H.433 is a bill aimed at establishing Green Mountain Care, a publicly financed health care program for all Vermont residents, to be implemented over a ten-year period. The program will start with primary care services in the first year, followed by preventive dental and vision care in the second year, and will gradually expand to include additional health care services as recommended by the Universal Health Care Advisory Group. The bill emphasizes the need for sustainable funding sources and prohibits health insurance plans from duplicating the coverage provided by Green Mountain Care. It also includes amendments to existing law, such as repealing the requirement for a detailed economic impact analysis by the Green Mountain Care Board.

The bill introduces significant changes, including provisions for cost-sharing, administration, and the establishment of the Universal Health Care Advisory Group, which will advise on the program's implementation and financing. Green Mountain Care will cover any cost-sharing amounts exceeding those required under the program at the time services are received. The Agency responsible for the program will solicit bids for administration contracts while ensuring no financial incentives limit access to health services. Additionally, the bill proposes an electronic benefit card for residents, establishes Green Mountain Care as the payer of last resort, and allows for the potential inclusion of Medicaid and Medicare, contingent on necessary waivers. The program is set to begin on January 1, 2027, with the act taking effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 33-18, 8-4062