Vermont's 2026 individual market has two carriers, MVP Health Care and Blue Cross Blue Shield. We analyzed both the carriers across five age profiles: 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60, both MVP Health Care and Blue Cross Blue Shield scored 5 out of 5. Vermont bans age-based premium variation entirely. A 60-year-old and a 40-year-old pay identical rates for the same plan, unlike most states where older enrollees pay up to three times the base rate.
Best Health Insurance in Vermont (2026)
Updated: July 7, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Key Takeaways
MVP Health Care is Vermont's top health insurance provider for HMO plans, with the lowest premiums available in the state across all metal tiers.
Blue Cross Blue Shield is the best EPO plan provider in Vermont, with policy options across all metal tiers.
Compare quotes from both Vermont carriers, check deductible and out-of-pocket limits for each plan and confirm your preferred doctors are in the network before enrolling.
Best Health Insurance Companies in Vermont
MVP Health Care is the best health insurance in Vermont, its Silver HMO plans averages $1,113 per month and $3,050 deductibles. With Silver plans averaging $1,304 per month and a $3,625 deductible, Blue Cross Blue Shield is the leading choice for EPO plans.
MVP's Platinum plan carries a $500 deductible and $1,600 out-of-pocket maximum. In most other states, a 65-year-old pays two to three times the base rate for the same tier.
MVP Health Care | $1,113 | $9,075 | $3,050 | 5 | HMO |
Blue Cross Blue Shield | $1,304 | $9,700 | $3,625 | 5 | EPO |
*Our picks reflect the best companies for 40-year-olds seeking Silver-tier plans. Rates vary by location, plan type, age and coverage level.
The monthly premium gap of $191 between MVP and Blue Cross Blue Shield adds up to $2,292 over a plan year. But MVP's HMO network requires all non-emergency care to stay in network and Vermont's rural geography means in-network access can be limited outside Burlington and Montpelier.
MVP Health Care
MoneyGeek Rating
5/ 5
5/5Affordability
5/5Deductible
5/5MOOP
Average Monthly Rate
$1,113Average MOOP
$9,075Average Deductible
$3,050
Blue Cross Blue Shield
MoneyGeek Rating
5/ 5
5/5Affordability
5/5Deductible
5/5MOOP
Average Monthly Rate
$1,304Average MOOP
$9,700Average Deductible
$3,625
Compare Health Insurance Companies in Vermont
Vermont's exchange offers HMO plans through MVP Health Care and EPO plans through Blue Cross Blue Shield across every metal tier, age group and HSA eligibility status. While insurance companies in Vermont are not allowed to adjust premiums based on age, gender, health and other risk characteristics. Monthly premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums do vary across policy types, metal tiers and providers.
Data filtered by:
HMO
Silver
No
| MVP Health Care | $1,113 | HMO | Silver | $9,075 | $3,050 | No |
| MVP Health Care | $1,113 | HMO | Silver | $9,075 | $3,050 | No |
| MVP Health Care | $1,113 | HMO | Silver | $9,075 | $3,050 | No |
| MVP Health Care | $1,113 | HMO | Silver | $9,075 | $3,050 | No |
| MVP Health Care | $1,113 | HMO | Silver | $9,075 | $3,050 | No |
*Some providers offer multiple plans of the same type and tier. Rates are based on company averages across all available plans for the given age, plan type and metal tier.
How to Find the Best Health Insurance in Vermont
Finding the right health insurance in Vermont means matching your coverage needs to the right plan type, insurer and enrollment window.
Decide on your coverage needs before buyingHow often you use care determines which tier saves you more. Buyers who visit doctors more than twice a year or fill regular prescriptions usually spend less on Silver or Gold than on Bronze, because the lower deductible offsets the higher premium within a few claims.
Vermont's marketplace only offers HMO and EPO plans. The gap between the cheapest Bronze HMO ($824 monthly) and the most expensive Platinum EPO ($1,580) is $756 per month or $9,072 annually. An enrollee who reach their deductible every year saves money on a Gold or Platinum plan compared to Bronze, even though the monthly premium is higher.
Compare company offerings and reputationsReview each carrier's provider directory before enrolling. MVP's HMO network and BCBS's EPO network both require in-network care, so confirming your current doctors participate is more useful than comparing scores between two carriers that rate identically.
Shop aroundVermont's open enrollment is from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15 via Vermont Health Connect, with a Dec. 15 deadline for coverage starting Jan. 1, 2026. The core question is Silver HMO versus Silver EPO, a $191 monthly difference.
Take advantage of federal programs and subsidiesVermont Health Connect determines subsidy eligibility when you apply. Some Vermont residents qualify for plans with $0 premiums through Medicaid based on income. Premium tax credits are also available for higher-income buyers who don't qualify for Medicaid.
Vermont also has the Vermont Premium Assistance (VPA) program, which lowers monthly premiums by 1.5% of your household's total annual income. You must enroll through Vermont Health Connect to access it. Buyers who purchase directly from the carrier cannot apply VPA.
In 2026, 77% of Vermont Health Connect enrollees qualified for advance premium tax credits. Those subsidies averaged $947 per month and reduced the average eligible buyer's monthly cost to about $183.
