Kathleen Gill, 35, and her husband, Daniel Fifield, 38, have dangerous jobs working with large animals: She is a mobile equine veterinarian; he’s a dairy farmer. The Cornwall residents have both been hurt on the job and need health insurance. But monthly premiums for the family of four rose from 23 cents last year to $2,622.15 this year. They will pay $31,465.80 in premiums in 2026 — more than their mortgage.
A number of factors have led to the sharp increase. Affordable Care Act subsidies, which began during the pandemic, have expired. Though Democratic legislators fought for an extension during the longest federal government shutdown in American history, it wasn’t enough. And in Vermont, health insurance premiums have skyrocketed annually — 40 to 60 percent over the past five years, according to Owen Foster, chair of the Green Mountain Care Board.
This year, Gill and Fifield chose a bronze Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont plan on Vermont Health Connect, with an out-of-pocket limit of $20,300 for the family. That means if two family members have an expensive medical emergency, they will pay $51,765.80 in premiums and deductibles before the insurance kicks in fully. That’s about a third of the couple’s combined income. As painful as the new premiums are, Gill and Fifield refuse to be uninsured and risk losing their home due to high medical bills.
In the latest episode of “Stuck in Vermont,” Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger met the family in Cornwall and learned about Gill’s experiences navigating the complex health care landscape.
Sollberger also caught up with Jo Robinson, 43, a Burlington resident who works in school nutrition. She did not have insurance on January 9 when she slipped on ice and broke her ankle and foot. After an ambulance ride to the University of Vermont Medical Center, she was billed more than $4,000 for treatment. Because she was paying out of pocket, the cost was reduced to $2,385.25. A week later, she was in pain and had her cast reset at Fanny Allen Urgent Care in Colchester for $169, reduced to $92.95. Robinson has not yet received the ambulance bill. Her health insurance starts in mid-February at her new job — she’ll be making meals for preschool kids.
Sollberger then talked with Ellen Repstad, a 48-year-old self-employed therapist from Bristol. Repstad is going without health insurance this year due to the high cost. She has type 2 diabetes and will pay for her monthly medications out of pocket. Repstad plans to shop around for the least expensive care and will consider traveling abroad to save money on procedures. She says she is not giving up on health care, just on health insurance.
Sollberger spoke with Seven Days about filming the episode.
What made you want to explore this topic?
Health insurance is front of mind for many of us this year as the premiums take such a big leap. I put out a call on Facebook for people facing large price increases. Dozens of folks got in touch. Americans are angry and frustrated.
How do these spiking costs affect Vermonters?
People are avoiding health care due to the cost — even insured people can’t pay their deductibles. Gill’s family has a history of breast cancer, and her doctor advises her to get an annual breast MRI with contrast. Because she is at high risk, this is a diagnostic procedure, which means she has to pay out of pocket. When Gill had her babies and hit the family’s deductible, she got the procedure. But she can’t afford the cost annually — despite paying over $31,000 in premiums. This is ridiculous. We should all be able to get the tests our doctors recommend to keep us healthy.
It sounds like we have a lot of work ahead to fix health care in Vermont.
In order for the fragile health care system to work, we all have to shoulder the cost. But it seems absurd that these prices are so high and arbitrary, depending on where you go, and that you get a huge discount when you are an out-of-pocket customer. And don’t even get me started on how complicated health care billing can be. But as Foster makes clear, it is a delicate balancing act to make sure our hospitals stay open, providers are paid and our insurers stay solvent. And don’t forget providing excellent care to Vermonters. It’s like a high-wire act.
How many people did you talk to?
I spoke to a lot of people for this story that you won’t see featured. They all agreed that the situation is untenable. As Gill stated, “To pay $51,000 for something seems like you’re paying for a luxury or a privilege, when I’m really just paying for something that should be a human right.”
The original print version of this article was headlined “An Apple a Day | Vermonters are struggling with the rising costs of health insurance, and some are choosing to go without”
This article appears in January 28 • 2026.
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