Disability Insurance Policies

Wyo. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, ch. 18
in effect

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-102 Scope and applicability of chapter.

(a) Nothing in this chapter applies to or affects: (i) Any policy of liability or worker's compensation insurance with or without supplementary expense coverage therein; (ii) Any group or blanket policy; (iii) Life insurance, endowment or annuity contracts, or contracts supplemental thereto which contain only those provisions relating to disability insurance as: (A) Provide additional benefits in case of death or dismemberment or loss of sight by accident or accidental means; or (B) Operate to safeguard the contracts against lapse, or to give a special surrender value or special benefit or an annuity in case the insured or annuitant is totally and permanently disabled as defined by the contract or supplemental contract. (iv) Reinsurance; (v) Any contract made or issued prior to January 1, 1968, together with any extensions, renewals, reinstatements or modifications thereof or amendments thereto whenever made.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-103 General requirements for policies.

(a) No disability insurance policy shall be delivered or issued for delivery to any person in this state unless it otherwise complies with this code and the following: (i) The entire money and other considerations therefor shall be expressed in the policy; (ii) The time when the insurance takes effect and terminates shall be expressed in the policy; (iii) It shall purport to insure only one (1) person, except that a policy may insure, originally or by subsequent amendment, upon the application of an adult member of a family, who is deemed the policyholder, any two (2) or more eligible members of that family, including husband, wife, dependent children or any children under a specified age not exceeding nineteen (19) years and any other person dependent upon the policyholder; (iv) The style, arrangement and overall appearance of the policy shall give no undue prominence to any portion of the text, and any printed portion of the text and any endorsements or attached papers shall be plainly printed in lightfaced type of a style in general use, the size of which shall be uniform and not less than ten (10) point with a lower case unspaced alphabet length not less than one hundred twenty (120) point; (v) The "text" shall include all printed matter except the insurer's name and address, the policy name or title, the brief description, if any, and captions and subcaptions; (vi) The exceptions and reductions of indemnity shall be set forth in the policy and, other than those contained in W.S. 26-18-105 through 26-18-127, shall be printed, at the insurer's option, either included with the benefit provision to which they apply or under an appropriate caption such as "Exceptions", or "Exceptions and Reductions", except that if an exception or reduction specifically applies to a particular policy benefit, a statement of that exception or reduction shall be included with the benefit provision to which it applies; (vii) Each form, including riders and endorsements, shall be identified by a form number in the lower left-hand corner of the first page; (viii) The policy shall not contain any provision purporting to make any portion of the insurer's charter, rules, constitution or bylaws a part of the policy unless that portion is set forth in full in the policy, except in the case of the incorporation of or reference to a statement of rates, classification of risks or short-rate table filed with the commissioner; (ix) Repealed by Laws 2025, ch. 114, § 2. (b) Repealed by Laws 2025, ch. 114, § 2.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-104 Standard policy provisions; substitutions and omissions.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, any policy delivered or issued for delivery to any person in this state shall contain the provisions specified in W.S. 26-18-105 through 26-18-116, in the words in which the provisions appear, except that with the commissioner's approval the insurer may substitute for any of the provisions corresponding provisions of different wording which are in each instance not less favorable in any respect to the insured or the beneficiary. Each such provision shall be preceded individually by the applicable caption shown, or, at the insurer's option, by any appropriate individual or group captions or subcaptions the commissioner approves. (b) If any provision or part thereof is inapplicable to or inconsistent with the coverage provided by a particular form of policy, the insurer, with the commissioner's approval, shall omit from the policy the inapplicable provision or part and shall modify any inconsistent provision or part to make the provision as contained in the policy consistent with the coverage the policy provides.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-105 Policy constitutes entire contract; changes in policy.

"Entire Contract; Changes: This policy, including the endorsements and the attached papers, if any, constitutes the entire contract of insurance. No change in this policy is valid until approved by an executive officer of the insurer and unless the approval is endorsed on or attached to this policy. No agent has authority to change this policy or to waive any of its provisions."

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-106 Time limit on certain defenses.

(a) "Time Limit on Certain Defenses: After three (3) years from the date of issue of this policy no misstatements, except fraudulent misstatements, made by the applicant in the application for the policy shall be used to void the policy or to deny a claim for loss incurred or disability, as defined in the policy, commencing after the expiration of the three (3) year period." (i) This time limit shall not be so construed as to affect any legal requirement for avoidance of a policy or denial of a claim during the initial three (3) year period, nor to limit the application of W.S. 26-18-118 through 26-18-121 in case of misstatement with respect to age or occupation or other insurance; (ii) A policy which the insured has the right to continue in force subject to its terms by the timely payment of premium until at least age fifty (50) or in the case of a policy issued after age forty-four (44), for at least five (5) years from its date of issue, may contain instead of the "time limit on certain defenses" provision of this section the following provision (from which paragraph (i) of this subsection may be omitted at the insurer's option) under the caption "Incontestable: After this policy is in force for a period of three (3) years during the insured's lifetime, excluding any period during which the insured is disabled, it is incontestable as to the statements contained in the application." (b) "Except for the preexisting condition provision stated in this subsection, no claim for loss incurred or disability, as defined in the policy, shall be reduced or denied due to a preexisting condition not excluded from coverage by name or specific description effective on the date of loss. This preexisting condition provision shall not exclude coverage for a period beyond twelve (12) months following the individual's effective date of coverage and shall only relate to conditions for which medical advice, diagnosis, care or treatment was recommended or received during the six (6) months immediately preceding the effective date of coverage or as to a pregnancy existing on the effective date of coverage." (c) In determining whether a preexisting condition provision applies to an insured or dependent, all private or public health benefit plans shall credit the time the person was previously covered by a private or public health benefit plan if the previous coverage was continuous to a date not more than ninety (90) days prior to the effective date of the new coverage. In the case of a preexisting conditions limitation allowable in the succeeding carrier's plan, the level of benefits applicable to preexisting conditions or persons becoming covered by the succeeding carrier's plan during the period of time this limitation applies under the new plan shall be the lesser of: (i) The benefits of the new plan determined without application of the preexisting conditions limitation; or (ii) The benefits of the prior plan.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-107 Grace period.

