Vermont Can’t Afford Huge
Insurance Rate Hikes

Dear Fellow Vermonter,

Let me tell you what this government shutdown is really about.

It’s about whether working families in Vermont — and across America — will be able to afford health care next year.

As you know, Republicans in Congress are holding firm on their plan to eliminate subsidies for Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage. That plan would cause massive premium hikes for tens of thousands of Vermonters. In addition, they continue to insist that 15 million Americans, including 45,000 in Vermont, lose their health insurance entirely because of massive cuts to Medicaid and the ACA.

New data released just yesterday by Vermont Health Connect shows us the devastating impact of these premium increases on working families across our state.

For example, a family of four earning $129,000 a year in Burlington and getting coverage through MVP would see their premiums nearly quadruple — from more than $900 per month today to more than $3,600 per month. Then add the $10,000 out-of-pocket limit and the $3,500 deductible, and that family could pay over $50,000 a year for health care — more than 40% of their income. Who can afford that? That is not just unconscionable, it is unsustainable. 

Here’s what the Vermont Health Connect reports:

2025 plan

2026 Plan

This isn’t just a problem for those with MVP. It’s also hitting Vermonters with coverage through BlueCross BlueShield. For example, in Bennington, a couple in their 60s earning $85,000 a year now pays about $830 a month in premiums for their coverage. Next year, without these subsidies, they’d pay more $3,000 a month. Add the deductible and other costs, and they’ll spend nearly half their income — more than $40,000 — on health care. Outrageous.

2025 Plan

2026 Plan

This reality is what the federal government shutdown is all about. Let me be clear: I will not vote to substantially raise health care costs in Vermont for tens of thousands of people. I will not vote to throw 45,000 Vermonters off of their health care. We can and must do better.

At a time when the cost of everything — housing, groceries, energy — keeps going up, we should be expanding health care, not cutting it. We should be moving toward Medicare for All, not taking away coverage from families who desperately need it.

Health care is a human right, not a privilege. And I intend to fight with everything I have to make sure every person in Vermont and in America can get the care they need, when they need it — without going bankrupt.

Sincerely,