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Vermont's Free Legal Help Website

I'm On Medicaid, Dr. Dynasaur, or VHAP. Will I Have to Pay for My Health Care?


What Do I Need to Know About Premiums?
Will Medicaid Pay if I Go to the Doctor?
Will Medicaid Pay If I Have to Go to the Hospital?
What Happens If I Have to Go to the Doctor Out of State?
I Got Medical Help Out of State. Now I Have a Bill. What Can I Do?
What Can I Do If I Can't Pay the Medical Bill?

What Do I Need to Know About Premiums?
"Premiums" are money you pay to keep your health care coverage. DCF changed when you have to pay your Vermont Health care premiums. Now you have to pay by the 15th of each month.

Will Medicaid Pay if I Go to the Doctor?
Does your doctor or health care provider take Medicaid? Medicaid only pays for your medical treatment for some health care providers. How do you know if your health care provider take Medicaid? You need to ask your health care provider.

Will Medicaid Pay If I Have to Go to the Hospital?
Ask the hospital if they take Vermont Medicaid.

A lot of people at the hospital may help you. You might see a nurse or physician's assistant. You might see a doctor. You might need special services like an x-ray. Or you might need to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance.

Your hospital may take Medicaid. But the ambulance might not. Or the person who took the x-ray may not take Medicaid. Ask each person who helps you if they take Vermont Medicaid.

Make sure the service provider takes Vermont Medicaid. If they don't, they could bill you for their services.

What Happens If I Have to Go to the Doctor Out of State?
Medicaid only pays for your medical treatment if that provider takes Medicaid. A lot of out-of-state providers don't take Vermont Medicaid. Do you need to get medical care out of state? Ask each health care provider if they take Vermont Medicaid. The provider might take Medicaid. But they might not take Vermont Medicaid. Make sure the provider takes Vermont Medicaid. If they don’t, they could bill you for their services.

I Got Medical Help Out of State. Now I Have a Bill. What Can I Do?
Does the health care provider take Vermont Medicaid? Ask the health care provider. Or call Medicaid/VHAP Member Services at (800) 250-8427.

What if the health care provider doesn't take Vermont Medicaid? They can bill you for their services.

Do you have problems with health care bills?
Do you have trouble getting health care?
Do you have a complaint about your health insurance?
Call the Office of Health Care Ombudsman.
We may be able to give you free legal help.
Call (800) 917-7787 or (888) 884-1955 (TTY).

What Can I Do If I Can't Pay the Medical Bill?
Call the health care provider's billing office. Tell them you get Vermont Medicaid. Ask them to sign up to take Vermont Medicaid. Your provider might agree. Do they agree? Tell them to call (802) 879-4450 to sign up.

Your provider might not agree to sign up. What can you do? Ask your provider's billing office to:

  • Write off the bill. Some providers will do this.
  • Reduce the bill.
  • Let you pay the bill over time.


    Vermont Law Help, 2009.
    This is a website about Vermont law. We give this information as a public service. It is not legal advice. We are not acting as your lawyer.
    Always consult a lawyer, if you can, before taking legal action.