America’s health care system is in trouble, and rural towns like Kemmerer are feeling the strain. As some voice concern that the One Big Beautiful Bill could further weaken the state’s already fragile system, especially in its rural and sparsely populated areas, locals are stepping in to help seniors navigate a confusing and changing landscape.
The Rural Health Transformation Fund, a $50 billion federal initiative created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, aims to revamp rural healthcare across the U.S. by supporting struggling hospitals, expanding telehealth access and funding workforce training in underserved regions. Still, some Wyoming providers worry that the bill’s broader cuts to Medicaid and Medicare could offset those investments, leaving small towns to do more with less.
The American health care system is expensive, costing an estimated $5 trillion a year. Americans spend more on health care than any other country in the world yet don’t appear to be any healthier for it. Politicians on both sides of the aisle have pointed fingers, but ordinary citizens are left footing the bill — paying more than four times as much for pharmaceuticals as people in other developed nations.
Terri Cartwright of Kemmerer volunteers for the Wyoming State Health Insurance Information Program (WSHIIP), helping seniors understand and manage their Medicare health insurance. A former director of the town’s senior center, Cartwright saw firsthand how confusing coverage can be.
“Someone needs to be in their corner,” she said, explaining that she wanted to advocate for seniors after realizing there was a need. She noted that Medicare plans vary by county.
With more uninsured patients, rising costs and pressure on rural hospitals, small Wyoming towns could feel the impact of health care cuts more acutely. Cartwright said the uncertainty is frightening for many.
“The healthcare cuts are scary for people,” she said. “People need to stay on top of what their Medicare plan is going to do in the new year.”
She said residents can expect higher costs and canceled plans in some counties.
“It is not just Lincoln County that will be affected, but people throughout the state,” she said.
Cartwright said, “I don’t know about the ‘why,’ but I’m trying to help people navigate through changes.” Though she avoids politics, she’s blunt about the state health care: “The system is broke.”
Recently, Cartwright posted a message warning seniors that those with United Health Medicare Advantage Plans should have received termination letters in the mail — and should keep them.
“It will be important in setting up new coverage,” she said.
She said the United Health plan “has, in the past, been an excellent plan for seniors,” but many will now have to explore other options. She urged residents to meet with an agent to review coverage and warned against relying on social media or TV for information.
Eric Jenkins, a senior plan health insurance agent and broker, has spent over 16 years specializing in Medicare plans across Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Nevada. He’s been on the front lines of this year’s turbulence.
“It’s a nightmare,” he said, describing his efforts to help seniors in Kemmerer navigate the changes. “Unfortunately, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the toughest years I have seen in my 16 years helping people on Medicare, especially in rural communities.”
He said inflation and other factors have driven up premiums, deductibles and annual out-of-pocket maximums. Also, many are getting letters of termination from their Part C Medicare Advantage plan. New options are available, but they will come at a much higher cost.
“Everybody is going to pay more for their healthcare next year,” Jenkins said. “I’ve been telling my clients over the last several years that healthcare in this country is spiraling down, but this year’s changes are the biggest I’ve seen in my career.”
Opal resident Ellie Bienz is among those affected.
“The Advantage Plan was going to put money back into my social security,” Bienz said. “They said it was too expensive, and hospitals were dropping out. Jenkins got me on the Advantage Plan, and I loved it. It was a great plan.” She said Jenkins “did a fabulous job” helping her navigate the changes. “He takes care of me,” she said.
Jenkins said that, as commissions for agents are being cut, many are leaving the industry altogether. He worries that seniors will not get the adequate help they need to navigate their health insurance plans.
“We are starting to see more companies this year not pay commissions on several plans available. I have worked many hours over the past two weeks reviewing options and benefits and enrolling people in plans that I no longer make a commission on,” he said.
For the next couple of months, Jenkins said he plans to help his clients.
“I have gained their trust over the years,” he said and added that many of them are now friends in need of help. He advises people to go to the Medicare.gov but is aware that navigating the website and picking a plan can be challenging.
He also said he’s concerned about the broader implications of the changes.
“The system is complex,” he said. “I’m not sure if it breaks before it gets better. The federal government, private insurers, hospitals, doctors and pharmaceutical companies are all key parts of the Medicare system.”
He said costs are higher than ever, and recent legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act has increased what insurance companies must pay for prescriptions.
“Higher post-COVID claims, along with costly new medications and technologies, are also driving rapid change,” he said.
While Cartwright and Jenkins continue to help seniors sort through the confusion, both agree the system is under strain.
“Next year, I think, across the board in the country, health care is going to be back in the news as one of the main issues,” Jenkins said. “It will come back with a vengeance when people get their 2026 increases, and it will be one of the hot topics in the coming years.”