(a) "A grace period of .... (insert a number not less than "7" for weekly premium policies, "10" for monthly premium policies and "31" for all other policies) days shall be granted for the payment of each premium falling due after the first premium, during which grace period the policy shall continue in force." (b) A policy in which the insurer reserves the right to refuse any renewal shall have at the beginning of the provision specified in subsection (a) of this section: "Unless not less than five (5) days prior to the premium due date the insurer delivers to the insured or mails to his address, as shown by the insurer's records, written notice of its intention not to renew this policy beyond the period for which the premium has been accepted."

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-108 Reinstatement.

(a) "Reinstatement: If any renewal premium is not paid within the time granted the insured for payment, a subsequent acceptance of premium by the insurer or by any agent authorized by the insurer to accept the premium, without requiring an application for reinstatement, reinstates the policy. If the insurer or the agent requires an application for reinstatement and issues a conditional receipt for the premium tendered, the policy shall be reinstated upon the insurer's approval of the application, or, lacking that approval, upon the forty-fifth day following the date of the conditional receipt unless the insurer previously notified the insured in writing of its disapproval of the application. The reinstated policy covers only loss resulting from an accidental injury sustained after the date of reinstatement and loss due to any sickness beginning more than ten (10) days after that date. In all other respects the insured and insurer have the same rights under the policy as they had immediately before the due date of the defaulted premium, subject to any provisions endorsed on or attached to this policy in connection with the reinstatement. Any premium accepted in connection with a reinstatement shall be applied to a period for which premium has not been previously paid, but not to any period more than sixty (60) days prior to the date of reinstatement." (b) The last sentence of the provision in subsection (a) of this section may be omitted from any policy which the insured has the right to continue in force subject to its terms by the timely payment of premiums: (i) Until at least age fifty (50); or (ii) In the case of a policy issued after age forty-four (44), for at least five (5) years from its date of issue.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-109 Notice of claim; loss-of-time benefit.

(a) "Notice of Claim: Written notice of claim shall be given to the insurer within sixty (60) days after the occurrence or commencement of any loss covered by the policy, or as soon thereafter as is reasonably possible. Notice given by or on behalf of the insured or the beneficiary to the insurer at .... (insert the location of the office the insurer designates for the purpose), or to any authorized agent of the insurer, with information sufficient to identify the insured, is deemed notice to the insurer." (b) In a policy providing a loss-of-time benefit which may be payable for at least two (2) years, an insurer may insert the following between the first and second sentence of the provision specified in subsection (a) of this section: "Subject to the qualifications set forth in this provision, if the insured suffers loss of time because of disability for which indemnity is payable for at least two (2) years, at least once in every six (6) months after having given notice of the claim, he shall give to the insurer notice of continuance of the disability, except in the event of legal incapacity. The period of six (6) months following any filing of proof by the insured or any payment by the insurer because of the claim or any denial of liability in whole or in part by the insurer shall be excluded in applying this provision. Delay in giving the notice does not impair the insured's right to any indemnity which would otherwise have accrued during the period of six (6) months preceding the date on which the notice is actually given."

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-110 Claim forms.

"Claim Forms: The insurer, upon receipt of a notice of claim, will furnish to the claimant the forms it usually furnishes for filing proofs of loss. If the forms are not furnished within fifteen (15) days after giving notice, the claimant is deemed to have complied with the requirements of this policy as to proof of loss upon submitting, within the time fixed in the policy for filing proofs of loss, written proof covering the occurrence, the character and extent of the loss for which claim is made."

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-111 Proofs of loss.

"Proofs of Loss: Written proof of loss shall be furnished to the insurer at its office in case of claim for loss for which this policy provides any periodic payment, contingent upon continuing loss within ninety (90) days after the termination of the period for which the insurer is liable, and in case of claim for any other loss within ninety (90) days after the date of the loss. Failure to furnish proof within the time required does not invalidate nor reduce any claim if it is not reasonably possible to give proof within that time, provided the proof is furnished as soon as reasonably possible and, except in the absence of legal capacity, not later than one (1) year from the time proof is otherwise required."

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-112 Time of payment of claims.

"Time of Payment of Claims: Indemnities payable under this policy for any loss, other than loss for which this policy provides any periodic payment, shall be paid immediately upon receipt of written proof of the loss. Subject to written proof of loss, all accrued indemnities for loss for which this policy provides periodic payment shall be paid .... (insert period for payment which shall not be less frequently than monthly) and any balance remaining unpaid upon the termination of liability shall be paid immediately upon receipt of written proof."