Vermonters 65 and older can compare Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage plans separately from the marketplace. Platinum plans through MVP cost $1,366 monthly for a 60-year-old, the same rate as a 40-year-old, a pricing structure that doesn't exist in most other states.
How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Vermont?
Vermont health insurance costs vary by plan type, metal tier, HSA eligibility and low-income plan status. HMO plans are the most affordable: Bronze averages $841 a month. EPO plans range from $962 a month for Bronze to $1,580 a month for Platinum.
| HMO | $841 | $1,128 | $1,173 | $1,366 |
| EPO | $962 | $1,319 | $1,338 | $1,580 |
*Rates vary location. HMO Silver and EPO Silver averages in this table differ from the averages in the provider ranking table above because they include additional plan configurations across all age profiles. Figures in the provider ranking table reflect 40-year-old Silver-tier plans only.
We found in our review that Vermont's 2026 rates are up 6% from 2025 across all tiers, with Silver plans rising 6% and Platinum plans rising 5%. HMO plans cost $121 less per month than EPO plans at the Bronze tier and $191 less at Silver. And a 65-year-old in Vermont pays $1,366 monthly for MVP's Platinum HMO, the same rate as a 40-year-old.
Best Health Insurance in Vermont: Bottom Line
MVP Health Care's Silver HMO is our top pick for most Vermont residents with established in-network care relationships and no ongoing out-of-state specialist needs. Choose MVP over Blue Cross Blue Shield to save $191 per month at the Silver tier. If you need referral-free specialist access or live where the MVP's HMO network is thin, Blue Cross Blue Shield's EPO plans is a good fit for you.
Best Vermont Health Insurance: FAQ
Answers to questions about finding the best health insurance:
Yes. Vermont requires residents to have health insurance or pay a state tax penalty at filing. Exemptions cover financial hardship, religious objections and short coverage gaps. State subsidies are available to qualifying residents and can reduce monthly premiums.
Vermont's open enrollment period for 2026 health coverage starts November 1, 2025, and ends January 15, 2026. You must select a plan by December 15, 2025, for coverage to begin January 1, 2026.
Yes, Vermont residents can access free health insurance through Medicaid if they meet income requirements. Others qualify for premium subsidies through Vermont Health Connect, the state's marketplace.
Vermont's age-rating ban means seniors pay the same premium as younger enrollees for the same plan. A 65-year-old pays $1,366 monthly for MVP's Platinum HMO, the same rate as a 40-year-old. That makes Platinum coverage more accessible in Vermont than in most states. MVP's Platinum plan offers a $500 deductible and $1,600 out-of-pocket maximum.
HMO plans require you to use in-network providers for all non-emergency care and get a referral before seeing a specialist. EPO plans drop the referral requirement but keep the in-network restriction. Choose MVP's HMO if your doctors are in Burlington or Montpelier and you don't see out-of-state specialists. Blue Cross Blue Shield's EPO works if you need referral-free specialist access or receive ongoing care outside Vermont's network.
Yes. Vermont Health Connect, the state's marketplace, is open to self-employed Vermont residents on the same terms as any individual buyer, the same MVP Health Care and Blue Cross Blue Shield plans apply. Premium tax credits based on income are available to self-employed residents who fall within the subsidy eligibility thresholds.
In 2026, 77% of Vermont Health Connect enrollees qualified for advance premium tax credits. Those subsidies averaged $947 per month and reduced the average eligible buyer's monthly cost to about $183. Vermont also has the Vermont Premium Assistance program, this lowers premiums further by 1.5% of household income for buyers who enroll through Vermont Health Connect rather than directly from a carrier.
Vermont's 2026 health insurance rates are up 6% from 2025 across all plan tiers. Silver plans rose 6% and Platinum plans rose 5%. Rate increases reflect higher health care costs, changes in federal tax credits and increased demand for specialty medications.
Vermont Premium Assistance lowers your monthly health insurance premium by 1.5% of your household's total annual income. A Vermonter earning $48,000 annually would save $720 per year through VPA. You must enroll through Vermont Health Connect to access it. Buying a plan directly from MVP Health Care or Blue Cross Blue Shield makes you ineligible.
How We Chose the Best Health Insurance in Vermont
We weighted three cost factors:
- Monthly premium (60%): Plans with lower average monthly costs score higher.
- Maximum out-of-pocket (20%): The annual cap on health care costs beyond premiums. Lower MOOP limits score better. See our maximum out-of-pocket explainer for details.
- Deductible (20%): The amount you pay before coverage begins. Lower average deductibles score higher.
We standardized all scores within each filter group. The top Silver HMO plan scores five out of five, with other plans scored relative to that benchmark.
To build our rankings, we used a standard profile: a 40-year-old individual seeking individual coverage in Vermont. We adjusted age across five profiles (18, 26, 40, 50 and 60) to identify how rankings shift across age groups. Rates shown reflect the 40-year-old profile unless otherwise noted. Premium costs shown reflect rates for a 40-year-old unless stated otherwise. Our analysis covers Catastrophic, Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum coverage levels.
Related Pages
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he produces original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.
Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.
Mark holds a B.A. from Boston College and an M.A. in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University. He started his career in financial risk management at State Street and is also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.
Sources
- HealthCare.gov. "Health Insurance Marketplace." Accessed July 16, 2026.
- Vermont Health Connect. "When can I apply for health coverage?." Accessed July 16, 2026.