Vermont health insurance enrollment opens as premiums climb

Open enrollment through Vermont Health Connect is available for people signing up for or changing qualified health and dental plans.

Vermonters can now shop for 2027 health coverage, but the sign-up period is shorter this year and monthly premiums are continuing to move upward.

For one adult buying a Gold Plan from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, the price has risen about 14% since 2025, increasing from $1,219.41 to $1,391 a month before subsidies. MVP Health Care’s comparable plan is also more expensive, though by a smaller margin, with the 2027 price set at $1,188 compared with $1,145.

State officials say those numbers do not tell the whole story because many customers qualify for financial help. Depending on age, income and health status, subsidies can reduce monthly bills by hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The Department of Health Access is urging people to check the plan comparison tool on Vermont Health Connect rather than assume they will not qualify for assistance.

The market has also been affected by the expiration of expanded federal tax credits at the end of 2025. Those credits had helped some single people earning above roughly $63,000 a year purchase coverage on their own. State data shows about 28,500 people are enrolled in marketplace plans for 2026, a drop officials link to the loss of those subsidies. According to the figures, older age groups were among the hardest hit.

Health Care Advocate Mike Fisher said the shrinkage of the market was widely expected, and he added that the people who remain often end up shouldering higher costs. He also pointed to Vermont’s broader medical price levels as a major reason premiums remain elevated. As costs rise, more people are choosing Bronze Plans with lower monthly payments but higher deductibles, a tradeoff that can leave some insured Vermonters unable to afford care when they need it.

The deadline to enroll for coverage that begins January 1, 2027 is December 15. That is one month earlier than last year, leaving less time for people to get help choosing a plan. Fisher warned that calls for assistance are likely to build as the cutoff approaches, making early action important.

Open enrollment through Vermont Health Connect is available for people signing up for or changing qualified health and dental plans. The Department of Vermont Health Access says residents should review the 2027 options now. Officials also note that this year includes benefit changes for certain noncitizens and immigrants.