Hospital and Provider Bills vs. Health Plan Claims in Wyoming

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · How we calculate

We found no Wyoming statute that gives a hospital or doctor a lien on an injury settlement, and a compendium of subrogation law says Wyoming has no statewide hospital lien law. An unpaid bill is a debt you may still owe, but it is not a lien.

What we looked for

We searched the Wyoming titles on liens and on public assistance for a hospital or provider lien on personal injury recoveries and found only the possessory and statutory liens on goods, animals and vehicles in chapter 29-7, which do not cover medical bills. A compendium lists Wyoming among the states without statewide lien laws. We did not search every title or local ordinance, so ask an attorney whether anything has been filed against your claim.

What a bill is

If you still owe a provider, the bill is a debt. The provider can pursue it through collection, but it does not attach to your settlement the way a statutory lien would. Negotiating a reduction before you settle is common.

Who does have recovery rights

Medicaid has its own right (W.S. 42-4-201), and health plans can claim subrogation for what they paid; see our post on health plan reimbursement.

A worked example

On a $100,000 settlement with a one-third fee and $3,000 in costs, you keep $63,667 before any plan, Medicaid or Medicare claim. A $9,000 plan claim in full leaves $54,667. Use the Wyoming medical lien calculator.

Next steps

Medicaid and Medicare follow their own rules; see the Medicare and Medicaid post.

This is general information, not legal advice, and the state comparisons above are illustrative, not an exhaustive survey. Confirm how Wyoming's rules apply to your specific case with a licensed Wyoming attorney.