MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Two key dates will determine how Vermont’s roughly 176,000 Medicaid recipients access coverage in the coming months, as federal changes to the program take effect.
After Congress passed HR1, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, in July 2025, federal changes to Medicaid were set in stone.
“Medicaid is a complicated program, and these are some of the biggest sweeping changes to the program in its history,” said Leslie Wisdom, deputy commissioner of the Department of Vermont Health Access.
Vermont agencies want Medicaid recipients ready. Here’s what to know.
On Oct. 1, some immigrants who currently qualify for Medicaid will lose that coverage. Wisdom said one group is particularly at risk.
“I think the most impacted group would be the refugees and asylees losing coverage,” Wisdom said.
On Jan. 1, most adults must prove they’re working, volunteering, in school, or doing community service to get or keep Medicaid. DVHA will collect data to help verify who meets the requirement.
“We’re trying to make this as seamless as possible and only come to the individual when we have to request additional documentation,” Wisdom said.
The enrollment window for 2027 plans is shrinking to Nov. 1 through Dec. 15. Medicaid recipients must now renew every six months, not every year.
“It’s a stable way for folks to get information, but this, it’s even more important now with these big changes,” Wisdom said.
If you are a Medicaid recipient, DVHA has been trying to reach you to make sure you’re prepared.
“That’s really important to keep your contact information up to date with us so that we know how to reach you. We don’t want anyone’s coverage to lapse, and then, again, please call us if you have any questions or you think you might be subject to these new requirements,” Wisdom said.
DVHA isn’t your only resource. Vermont Legal Aid’s health advocates are tracking these changes, too, and are ready to help.
“This is scary for a lot of Vermont families and I think the main message we want to give is we are going to work with families to help make sure people can maintain coverage and make sure people don’t freak out unnecessarily, there’s many many exemptions to these rules,” said Mike Fisher, chief health care advocate for Vermont Legal Aid.
If you do lose coverage, it isn’t final.
“Of course every Medicaid decision is appealable… if anybody listening to this feels like they’ve, you know, received a decision that doesn’t make sense to them, that they think is wrong, they are certainly welcome to call us and get some support,” Fisher said.
There are exemptions to the work requirement, including for pregnant individuals and those with a registered disability, among several others.
The Department of Vermont Health Access and Vermont Legal Aid’s health care advocates both offer resources with more details. DVHA also built a new online screening questionnaire that will show recipients where their coverage stands.
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