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-113 Payment of claims.

(a) "Payment of Claims: Indemnity for loss of life is payable in accordance with the beneficiary designation and the provisions respecting that payment which may be prescribed in this policy and effective at the time of payment. If no designation or provision is then effective, the indemnity is payable to the insured's estate. Any other accrued indemnities unpaid at the insured's death, at the insurer's option, may be paid either to the beneficiary or to the estate. Any other indemnities are payable to the insured." (b) Either or both of the following provisions may be included with the provision specified in subsection (a) of this section at the insurer's option: (i) "If any indemnity of this policy is payable to the insured's estate, or to an insured or beneficiary who is a minor or otherwise not competent to give a valid release, the insurer may pay the indemnity, up to an amount not exceeding $.... (insert an amount which shall not exceed $1,000), to any relative by blood or connection by marriage of the insured or beneficiary whom the insurer deems to be equitably entitled thereto. Any payment the insurer makes in good faith pursuant to this provision discharges the insurer to the extent of the payment." (ii) "Subject to the insured's written direction in the application or otherwise, all or a portion of any indemnities provided by this policy because of hospital, nursing, medical or surgical services, at the insurer's option and unless the insured requests otherwise in writing not later than the time of filing proofs of the loss, may be paid directly to the hospital or person rendering the services, but it is not required that the service be rendered by a particular hospital or person."

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-114 Physical examination and autopsy.

"Physical Examinations and Autopsy: The insurer at its own expense has the right to examine the person of the insured when and as often as it reasonably requires during the pendency of a claim under the policy and to make an autopsy in case of death if it is not forbidden by law."

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-115 Legal actions.

"Legal Actions: No action at law or in equity shall be brought to recover on this policy prior to the expiration of sixty (60) days after written proof of loss is furnished in accordance with the requirements of this policy. No such action shall be brought after the expiration of three (3) years after the time written proof of loss is required to be furnished."

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-116 Change of beneficiary.

(a) "Change of Beneficiary: Unless the insured makes an irrevocable designation of beneficiary, the right to change the beneficiary is reserved to the insured, and the consent of the beneficiary is not requisite to the surrender or assignment of this policy or to any change of beneficiary, or to any other changes in this policy." (b) The clause relating to the irrevocable designation of beneficiary may be omitted at the insurer's option.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-117 Optional policy provisions.

Except as provided in W.S. 26-18-104(b), no disability insurance policy delivered or issued for delivery to any person in this state shall contain provisions as set forth in W.S. 26-18-118 through 26-18-127 unless the wording of those provisions is the same as it appears in the applicable section, except that the insurer may use a corresponding provision of different wording the commissioner approves which is not less favorable in any respect to the insured or the beneficiary. The corresponding provision shall be preceded individually by the appropriate caption or, at the insurer's option, by appropriate individual or group captions or subcaptions the commissioner approves.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-118 Change of occupation.

"Change of Occupation: If the insured is injured or becomes ill after having changed his occupation to one the insurer classifies as more hazardous than that stated in this policy or while doing for compensation anything pertaining to an occupation so classified, the insurer shall pay only that portion of the indemnities provided in this policy as the premium paid would have purchased at the rates and within the limits fixed by the insurer for the more hazardous occupation. If the insured changes his occupation to one the insurer classifies as less hazardous than that stated in this policy, the insurer, upon receipt of proof of the change of occupation, shall reduce the premium rate accordingly, and shall return the excess pro rata unearned premium from the date of change of occupation or from the policy anniversary date immediately preceding receipt of the proof, whichever is more recent. In applying this provision, the classification of occupational risk and the premium rates shall be those the insurer last filed, prior to the occurrence of the loss for which the insurer is liable or prior to date of proof of change in occupation, with the state official having supervision of insurance in the state where the insured resided at the time this policy was issued. If the filings specified were not required, then the classification of occupational risk and the premium rates shall be those the insurer last made effective in that state prior to the occurrence of the loss or prior to the date of proof of change in occupation."

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-119 Misstatement of age.

"Misstatement of Age: If the insured's age is misstated, all amounts payable under this policy shall be such as the premium paid would have purchased at the correct age."

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-120 Overinsurance; same insurer.

"If any accident or sickness or accident and sickness policy previously issued by the insurer to the insured is in force concurrently with this policy, making the aggregated indemnity for .... (insert type of coverage or coverages) in excess of $.... (insert maximum limit of indemnity or indemnities), the excess insurance is void and all premiums paid for the excess shall be returned to the insured or to his estate." or, instead: "Insurance effective at any one time on the insured under this policy and a like policy in this insurer is limited to one (1) policy the insured, his beneficiary or his estate elects, and the insurer shall return all premiums paid for the other policies."

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-121 Overinsurance; all coverages.

