Committee hears support for H.35 to keep individual and small-group insurance markets separate

The House Health Care Committee on Jan. 22 heard testimony supporting H.35, the bill to make permanent the current separation of Vermont's individual and small-group commercial insurance markets. Mike Fisher, a healthcare advocate, told the panel that "the HCA supports this bill as drafted," and urged lawmakers to maintain the unmerged marketplace.

Committee members and witnesses framed the measure as a stability step while federal premium tax credits remain uncertain. Sarah Teachout, representing Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, told the committee that "Blue Cross strongly supports passage of this legislation to keep the 2 markets separate permanently," saying the change makes the state's approach more similar to other states and eases future responses to federal policy shifts.

The bill would…