Important Information for Current or New VHAP Enrollees

Provide Assistance with Insurance Affordability

As of October 1, 2007 if you are enrolled in or apply for the Vermont Health Access Plan VHAP and you have access to an insurance plan offered through your employer, you may be required to enroll in your employer’s plan with premium assistance from the state under the following circumstances:

• Your employer’s plan has comprehensive benefits, AND

• It costs the state less to give you premium assistance for you to enroll in your employer’s plan than providing you with premium assistance to enroll in the VHAP program.

If the state determines that you meet the above two conditions, you will be required to enroll in your employer’s insurance plan as a condition of continued premium assistance or coverage under VHAP.

However, the state will guarantee that your out-of-pocket costs for premiums and other costs such as deductibles do not cost you more than if you were enrolled in VHAP.

The state also will provide supplemental benefits or “wrap-around” coverage to make sure that the benefits you receive under your employers plan are the same as those benefits available to you under VHAP.