Rising Health Insurance Costs Hit Vermont Families Hard
Kathleen Gill, 35, and her husband Daniel Fifield, 38, are no strangers to danger in their line of work. Gill is a mobile equine veterinarian while Fifield operates a dairy farm. Recently, they faced a financial hurdle when health insurance became unaffordable. The monthly premium for their family of four skyrocketed from 23 cents last year to an eye-watering $2,622.15 this year. Looking ahead, they anticipate paying about $31,465.80 in insurance premiums by 2026, which oddly exceeds their mortgage payments.
This dramatic rise can be attributed to several factors. The Affordable Care Act subsidies, which were crucial during the pandemic, have now expired. Despite various Democratic lawmakers pushing for an extension during the lengthy federal government shutdown, their efforts fell short. In Vermont, health insurance premiums have been climbing annually, with increases ranging from 40 to 60 percent over the past five years, as noted by Owen Foster, the chairman of the Green Mountain Care Commission.
The couple decided on Vermont’s Bronze Blue Cross Blue Shield plan through Vermont Health Connect. Unfortunately, this plan comes with a family out-of-pocket limit of $20,300. If two family members face a major medical emergency, the couple could find themselves paying a staggering total of $51,765.80 in premiums and deductibles before their coverage kicks in. That figure represents about one-third of their combined income—quite hefty.
Interestingly, Gill has only met her deductible twice, both times during the births of their two daughters. They briefly toyed with the idea of expanding their family but decided against it, largely due to the daunting medical expenses. They built their half-timbered house with family help years back, and both are concerned that these new costs might threaten their home.
In a recent “Stuck in Vermont” episode, Senior Multimedia Producer Eva Solberger visited the family in Cornwall to gain insights into Gill’s challenging navigation of the healthcare landscape.
In Burlington, Joe Robinson, 43, works in school nutrition. Unfortunately, when she slipped on ice in January and broke her ankle and foot, she had no insurance. After being transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center, she faced a bill exceeding $4,000, though it was lowered to about $2,385.25 since she paid out of pocket. A week later, when her cast needed adjustment, a visit to Fannie Allen Urgent Care cost her $169, ultimately reduced to $92.95. She hasn’t yet received her ambulance bill. However, she’s hopeful since her health insurance kicks in mid-February with her new job cooking for preschoolers.
Solberger also spoke with 48-year-old Ellen Repstad, a self-employed therapist from Bristol, facing her own insurance woes this year due to high costs. Living with type 2 diabetes, she pays for her medication out of pocket. Repstad is now considering various ways to find affordable treatment, even thinking about traveling abroad for procedures, but insists she’s not abandoning her medical care—just the insurance that comes with it.
This episode of “Stuck in Vermont” featured insights from the Vermont Community Foundation.
This article will be published on January 21, 2026.
