Vermont Health Insurance


Family & Individual Health Insurance
Short-term Health Insurance
Group /Small Business
Student Health Insurance
Medicare Supplement
Life Insurance


How healthy is living in Vermont?

Vermont topped every other U.S. state in the 2009 ranking of the healthiest states by the United Health Foundation.

The top-rated state's best and worst category rankings:

  • Prevalence of binge drinking – 37
  • Prevalence of obesity – 7
  • High school graduation – 8
  • Violent crime – 2
  • Infectious disease – 5
  • Children in poverty – 4
  • Lack of health insurance – 9
  • Public health funding – 2
  • Immunization coverage – 37
  • Primary care physicians – 5
  • Preventable hospitalizations – 7
  • Geographic disparity – 4
  • Premature death – 3

See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on Vermont.


Does Vermont have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

Vermont does not have a state risk pool. The state has guaranteed-issue meaning all citizens will be accepted at the same premium regardless of their health. Thus New Yorkers are lucky to have access to health insurance that is much better than a risk pool (which almost always charges a higher-than-the-going-rate because it is made up of uninsurable people).


IMPORTANT UPDATE: Starting in 2010, Vermont will offer health coverage to residents through the federally established temporary high-risk pool program. To find out more about Vermont's participation, click here.

Risk pools are state-sponsored programs to help people with a history of medical problems in their family to purchase coverage. These pools are for people who can afford to buy health insurance, but are not able to get underwritten in the private market because of a pre-existing health condition. These programs can vary significantly from state to state in price, benefits and number of people served. Often insurance companies doing business in the state are required to contribute to the pool to keep it in the black. In the best cases, they allow people to be able to switch jobs or become self-employed without the fear of losing their health insurance coverage. Read more about risk pools here.


Cover The Uninsured's guide on finding health insurance in Vermont

Cover The Uninsured is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to demand solutions from our nation's leaders. Read more information on its efforts. It is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.


Georgetown University's Guide to Health Insurance in Vermont

Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute has researched and written state-by-state guides for finding and keeping health insurance. It updates these guides as federal and state policies change. A number of non-profit organizations help fund its research. Learn more about the Health Policy Institute.

Review Georgetown's guide for Vermont.


USNews health insurance rankings for Vermont

USNews logo US News does an annual ranking of what it considers the best health insurance plans in each state. Visit its reports on various health insurance or medical insurance plans being offered in Vermont.


Official State Goverment Sites with Vermont Health Insurance Information

Vermont State Seal.;

Consumer publications from Vermont's Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration -- includes guides on buying different types of health coverage in Vermont, HSAs, discount plans and much more.

Department for Children & Families, children, pregnant women -- information for uninsured children, pregnant women and adults.

Department for Children & Families, Medicaid program a government health insurance program for eligible people age 65 years and older, people who are blind or disabled, children and young people under 21, pregnant women, and parents of children under 18.

Advocacy

Vermont Health Care for All -- provides information, news and analysis for understanding the critical problems confronting health care in Vermont.

Senate spotlight: Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

Sen. Bernie Sanders

Radio talk show host Thom Hartmann calls Sanders "America's Senator" since he is neither a Republican nor a Democrat. He is a progressive voice for health reform.

Vermont Health Insurance Companies

Health insurance companies in Vermont.
Get health plan pricing for these companies.

BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont

Call Congress: Support Insurance Reform

Contact your federal officials. All Americans need your help to demand that Congress continue to support health care legislation that will make health insurance affordable and accessible to all Americans.
Senator Patrick Leahy
PHONE: 202-224-4242 (DC office)
FAX: not available (DC office)
Local offices (scroll down)
Contact by E-mail
Senator Bernard Sanders
PHONE: 202-224-5141 (DC office)
FAX: 202-228-0776 (DC office)
Local offices
Contact by E-mail

House Members
(follow link, then look for "Contact")

For state-level reform, contact:

Vermont Governor Jim Douglas
109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05609-0101
PHONE: 802-828-3333 (toll-free VT only: 1-800-649-6825)
PHONE: 802-828-3339
Contact by e-mail


Contact your Vermont state legislators

Read more on Health Care Reform!


Health Insurance 101: learning center

Individual health insurance an overview for those without employer-sponsored plans

Health insurance scams: tips for defending yourself from insurance fraud

Private health insurance: background on the "American way" of paying for health care

Self-employed health insurance: how to get – and keep – your health coverage

Additional health care resources

Find licensed physicians near you. Each state is home to organizations that can help you find and research physicians, offering online information about a physician's license, schooling, practice information and more.

Vermont Licensee Search
State of Vermont Medical Board DocFinder

Other Vermont Public Resources
Vermont Medical Society