Three days into the federal government shutdown, U.S. Rep. Becca Balint said she is keeping the rising cost of health care to Vermonters at the forefront of her mind.

Vermonters who purchase their own health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace would be among those hardest hit by the loss of federal subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year, because insurance premiums in the state are among the highest in the country.

Almost 30,000 Vermonters get their insurance this way, and they collectively stand to lose $65 million in subsidies annually.

That stark increase in costs is one reason why Balint — along with Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Peter Welch, D-Vt. — are standing firm with Democratic House and Senate leaders in demanding negotiations on health

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