“Murderous,” “unconscionable,” “outrageous”: In no uncertain terms, Vermonters expressed their outrage Tuesday at health insurance companies seeking to raise the cost of medical care during Covid-19.
Nine hundred people submitted written comments and more than 50 tuned in to the Green Mountain Care Board’s public hearing, as they asked the state’s health care regulators to deny rate increases to insurers.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont has asked for a 5.5% rate hike and MVP Health Care has requested a 6% increase for 2021. The requests are down about a percentage point from their original applications. Both companies presented their case this week to the board, which will make a final decision by Aug. 14.