Health insurance rates are on the rise for thousands of Vermonters

Health insurance rates are on the rise for thousands of Vermonters after state regulators earlier this week approved a rate hike for the state’s two major carriers. Officials say the double-digit increase should be a wake-up call for fundamental reforms in the health care system. “It just really is impossible to try to get ahead and also take care of yourself when you can’t help that you get sick with something,” said Amy Morse of Milton. She sought treatment for Lyme disease and discovered some of the costs weren’t covered by insurance, paying $16-to-18,000 of medical treatment out-of-pocket that wasn’t covered by insurance. She said things as antibiotics that were a couple thousand a month.” For small groups under Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, there will be an increase of almost 23 percent, and around 11 percent for MVP. For individuals under BCBS, the increase rings in at almost 20 percent, and around 14 percent for MVP.