(a) "Overinsurance: If, with respect to a person covered under this policy, benefits for allowable expense incurred during a claim determination period under this policy together with benefits for allowable expense during that period under all other valid coverage, without giving effect to this provision or to any 'overinsurance provision' applying to the other valid coverage, exceed the total of the person's allowable expense during the period, this insurer is liable only for the proportionate amount of the benefits for allowable expense under this policy during the period as: (i) The total allowable expense during the period bears to: (A) The total amount of benefits payable during the period for the expense under this policy and all other valid coverage, without giving effect to this provision or to any 'overinsurance provision' applying to the other valid coverage; less (B) In this paragraph any amount of benefits for allowable expenses payable under other valid coverage which does not contain an overinsurance provision. (b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section do not operate to increase the amount of benefits for allowable expense payable under this policy with respect to a person covered under this policy above the amount which would have been paid in the absence of these provisions. This insurer may pay benefits to any insurer providing other valid coverage in case of overpayment by the insurer. Any such payment discharges this insurer's liability as fully as if the payment is made directly to the insured, his assignee or his beneficiary. If this insurer pays benefits to the insured, his assignee or his beneficiary, exceeding the amount payable if the existence of other valid coverage had been disclosed, this insurer has a right of action against the insured, his assignee or his beneficiary to recover the amount which would not have been paid had there been a disclosure of the existence of other valid coverage. The amount of other valid coverage which is on a provision of service basis shall be computed as the amount the services rendered would have cost in the absence of that coverage. (c) For the purpose of the provisions in subsections (a) and (b) of this section: (i) 'Allowable expense' means one hundred ten percent (110%) of any necessary, reasonable and customary item of expense which is covered, in whole or part, as a hospital, surgical, medical or major medical expense under this policy or under any other valid coverage; (ii) 'Claim determination period' with respect to any covered person means the initial period of .... (insert period of not less than thirty days) and each successive period of a like number of days, during which allowable expense covered under this policy is incurred because of that person. The first period begins on the date when the first expense is incurred, and successive periods begin when an expense is incurred after expiration of a prior period, or, instead: 'Claim determination period' with respect to any covered persons means .... (insert calendar or policy period of not less than a month) during which allowable expense covered under this policy is incurred because of that person; (iii) 'Overinsurance provision' means this provision and any other provision which may reduce an insurer's liability because of the existence of benefits under other valid coverage." (d) The policy provisions specified in subsections (a) through (c) of this section may be inserted in all policies providing hospital, surgical, medical or major medical benefits. The insurer may make this provision applicable to either or both other valid coverage with other insurers and other valid coverage with the same insurer. The insurer shall include in this provision a definition of "other valid coverage" approved as to form by the commissioner. The term may include hospital, surgical, medical or major medical benefits provided by group, blanket or franchise coverage, individual and family-type coverage, Blue Cross-Blue Shield coverage and other prepayment plans, group practice and individual practice plans, uninsured benefits provided by labor-management trusteed plans, or union welfare plans, or by employer or employee benefit organizations, benefits provided under governmental programs, worker's compensation insurance or any coverage required or provided by any other statute, and medical payments under automobile liability and personal liability policies. Other valid coverage does not include payments made under third party liability coverage as a result of a determination of negligence, but an insurer may include a subrogation clause in its policy. As part of the proof of claim, the insurer may require the information necessary to administer this provision.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-122 Relation of earnings to insurance.

(a) "After the loss-of-time benefit of this policy has been payable for ninety (90) days, that benefit shall be adjusted, as provided in this section, if the total amount of unadjusted loss-of-time benefits provided in all valid loss-of-time coverage upon the insured exceeds .... % of the insured's earned income. However, if the information contained in the application discloses that the total amount of loss-of-time benefits under this policy and under all other valid loss-of-time coverage expected to be effective upon the insured in accordance with the application for this policy exceeded .... % of the insured's earned income at the time of the application, the higher percentage shall be used in the place of .... %. The adjusted loss-of-time benefit under this policy for any month shall be only that proportion of the loss-of-time benefit otherwise payable under this policy as: (i) The product of the insured's earned income and .... % or, if higher, the alternative percentage described at the end of the first sentence of this provision bears to; (ii) The total amount of loss-of-time benefits payable for that month under this policy and all other valid loss-of-time coverage on the insured, without giving effect to the overinsurance provision in this or any other coverage; less (iii) In both paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this subsection any amount of loss-of-time benefits payable under other valid loss-of-time coverage which does not contain an 'overinsurance provision'. (b) In making the computation specified in subsection (a) of this section, all benefits and earnings shall be converted to a consistent (insert 'weekly' if the loss-of-time benefit of this policy is payable weekly, 'monthly' if the benefit is payable monthly, etc.) basis. If the numerator of the ratio obtained in the computation in subsection (a) of this section is zero or is negative, no benefit is payable under this policy. This provision does not operate to: (i) Reduce the total combined amount of loss-of-time benefits for the month payable under this policy and all other valid loss-of-time coverage below the lesser of three hundred dollars ($300.00) and the total combined amount of loss-of-time benefits determined without giving effect to any 'overinsurance provision'; (ii) Increase the amount of benefits payable under this policy above the amount which would have been paid in the absence of this provision; nor (iii) Take into account or reduce any benefit other than the loss-of-time benefit. (c) For the purpose of subsections (a) and (b) of this section: (i) 'Earned income', unless otherwise specified, means the greater of the monthly earnings of the insured at the time disability commences and his average monthly earnings for a period of two (2) years immediately preceding the commencement of that disability and does not include any investment income or any other income not derived from the insured's vocational activities; (ii) 'Overinsurance provision' includes this provision and any other provision with respect to any loss-of-time coverage which may have the effect of reducing an insurer's liability if the total amount of loss-of-time benefits under all coverage exceeds a stated relationship to the insured's earnings." (d) The provisions of subsections (a) through (c) of this section may be included only in a policy providing a loss-of-time benefit which is payable for at least fifty-two (52) weeks, which is issued on the basis of selective underwriting of each individual application and for which the application includes a question designed to elicit information necessary either to determine the ratio of the total loss-of-time benefits of the insured to the insured's earned income or to determine that the ratio does not exceed the percentage of earnings, not less than sixty percent (60%), the insurer selects and inserts instead of the blank factor specified in this section. As part of the proof of claim, the insurer may require the information necessary to administer this provision. If the application indicates that other loss-of-time coverage is to be discontinued, the amount of the other coverage shall be excluded in computing the alternative percentage in the first sentence of the overinsurance provision. (e) The policy shall include a definition of "valid loss-of-time coverage", which the commissioner approves as to form. The definition may include: (i) Coverage provided by: (A) Governmental agencies; and (B) Organizations subject to regulation by insurance law and by insurance authorities of this or any other state of the United States or of any other country or subdivision thereof. (ii) Coverage provided for the insured pursuant to: (A) Any disability benefits statute; or (B) Any worker's compensation or employer's liability statute. (iii) Benefits provided by labor-management trusteed plans, union welfare plans, employer or employee benefit organizations or by salary continuance or pension programs; and (iv) Any other coverage the inclusion of which the commissioner approves.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-123 Unpaid premiums.

