Vermont’s capital city facing 25% health care cost increase

 Vermont’s capital city is facing a 25% increase in its health care costs, which is expected to add 4.5% to the municipal budget.

Outgoing Montpelier Finance Director Todd Provencher says the high cost of the health care plan increase came because the city last year paid $1.2 million in premiums to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont and had $2.4 million in claims.

The Times Argus reports Provencher is still waiting on quotes from the state’s other health care providers, but he says those rates are expected to be even higher.

Montpelier, with 119 employees, has too many to be eligible to join the more affordable Vermont Health Connect, which has a 100-employee limit.

Mayor Anne Watson says she would like to see if the 100-employee cap can be increased.