MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – A newly formed coalition of former Vermont lawmakers is sounding the alarm on what they call an affordability crisis in Vermont health care.
Vermont Health Care 911 is made up of business leaders, health care providers and others across the political spectrum.
Wednesday, the group presented data showing Vermont’s average monthly cost for commercial insurance is more than double the national average.
Former Vermont Republican governor Jim Douglas, a co-chair of the coalition, says high costs for health care are detrimental to Vermont’s economy.
“We have an aging population, we have fewer and fewer kids– our economy is threatened by that trend,” Douglas said. “Unless we can attract more families with young people to live in Vermont, I’m very, very concerned about our economic future.”
When asked whether the group would weigh in on specific legislation to bring down costs, Douglas said not right now.