"Unpaid Premiums: Upon the payment of a claim under this policy, any premium then due and unpaid or covered by any note or written order may be deducted from the amount of the claim paid."

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-124 Conformity with state statutes.

"Conformity with State Statutes: Any provision of this policy which, on its effective date, is in conflict with the statutes of the state in which the insured resides on that date is amended to conform to the minimum requirements of those statutes."

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-125 Illegal occupation.

"Illegal Occupation: The insurer is not liable for any loss to which a contributing cause is the insured's commission of or attempt to commit a felony or to which a contributing cause is the insured's engaging in an illegal occupation."

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-126 Intoxicants and narcotics.

"Intoxicants and Narcotics: The insurer is not liable for any loss sustained or contracted because of the insured's being intoxicated or under the influence of any narcotic unless administered on the advice of a physician."

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-127 Renewability.

(a) Disability insurance policies, other than accident insurance only policies, in which the insurer reserves the right to refuse renewal on an individual basis, shall provide in substance in a provision in the policy or in an endorsement thereon or rider attached thereto that: (i) Subject to the right to terminate the policy upon nonpayment of premium when due, the right to refuse renewal may not be exercised so as to take effect before the renewal date occurring on, or after and nearest, each policy anniversary (or in the case of lapse and reinstatement, at the renewal date occurring on, or after and nearest, each anniversary of the last reinstatement); and (ii) Any refusal of renewal is without prejudice to any claim originating while the policy is in force. (b) The insurer may omit the parenthetic reference to lapse and reinstatement in paragraph (a)(i) of this section.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-128 Order of provisions of policy.

The provisions specified in W.S. 26-18-105 through 26-18-127 or any corresponding provisions used instead of the provisions in those sections shall be printed in the consecutive order of the provisions in W.S. 26-18-105 through 26-18-127 or, at the insurer's option, any such provision may appear as a unit in any part of the policy, with other provisions to which it is logically related, provided that the resulting policy shall not be in any part unintelligible, ambiguous or likely to mislead a person to whom the policy is offered, delivered or issued.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-129 Third-party ownership.

"Insured", as used in this chapter, shall not be construed as preventing a person, other than the insured, with a proper insurable interest from making application for and owning a policy covering the insured or from being entitled under that policy to any indemnities, benefits and rights provided therein.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-130 Requirements of other jurisdictions.

Any policy of a foreign or alien insurer, when delivered or issued for delivery to any person in this state, may contain any provision which is not less favorable to the insured or the beneficiary than the provisions of this chapter and which is prescribed or required by the law of the state or country under which the insurer is organized.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-131 Policies issued for delivery in another state.

If any policy is issued by a domestic insurer for delivery to a person residing in another state, and if the insurance commissioner or corresponding public official of the other state informs the commissioner that the policy is not subject to approval or disapproval by the official, the commissioner, by ruling, may require that the policy meet the standards set forth in W.S. 26-18-103 through 26-18-130.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-132 Policies less favorable than provisions of chapter prohibited.

Any policy provision which is not subject to this chapter shall not make a policy, or any portion thereof, less favorable in any respect to the insured or the beneficiary than the provisions of the policy which are subject to this chapter.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-133 Age limit.

If a policy contains a provision establishing, as an age limit or otherwise, a date after which the coverage provided by the policy is not effective, and if that date falls within a period for which the insurer accepts a premium or if the insurer accepts a premium after that date, the coverage provided by the policy continues in force until the end of the period for which premium is accepted. If the insured's age is misstated and if according to the insured's correct age the coverage provided by the policy would not be effective, or would cease prior to the acceptance of the premium, the insurer's liability is limited to the refund, upon request, of all premiums paid for the period not covered by the policy.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-134 Prohibited policy plans and provisions.

