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Vermont farmers warn health-insurance premium shock could push small operators off the land
Summary
Farmers and advocates told a committee that impending increases to Vermont Health Connect premiums and the loss of ACA subsidies will disproportionately affect self-employed and small-scale farmworkers; witnesses urged state support for Bridges to Health and other programs to maintain farm-sector health coverage.
Farmers, farm advocates and state lawmakers told a legislative hearing that rising health-insurance costs present an immediate threat to small and self-employed farm households and to farm labor stability across Vermont.
Missy Axelrod, a Roxbury farmer and educator, said recent rate changes to Vermont Health Connect will make coverage unaffordable for many small operators. ‘‘My monthly premium is projected to nearly triple. This drastic increase makes it impossible to afford coverage,’’ Axelrod said. She described the trade-off many independent workers face: ‘‘Do…
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