State representative Candice White, D-Waitsfield, was among the 40 state legislators who attended a November 5 roundtable presentation on 2026 health care costs and updates. It was presented by Vermont Legal Aid’s health care advocate Mike Fisher.
White shared the information that was presented, as well as information on where people can find rates, plans, and other help.
VERMONT HEALTH CONNECT
The cost of health insurance on Vermont Health Connect is going up for many Vermonters in 2026, but there are steps people can take to reduce costs and find health care that will work. Take action during the Vermont Health Connect Open Enrollment Period to find an insurance plan that will meet health care and financial needs.
Vermont Health Connect Open Enrollment runs from November 1 to January 15. Visit healthconnect.vermont.gov to apply for health insurance or update income information and compare plans.
2026 Changes:
- BCBSVT plans are more expensive than MVP.
- Expanded Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTC) are set to expire at the end of 2025, Unless the federal government takes action. Vermonters with incomes over 400% FPL will no longer qualify for financial help for their monthly health insurance premium.
- People who receive too much APTC will have to pay it back at tax time. This is very important in 2026 because there is no longer a limit for APTC that people must pay back to the IRS if they get too much.
Take Action:
- Update income during the Open Enrollment Period and report changes throughout the year.
- Use the Vermont Health Connect Tool to compare plans and evaluate how much one can afford to pay in a monthly premium with their health care needs.
- Vermonters who do not qualify for financial help should consider buying reflective silver plans directly from MVP or BCBSVT.
- Consider switching to MVP: MVP prices are lower than BCBSVT in 2026.
Learn More: https://www.vtlawhelp.org/vhc-open-enrollment-2026
2026 MEDICARE ADVANTAGE
Most Medicare Advantage Plans (MA) in Vermont end on December 31, 2025. Vermonters losing their MA Plans will return to Original Medicare (Parts A & B) on January 1, 2026, and will need to enroll separately in a Part D plan for drug coverage. Sign up for a Part D Plan before December 31 to get a January 1 start date for prescription coverage. Act as soon as possible to avoid a gap in coverage. The last day to sign up for a Part D plan through the Special Enrollment Period is February 28.
Only Humana will offer MA Plans in five counties: Bennington, Caledonia, Orange, Windham, and Windsor. Those who have an MA Plan through a current or former employer will need check with them to see if there are any changes for 2026.
To see about qualifying for a Medicare Savings Program to help lower Medicare costs, people can visit https://www.vtlegalaid.org/news/vermont-expanding-MSPs. Medigap plans are a good option for those who do not qualify for a Medicare Savings Program called QMB. Medigap plans help cover costs not paid by Parts A and B (like deductibles and coinsurance). For those whose Advantage plan is ending, they qualify for Guaranteed Issue Rights for most Medigap plans (Except Plan N).
Learn More: https://www.vtlawhelp.org/2026-medicare-advantage-plans
The Office of the Health Care Advocate is a free and confidential resource for Vermont residents who have questions about health insurance or access to care. Call 1-800-917-7787 or submit an online help request at vtlawhelp.org/health.
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