(a) No insurer shall deliver or issue for delivery in this state any disability insurance policy: (i) Providing benefits or values for surviving or continuing policyholders contingent upon the lapse or termination for any reason of other policyholders policies; (ii) Containing any clause, provision or agreement providing a premium, deposit or other payment for, or promising the distribution of, any bonus, special fund or guaranteed payment other than the insurance benefits specified in the policy, except that this restriction does not apply to the payment of dividends to the holders of participating policies.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-135 Filing of rates; adherence to rates filed.

Each insurer issuing disability insurance policies for delivery in this state, before use thereof, shall file with the commissioner its premium rates and classification of risks pertaining to the policies. The insurer shall adhere to its rates and classifications as filed with the commissioner. The insurer may change the filings as it deems proper.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-136 Franchise disability insurance.

(a) Disability insurance on a franchise plan is that form of disability insurance issued to: (i) Four (4) or more employees of any corporation, copartnership or individual employer or any governmental corporation, agency or department thereof; or (ii) Ten (10) or more members, employees or employees of members of any labor union or of any trade, professional or other association which: (A) Has a constitution or bylaws; and (B) Repealed by Laws 2003, Ch. 160, § 2. (C) Issues to the persons specified in this paragraph, with or without their dependents, the same form of an individual policy varying only as to amounts and kinds of coverage applied for by those persons under an arrangement in which the premiums on the policies may be paid to the insurer periodically by: (I) The employer, with or without payroll deductions; (II) The association or union for its members; or (III) Some designated person acting on behalf of the employer, association or union. (b) "Employees", as used in this section, includes the officers, managers, employees and retired employees of the employer and the individual proprietor or partners if the employer is an individual proprietor or partnership. (c) Prior to marketing or offering any disability insurance for a franchise plan formed for the sole purpose of obtaining insurance, the producer shall file a written report with the department setting forth the name of the entity or entities, the insurer and its address and the offering producer and his address. The department shall keep the name of the association confidential. (d) The provisions of the Small Employer Health Insurance Availability Act, W.S. 26-19-301 et seq., shall apply to all insurance issued under this section.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-201 Definitions.

(a) As used in this article: (i) "Comprehensive individual medical and surgical insurance policy" shall have the same meaning as "health benefit plan" as that term is defined in W.S. 26-19-302(a)(xii), including, at a minimum, comprehensive major medical coverage for medical and surgical benefits; (ii) "Health insurance," "health benefit plan" and "health benefit policy" mean a health benefit plan as defined by W.S. 26-19-302(a)(xii); (iii) "High deductible health plan" means accident and sickness insurance plans sold or maintained under the applicable provisions of section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code; (iv) "Primary state" means the state designated by the issuer as the state whose covered laws shall govern the health insurance issuer in the sale of health insurance coverage; (v) "Secondary state" means any state that is not the primary state.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-202 Sale of medical and surgical insurance policies approved in identified other states.

In accordance with the provisions of this article, the commissioner shall identify at least five (5) states with insurance laws sufficiently consistent with Wyoming laws. The commissioner may approve for sale in Wyoming selected comprehensive individual medical and surgical insurance policies that have been approved for issuance in those other states where the insurer is authorized to engage in the business of insurance so long as the insurer is also authorized to engage in the business of insurance in this state and provided that the policy meets the requirements set forth in this article. High deductible health plans that meet national standards for comprehensive medical and surgical coverage may be among the policies automatically approved in Wyoming if approved in the states identified as acceptable by the commissioner.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-203 Approval of policies.

A policy approved and issued pursuant to this article shall be treated as if it were issued by an insurer domiciled in Wyoming regardless of the insurer's actual domiciliary.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-204 Financial requirements; continuing compliance.

(a) Any insurer selling an insurance policy pursuant to this article, and any plan approved under this article, shall satisfy actuarial standards and insurer solvency requirements set forth by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and adopted by regulation promulgated by the commissioner or as otherwise prescribed by regulation promulgated by the commissioner so long as the regulation is not inconsistent with NAIC standards. (b) Any policy sold in Wyoming under the coverage and administrative laws and regulations of another state that are not covered by a guarantee association or similar association of that state shall be protected under the Wyoming Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association Act under Chapter 42 of this title. (c) The commissioner shall have the authority to determine whether an insurer satisfies the standards required by this section and shall not approve a policy or plan that he finds not in compliance with this section. The commissioner shall have the authority to determine whether the policies sold pursuant to this article continue to satisfy the requirements set forth in this section in the same manner as he does with an individual accident and sickness insurance policy approved pursuant to this code. The commissioner shall have the authority to suspend or revoke new sales of out-of-state policies if the laws and regulations of those states are determined to egregiously harm Wyoming residents. Upon suspension or revocation, the issuers of the out-of-state policies shall be required to notify in writing all affected Wyoming policyholders of the suspension or revocation determination by the commissioner.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-205 Multi-state consortium; reciprocity requirements.

