Hot Springs counties. Contact the IHS Wind River Service Unit or tribal health departments for enrollment guidance.

What options do I have if I’m in Wyoming’s coverage gap?

Adults aged 19–64 without qualifying disabilities or dependent children who earn too much for Wyoming’s parent/caretaker EqualityCare but are in the coverage gap have limited options within Wyoming’s current Medicaid framework. Options include marketplace plans at healthcare.gov (premium subsidies apply above 100% FPL), community health centers with sliding-scale fees, and seeking coverage through an employer.

See our guide on Special Enrollment Periods for when marketplace enrollment is available outside of annual open enrollment.

This guide reflects 2026 federal and Wyoming Department of Health guidelines. Rules change — verify current requirements with WDH at health.wyo.gov or by calling 1-855-294-2127 before making eligibility decisions.