Medicare in Vermont serves about 160,000 beneficiaries, with 29% enrolled in Medicare Advantage and the remainder on Original Medicare + Medigap. Average Medigap Plan G premium for a new 65-year-old enrollee: $170/mo. Stand-alone Part D plans average $44/mo.
Medicare Beneficiaries
160,000
Age 65+ and disabled
MA Enrollment
29%
% on Medicare Advantage
Avg Medigap Plan G
$170/mo
New enrollee, age 65
| Topic | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage plans available | 10+ | Varies by county; check medicare.gov plan finder |
| Top MA carriers | UnitedHealthcare, Aetna/CVS, MVP Health Care | Networks differ by county |
| Stand-alone Part D | $44/mo | Required if you have Original Medicare + Medigap |
| Annual guaranteed-issue Medigap switching | No (one-time 6-month window at 65) | Vermont has a very low MA enrollment rate; OneCare Vermont operates the state's ACO model which influences Medicare payment but not consumer plan choice. No state annual GI rights. |
Medigap premiums vary by carrier, age, and ZIP code. The 2026 Part B premium is $202.90/month and Part B deductible is $283. Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026.
Vermont has one of the lowest Medicare Advantage enrollment rates in the country at approximately 29%, consistent with its rural character, progressive healthcare policy environment, and relatively strong preference for Original Medicare among its beneficiaries. The University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC) in Burlington is the state's major academic medical center and the hub of most Medicare specialist care. MVP Health Care and UnitedHealthcare are the primary MA carriers in the state, with coverage mostly concentrated in the Burlington-South Burlington corridor and the Barre-Montpelier area. Vermont's single-payer-leaning healthcare policy environment (the state came closest to single-payer implementation of any US state) has shaped a culture where Original Medicare's public insurance model is viewed more favorably.
Vermont's Medigap Plan G premiums average about $170/month — reflective of New England healthcare costs. Vermont has no birthday rule or annual Medigap switching protections, making the initial 6-month enrollment window critical. The state's ACO model (OneCare Vermont) focuses on coordinating care within Original Medicare and is not a consumer-facing insurance product — it operates at the provider payment level. Rural Vermont communities in the Northeast Kingdom, the Green Mountains, and the Upper Connecticut River Valley rely on Critical Access Hospitals and have very limited MA plan availability. Vermont's SHIP program (VHAP/SASH) provides free Medicare counseling.
In Vermont, traditional Medicare combined with a Medigap supplement (typically Plan G or N) plus a stand-alone Part D plan provides nationwide access with predictable costs. Plan G covers everything except the $283 Part B deductible.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans bundle Medicare Parts A, B, and usually D into one private plan, often with $0 premium beyond Part B. Trade-offs include network restrictions and prior authorization. 29% of Vermont beneficiaries currently choose MA.
Vermont has a very low MA enrollment rate; OneCare Vermont operates the state's ACO model which influences Medicare payment but not consumer plan choice. No state annual GI rights.
💡 Vermont Pro Tip
Vermont has one of the smallest Medicare Advantage plan markets in New England, with typically 10 to 15 plans available, mostly in the Burlington and Barre-Montpelier areas. Rural Vermont counties may have only 5 to 8 MA plan options. The limited plan availability, combined with Vermont's rural healthcare delivery model, is why most Vermont beneficiaries remain on Original Medicare.
The average Medigap Plan G premium for a 65-year-old in Vermont is approximately $170 per month — among the higher rates in New England, reflecting the state's elevated healthcare costs. MVP Health Care, Cigna, and Mutual of Omaha are among the carriers offering Medigap in Vermont.
Vermont does not have a birthday rule or annual guaranteed-issue protections for Medigap. Outside your initial 6-month open enrollment at 65 or qualifying federal events, carriers can apply medical underwriting. Vermont's SHIP counselors can help you evaluate Medigap options and timing of enrollment to maximize your protections.
Beneficiary counts and MA enrollment percentages from CMS state-level Medicare data; premium averages from 2026 carrier rate filings for Vermont. Verify current plan costs at medicare.gov before enrolling.
Jennifer Walsh
Editorial Lead, Health & Medicare
This article was researched and written by the Cover Forge USA editorial team against federal sources (NAIC, CMS, FEMA, DOL, SSA, state DOIs) and standard policy forms. Bylines organize content by topic — they do not assert individual licensure. See our editorial-policy for details.
Reviewed May 2026
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