(a) The commissioner shall explore with other insurance commissioners the creation of a consortium of like-minded states that could establish rules of reciprocity for the approval of comprehensive individual medical and surgical health insurance policies among the participating states. (b) The commissioner shall solicit the thoughts and report a consensus, where one exists, of the other commissioners interested in creating a consortium of like minded states in establishing rules of reciprocity for the approval of health insurance policies. Issues to be considered include but are not limited to: (i) Whether the consortium should involve only high deductible individual policies, all comprehensive individual medical and surgical health insurance policies, both of these types of individual policies plus small group policies or all health insurance policies; (ii) Whether insurers should be free to price differently among consortium states dependent on local health care costs and market conditions; (iii) Whether a policy approved in a primary state shall be automatically available in all secondary states of the consortium, or available at the option of the insurer; (iv) In areas where an associated preferred provider network is absent, whether sale of policies should be prohibited, disclaimers should be required or the sale of policies should be regulated only by market forces and conditions; (v) The adequacy for a multi-state consortium of existing state laws on insurer financial solvency, guarantee funds and imposition and collection of premium taxes; (vi) The authority of a secondary state to deal with customer complaints concerning a multi-state policy; (vii) Whether and when an insurer selling a policy approved in a primary state must notify the commissioner of a secondary state that the insurer is marketing the policy in the secondary state; (viii) Whether secondary state insurers, in order to sell competitive policies, may match any less restrictive primary state rules governing policies sold in the secondary state, and whether disclaimers to warn potential customers shall be required on policies and promotional materials in the secondary state; (ix) Whether any of the issues identified in this subsection require the enactment of uniform laws in the consortium states; (x) Estimated savings to customers from policy approval only in the primary state and from uniform or less restrictive policies across the consortium states; (xi) Other issues deemed appropriate by the commissioners to implement a multi-state consortium. (c) The commissioner shall make an initial proposal that Wyoming recommends the rules of approval for reciprocity should include terms and conditions to protect customers similar to the following: (i) An issuer, with respect to a particular policy, may only designate one (1) state as its primary state with respect to all coverage it offers using that policy. An issuer may not change the designated primary state with respect to individual health insurance coverage once the policy is issued; provided, however, that a change in designation may be made upon renewal of the policy with approval of the policyholder. With respect to the designated primary state, the issuer shall be licensed and approved to be doing business in that state; (ii) In the case of a health insurance issuer that is selling a policy in, or to a resident of, a secondary state, the issuer shall be licensed and approved to be doing business in that secondary state; and (iii) The covered laws of the primary state shall apply to individual health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer in the primary state and policies sold in any secondary state. The coverage and issuer shall comply with these terms and conditions with respect to the offering of coverage in Wyoming. (d) Except as provided in this section, a health insurance issuer with respect to its offer, sale, rating (including medical underwriting), benefit payment requirements, renewal and issuance of comprehensive individual medical and surgical health insurance coverage in Wyoming is exempt from any covered laws of Wyoming as the secondary state and any rules, regulations, agreements or orders sought or issued by the commissioner under or related to the covered laws to the extent that the laws would: (i) Make unlawful or regulate, directly or indirectly, the operation of the health insurance issuer operating in Wyoming as a secondary state, except that the commissioner may require an issuer: (A) To pay on a nondiscriminatory basis applicable premium and other taxes, including high risk pool assessments and other assessments which are levied on insurers and surplus lines insurers, brokers or policyholders under the laws of Wyoming; (B) To register with and designate the commissioner as its agent solely for the purpose of receiving service of legal documents or process; (C) To submit to examinations of its financial condition in accordance with the policies and regulations established through the national association of insurance commissioners for accreditation of states to perform these examinations; (D) To comply with an injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, upon a petition by the commissioner acting pursuant to chapters 28 of this code, chapter 48 of this code or W.S. 26-34-122 or 26-34-123; (E) To participate, on a nondiscriminatory basis, in any insurance insolvency guaranty association or similar association to which a health insurance issuer in the state is required to belong; (F) To comply with any state law regarding fraud and abuse, except that if the state seeks an injunction regarding the conduct described in this subparagraph, the injunction shall be obtained from a court of competent jurisdiction; (G) To comply with any state law regarding unfair claims settlement practices; and (H) To comply with the applicable requirements for external review procedures with respect to coverage offered in the state. (ii) Discriminate against the issuer issuing insurance in both the primary state and in any secondary state. (e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a health insurance issuer: (i) From terminating or discontinuing coverage or a class of coverage in accordance with the laws of the primary state; (ii) From reinstating lapsed coverage; or (iii) From retroactively adjusting the rates charged an insured individual if the initial rates were set based on material misrepresentation by the individual at the time of issue. (f) A health insurance issuer may not offer for sale individual health insurance coverage in Wyoming unless that coverage is currently offered for sale in the primary state. (g) A person acting, or offering to act, as an agent or broker for a health insurance issuer with respect to the offering of individual health insurance coverage shall obtain a license from Wyoming, with commissions or other compensation subject to the provisions of the laws of Wyoming, except that Wyoming may not impose any qualification or requirement which discriminates against a nonresident agent or broker. (h) Each health insurance issuer issuing individual health insurance coverage in both primary and secondary states shall submit to the insurance commissioner of each state in which it intends to offer the coverage before it may offer individual health insurance coverage in the state: (i) A copy of the plan of operation or feasibility study or any similar statement of the policy being offered and its coverage which shall include the name of its primary state and its principal place of business; (ii) Written notice of any change in its designation of its primary state; and (iii) Written notice from the issuer of the issuer's compliance with all the laws of the primary state. (j) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the authority of any federal or state court to enjoin the solicitation or sale of individual health insurance coverage by a health insurance issuer to any person or group who is not eligible for that insurance. (k) Out-of-state companies offering health benefit plans under this article shall be subject to regulation by the commissioner with regard to enforcement of the contractual benefits under the health benefit plan, including the requirements regarding prompt payment of claims for benefits pursuant to W.S. 26-13-124 and 26-15-124.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-206 Rules and regulations.

