Vermonters may be eligible for better health coverage

WATERBURY — Vermont's open enrollment period opens Nov. 1. During Open Enrollment, Vermonters can sign up for or change their health and dental plans for 2025. Coverage starts Jan. 1, 2025, for those who sign up on or before Dec. 15. Open Enrollment ends Jan. 15, 2025.

This year, many Vermonters will be eligible for better coverage plans at lower premium costs due to increased federal subsidies. The Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) encourages everyone to check available plan options on the Vermont Health Connect Plan Comparison Tool to ensure the best possible coverage.

"Now is the time for Vermonters to sign up for affordable, high-quality health coverage for 2025." said Dr. DaShawn Groves, Commissioner of the Department of Vermont Health Access, which operates Vermont's health insurance marketplace. "This year, customers enrolled through Vermont Health Connect can take advantage of better coverage plans at lower out-of-pocket premium costs."

Many Vermonters will be eligible to enroll in plans with higher coverage at a lower monthly premium cost. In 2025, many people will pay less for Gold plans than they would for other, less generous plans. Gold plans provide more value than Silver plans and are available at lower cost for 2025. To receive these savings, Vermonters must enroll through Vermont's health insurance marketplace, known as Vermont Health Connect. Vermonters can explore the Plan Comparison Tool to find the best available plan.

For plan year 2025, an eligible individual who earns $40,000 a year could get the lowest-cost Gold plan for less than $1 a month — a savings of $1,172 each month. A family of four with a household income of $100,000 could get a Gold plan for $155.37 a month — a monthly savings of $3,044, or more than $35,000 per year.

"The rising cost of healthcare is one of the biggest concerns for Vermonters," said Jenney Samuelson, Secretary of Human Services. "This is great news — reduced-cost Gold plans will make a big difference for our community members and residents. It's important that Vermonters know about the marketplace, how easy it is to get a plan, and how much less they'll pay than if they buy the same plan directly from an insurance company."

Over 90% of people who are enrolled through Vermont Health Connect qualify for financial help. Thousands of Vermonters now pay less than $25 a month for coverage through the marketplace. The increased cost savings available for Vermonters in 2025 make this the perfect opportunity to shop for a plan and benefit from available financial assistance.

Over the last year, the Department of Vermont Health Access was required to review the eligibility of over 200,000 Vermonters enrolled in Medicaid following pandemic-era flexibilities. The vast majority of enrollees remained eligible for Medicaid, but, for those who did not, the health insurance marketplace has provided an affordable, high quality coverage alternative. For Vermonters who have recently transitioned off Medicaid or other health coverage, qualified health plans are a strong way to regain or maintain continuous health insurance coverage at a low cost. Many Vermonters who no longer have Medicaid coverage may find health plans that, like Medicaid, also have zero (or near-zero) monthly premiums. All qualified health plans available include the same essential health benefits.

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

It's easy to sign up:

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

The easy-to-use Plan Comparison Tool for 2025 health plans is designed to help you choose a plan to 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 Nov. 13 at noon, and Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m. Visit www.VermontHealthConnect.gov, call the Customer Support Center at 1-855-899-9600, contact an in-person Assister near you for more information about Open Enrollment.

The post Vermonters may be eligible for better health coverage appeared first on Addison Independent.