Vermont Health Insurance
How healthy is living in Vermont?
"Congratulations Vermont! The United Health Foundation has named you the healthiest state in which to live in the nation... whadda ya gonna do?" Vermont:"I'm going to Maple Syrup World!"
All kidding aside, this is a high achievement. Vermont ranked 16th back in 1990 but is now considered the best, according to this study by one of the nation's leading health care foundations. Take that Minnesota (the previous topper, now at #2)!
It is a very solid ranking. Vermont doesn't rank first in any of the 20 categories tracked by the foundation, but is in single digits (top ten) in 13 of them and is higher than the teens in only two -- binge drinking gives Vermont a #37 and per capita spending on public health gives it a #41.
Binge drinking might be a factor that could knock Vermont off its newly-achieved high perch in 2008. Up until this year the UHF has not considered it in assigning its overall rankings. Minnesota won't regain the #1 spot as it has even a bigger problem in this category (which is largely a problem in the upper MIdwest and a few northeastern states).
Regardless, Vermont seems to have a lock on the upper tier. It's lack of public health funding may not be that huge of factor, considering its strength across the board.
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).
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 poolto 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. Find more on 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.
- Cover The Uninsured's facts on the uninsured in Vermont.
- Its guide on how to find health insurance in Vermont.
- Materiales En Español -- Guías para encontrar cobertura de seguro de salud.
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 contribute to funding its research. Find more on the Health Policy Institute.
News headlines on Vermont health insurance
Find the most recent headlines on health insurance in Vermont at Google News or Yahoo News.
Want single-payer health care? Concerned about the uninsured?
Contact your elected officials about health care issues
Contact your federal officials. Phone calls are best. Faxes are good, too. Since 9-11 postal mail creates long delays, and many members of Congress simply do not take e-mail seriously -- however, since e-mail is so easy it doesn't hurt to do that, too. Members of the Senate and Congress will usually ignore any correspondence that is not from their district, so its not desirable to blanket e-mail them (this type of abuse is why many do not view it favorably). The Electronic Frontier Foundation has a guide on how to contact your elected officials, including a valuable list of dos and dont's.
- Contact the White House
Phone: toll free 1-800-671-7887 (ask for the Comment Line)
FAX: 1 202-456-2461 (fax)
E-mail:comments@whitehouse.gov
- Find contact information on your U.S. Representative
Locate by using your ZIP Code
Or if you know who your representative is, simply call the Capitol Switchboard toll-free at 1-800-962-3524
- Senator Patrick Leahy
PHONE: 202-224-4242 (DC office)
FAX: not available (DC office)
Local offices (scroll down)
Contact by E-mail
- Senator Bernie Sanders
PHONE: 202-224-5141 (DC office)
FAX: 202-228-0776 (DC office)
Local offices (scroll down)
Contact by E-mail
- 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
USNews health insurance rankings for Vermont
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
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.
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Guaranteed-issue, defined benefit health insurance
Self-employed health insurance
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