(a) The commissioner shall draft rules and regulations necessary to implement this article but shall be under no obligation to draft rules and regulations until after March 15, 2011. The commissioner may adopt the rules provided they are consistent with the requirements of W.S. 26-18-206. (b) Any dispute resolution mechanism or provision for notice and hearing in this title shall apply to insurers issuing and delivering plans pursuant to this article.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-207 Conflict with other code provisions.

If the provisions of this article conflict with any other provision of this code, the provisions of this article shall control.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-208 Authorization date.

No policy shall be issued or delivered for issuance in this state pursuant to the provisions of this article before July 1, 2011.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-301 Definitions.

(a) As used in this article: (i) "Health insurance," "health benefit plan" and "health benefit policy" mean a health benefit plan as defined by W.S. 26-1-102(a)(xxxii); (ii) "High deductible health plan" means health insurance plans sold or maintained under the applicable provisions of section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code; (iii) "Small employer" means small employer as defined by W.S. 26-19-302(a)(xxii); (iv) "Small employer health insurance policy" is any policy defined by W.S. 26-19-303(a).

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-302 Sale of health insurance policies approved in other states.

(a) The insurance commissioner shall approve for sale in Wyoming any individual or small employer health insurance policy or high deductible health plan that is currently approved for issuance in another state where the insurer or the insurer's affiliate or subsidiary is authorized to transact insurance, subject to the following: (i) Approval shall include approval of any relevant policy forms, provided the forms have been approved by the appropriate regulatory body in the other state; (ii) The insurer or the insurer's affiliate or subsidiary filing and issuing the policy in Wyoming is also authorized to transact insurance in this state pursuant to title 26, chapter 3 of the Wyoming statutes; (iii) The policy meets the requirements of this article; (iv) The insurer shall agree that the Wyoming insurance commissioner may enforce the provisions of the insurance policy and resolve disputes between the insurer and the policyholder in the same manner as the regulatory authorities in the other state, provided that if a contested case arises it shall be subject to the provisions of the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act and any appeals shall be resolved in Wyoming courts; (v) The insurer shall inform the commissioner whether the policy will be priced as it is in the other state or at a Wyoming specific price; (vi) For small employer health insurance policies, all policies shall be subject to the provisions of W.S. 26-19-306(a) and (c)(vi); (vii) The commissioner shall review any provider network requirements in the policy and may require modification of those requirements if the insurer lacks sufficient within network providers in Wyoming; (viii) Any authorized insurer may offer an individual or small employer an insurance policy with benefits equivalent to those in any policy approved for sale in Wyoming under this article provided that the offered policy meets the requirements of this article.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-303 Financial requirements; continuing compliance.

(a) Any insurer selling a health insurance policy pursuant to this article and any policy approved pursuant to this article shall satisfy actuarial standards of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the requirements of this article and any regulations of the department implementing this article. (b) The commissioner shall determine whether an insurer satisfies the requirements of this article and shall expeditiously approve policies and plans that comply with this article. The commissioner shall have the authority to determine whether a health insurance policy or plan sold pursuant to this article continues to satisfy the requirements of this article in the same manner as for other policies under this code. The commissioner shall have the authority to require an insurer to participate in the Wyoming health insurance pool and to make other payments required of insurers under this code. (c) Any policy sold pursuant to this article shall be protected under the Wyoming Life and Health Guaranty Association Act under Chapter 42 of this title.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-304 Disclaimers required.

(a) Each written application for a policy sold pursuant to this article shall contain the following language in boldface type at the beginning of the document: Warning! The benefits of this policy may primarily be governed by the laws of a state other than Wyoming. All of the laws applicable to policies filed in this state may not apply to this policy. Any purchase of individual health insurance should be considered carefully since future medical conditions may make it impossible to qualify for another individual health insurance policy. (b) Each policy sold pursuant to this article shall contain the following language in boldface type at the beginning of the document: Warning! The benefits of this policy may be governed primarily by the laws of a state other than Wyoming. The benefits covered may be different from other policies you can purchase in this state. Consult your insurance agent or insurer to determine which health benefits are covered under this policy.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-305 Rules and regulations.

(a) The commissioner shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement this article. (b) Any dispute resolution mechanism or provision for notice and hearing in this code shall apply to insurers issuing and delivering policies pursuant to this article.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-306 Conflict with other code provisions.

If the provisions of this article conflict with any other provision of this code, the provisions of this article shall control.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-18-307 Authorization date.

No policy shall be issued or delivered for issuance in this state pursuant to this article before July 1, 2013.
Source: WY Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title26.pdfFetched: 10/4/2026

Starting a business in Wyoming? Wyoming LLC guide: costs and requirements