Health Briefs – Nov 13, 2025

Vermont's Open Enrollment Period Begins Through Vermont Health Connect

Open Enrollment for Vermont's health insurance marketplace began on November 1. During Open Enrollment, Vermonters can sign up for or change their qualified health and dental plans for 2026. Coverage starts January 1, 2026, for those who sign up on or before December 15. Open Enrollment ends January 15, 2026.

"This year, it's more important than ever for Vermonters to stay informed and stay covered. Now is the time to sign up for health coverage for 2026," said Dr. DaShawn Groves, Commissioner of the Department of Vermont Health Access, which operates Vermont's health insurance marketplace. "While there is some uncertainty around the future of enhanced federal premium financial assistance, Vermonters should take the time to review their options and make sure they and their family can remain covered. DVHA is ready to help you during this time, and we will communicate any federal changes to our members."

Enhanced premium subsidies from the federal government are set to expire at the end of 2025. These subsidies have helped reduce out-of-pocket costs for Vermonters purchasing health insurance through Vermont Health Connect. DVHA is aware that these subsidies continue to be part of the conversation related to the ongoing federal shutdown. In the event that these subsidies are extended, DVHA will immediately communicate with our members and update Vermont Health Connect to ensure that all Vermonters are paying the lowest possible premiums.

It is important to note that there are still cost saving options available through the marketplace, even if the federal enhanced subsidies do expire. Many Vermonters enrolled through Vermont Health Connect will continue to qualify for financial assistance. For plan year 2026, an eligible individual who earns $40,000 a year could get the lowest-cost Gold plan for $77 a month – a savings of $1,058 each month. A family of four with a household income of $85,000 could get a Gold plan for $204 a month – a monthly savings of $2,067, or more than $20,000 per year.

It's best to sign up by December 15 to ensure coverage throughout all of 2026. Coverage will begin on February 1, 2026, for people who enroll between December 16, 2025, and January 15, 2026, the final day of the open enrollment period.

It's easy to sign up and review options:

Create an account and apply. Tell us about your household. You will be screened to see if you are eligible for financial help to help pay for a health plan.

The easy-to-use 2026 Plan Comparison Tool is designed to help you choose a health plan that best meets your financial and medical needs.

Assisters are professionals who are trained and certified by the Department of Vermont Health Access to help Vermonters enroll and maintain health coverage. They can answer questions and walk you through an application. Assisters work for various agencies in the community, such as hospitals, health care providers, and community-based organizations.

Learn how to calculate if employer-sponsored insurance is affordable or if you can get financial help through the marketplace with this online tool.

Vermonters who want to learn more can join DVHA's Open Enrollment Virtual Town Halls on November 18, and December 3. All Town Halls begin at 12:15 p.m. on their scheduled day.

Visit www.VermontHealthConnect.gov, call the Customer Support Center at 1-855-899-9600, or contact an in-person Assister near you for more information about Open Enrollment.

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Flu

With fall here, and winter soon on the way, many parents comment how time simply flew by.

Speaking of flu – 'tis the sneezin'! So, what better time to remind parents about flu shots for their children and what the flu "is and is s-not".

Some Important Flu Facts for Your Family

There are more than 200 viruses that cause the common cold. Yet the cold due to the influenza virus is a pretty bad one.

It is characterized by higher fevers, severe dry cough, muscle aches, headaches, and fatigue that wipes you out for weeks.

Each year 20,000 children under five are hospitalized because of flu complications. Many of these are under the age of two, with children with chronic health problems like asthma and diabetes being at even higher risk.

Influenza usually occurs in late fall and winter.

The strain or type of influenza virus changes each year, requiring a yearly flu shot for protection.

This upcoming flu season, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all healthy persons six months and older get the flu vaccine.

The vaccine comes in two forms:

o An injectable vaccine made up of killed parts of influenza viruses to mount a response to, and

o A nasal form made up of live but very mild or attenuated forms of the virus.

The side effects of the flu vaccine in children remain extremely mild and may consist of a headache, low grade fever, and tenderness at the site of the injection. These side effects are much less than getting the flu itself and can be easily treated with acetaminophen.

Hopefully sharp tips like these will be nothing to sneeze at this flu season!

Make sure that you and your children get your flu shots as soon as you can from your health care professional to prevent your child and you from getting the flu this year.

Lewis First, MD, is Chief of Pediatrics at the Golisano Children's Hospital at UVM Health and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Vermont's Larner College of Medicine. You can also catch "First with Kids" weekly on WOKO 98.9FM and MyNBC 5.

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Government Shutdown Poses Real Risks to Vermont Families and Child Abuse Prevention Efforts

As the federal government remains shut down, many of the supports that Vermont families and children rely on are under threat, creating ripple effects for child abuse prevention programs and the safety net services that help keep homes healthy and safe.

At Prevent Child Abuse Vermont (PCAVT), we know that prevention begins with strong, supported families. Programs such as Parent Circles, the Nurturing Parenting Program, the Adult Responsibility Project, and the free materials we provide to hospitals, including the Vermont Parent's Home Companion, help families reduce stress, stay connected, and keep children safe. When federal funding streams are stalled or delayed, these programs are placed at risk, directly affecting the families who depend on them.

How the Shutdown Impacts Our Work

Federal contracts and grants that sustain our child abuse prevention and family support programs are now in jeopardy. With the shutdown halting or delaying federal payments, PCAVT faces the possibility of funding interruptions that could force us to pause or scale back critical services.

Every day the shutdown continues, uncertainty grows, affecting multi-year grants, reimbursement schedules, and pending awards that our programs rely on. These disruptions do not only affect budgets; they threaten our ability to train parents, deliver prevention education, and provide direct support to families in need.

At the same time, as public resources shrink, more Vermont families are turning to us for help just as we face the risk of losing or delaying the funding that allows us to serve them. The strain on both sides is real, and the consequences could be long-lasting if federal support is not restored soon.

What This Means in Vermont

Across the state, the effects of the shutdown are already being felt. Families who were already stretched thin may face increased food insecurity, disrupted caregiving supports, and fewer options for safe, reliable services. When those safety nets weaken, everyday stress can quickly become crisis.

Research and experience show that the risk of child abuse and neglect rises when caregivers are under sustained stress and preventive supports are disrupted. For many families, these programs are lifelines, not luxuries.

At PCAVT, we and our partners may be forced to shift resources, delay program expansion, or scale back outreach at the very moment demand is increasing. The longer the shutdown lasts, the harder it becomes to maintain the consistent, dependable support that families count on to stay strong and safe.

PCAVT Response and Call to Action

We remain committed to doing everything we can for Vermont's children and families. At this time, we are monitoring federal funding streams and working with state and private partners to fill gaps. We are reaching out to our community, caregivers, and service providers to ensure that stressors are addressed and that families know where to find help. We are also calling on policymakers in Vermont and Washington to prioritize continuity of essential services for children and families during budget negotiations.

We urge Congress and the Administration to act immediately to reopen and fully fund the federal government. Every day of delay puts more children, families, and communities at risk. The well-being of families should never become collateral damage in a political standoff.

"Prevention can't be put on hold," said Jonathan Williams, Executive Director of PCAVT. "When essential supports are delayed or disrupted, families and children feel the impact immediately. We have a responsibility to keep the safety net strong, and that means acting now."