[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6364610,"mediaKeyId","2163961-39d1f36091466276dbae6f7ec75da229","parentId",2163961,"title","GIC clarifies Medicare enrollment rules, buyout program and annual‑enrollment logistics; basic life benefit to double July 1","audioSeconds",1488,"startMs",1592000,"endMs",3080000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2163961-39d1f36091466276dbae6f7ec75da229&start=1592&end=3080","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2163961-39d1f36091466276dbae6f7ec75da229/thumbnail_1592000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6364610/Massachusetts/GIC-clarifies-Medicare-enrollment-rules-buyout-program-and-annualenrollment-logistics-basic-life-benefit-to-double-July-1","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364610-28f16c465087fa15d035d04df743e5b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184460&Signature=VKmh59IKjL29abLX6aAzJoaP4sCJf1VCtit9~6r6d~Sj2K9BhPyy3FaA4FKZmETU9TtkQQOuChmM-s8-Uija6ZbHE8cipsi3mVyAnxFPJBLEG2113gbUtRitzx4D0XWpJPaJFsCVSRr9YUL9R1LXz1oIPQC5hNen9Qj55S7U6kGz5qQkRcVF9zduldKjFSeb8zK~3R5wf6TJJ5BjAB3xY8tZ95mQbjrImbERUWTSuQZx2fpvJbGdn8L7BiwYOF53oZ7E55xhKHD8wbW-EqSF0zWb9EcleST-mno7T3VbET1BnXaoLpVagxLWgV3CjqYIuWCeJaq8weF~GTAuCbxhng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","MA Group Insurance Commission","date","2025-01-29T06:40:14Z","article","GIC staff used the public session to explain what retirees and members turning 65 must do to maintain coverage, and to summarize operational deadlines for annual enrollment.

Paul Murphy, director of operations for the Group Insurance Commission, said the GIC will send letters three months before a member or covered spouse turns 65 with instructions for enrolling in a GIC Medicare plan. “State law requires you to join a Medicare supplemental plan with the GIC,” Murphy said, and GIC staff emphasized that Social Security determines Medicare eligibility and that members must work with the Social Security Administration on any eligibility issues.

Key Medicare and retiree points covered:
- If a retiree is Medicare‑eligible, the member must enroll in a GIC Medicare plan; if a spouse is under 65 the spouse may remain on a non‑Medicare GIC plan.
- If both spouses are Medicare‑eligible and turning 65, GIC requires enrollment in the same GIC Medicare plan when both are Medicare eligible.
- GIC sends multiple notices; failure to enroll can result in termination of GIC coverage. Staff described a 60‑day window for members whose coverage was terminated for failure to enroll to demonstrate they are working with Social Security to resolve the issue; members may rejoin during annual enrollment with proof of Medicare parts A and B.

Annual enrollment and operational reminders:
- Annual enrollment period: April 2 through May 1. Changes made during that window become effective July 1.
- Benefit Decision Guides and full rates will be available online immediately prior to annual enrollment; the commission votes on projected rates in February.
- The GIC member portal (launched 2021) is the preferred method for making elections and real‑time changes; about 12,000 members were registered for the portal at the time of the session.

Other program details announced:
- Buyout program: open twice per year (annual enrollment and fall). To be eligible a member must be enrolled Jan. 1–June 30; if accepted, coverage ends June 30 and the member receives a one‑time stream of payments equal to 25 percent of the full cost premium monthly for 12 months beginning in August.
- Basic life benefit: language in the recent state budget increases the basic life and AD&D benefit from $5,000 to $10,000, effective July 1; Paul Murphy said the change is automatic and requires no action by members.

Staff urged members with personal questions to contact the GIC public information unit or use the portal and said webinar recordings and slides would be shared with registrants after the final session of the week.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","GIC 2025 Public Information Session 1","oneSentenceSummary","GIC staff explained Medicare enrollment requirements for retirees, timelines and spouse coverage, detailed the biannual buyout program, reminded members of annual enrollment dates and portal options, and said basic life insurance will increase to $10,000 effective July 1 with no action required.","taxTitle","Group Insurance Commission, Executive , Massachusetts","taxId",24966,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6364614,"GIC will switch dental and vision carriers to Altus and VSP; retiree and plan enhancements announced",2096,629000,2725000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2163961-39d1f36091466276dbae6f7ec75da229&start=629&end=2725","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2163961-39d1f36091466276dbae6f7ec75da229/thumbnail_629000.jpg","/articles/6364614/Massachusetts/GIC-will-switch-dental-and-vision-carriers-to-Altus-and-VSP-retiree-and-plan-enhancements-announced","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364614-0355bcdb94ae6639c1f7745e07b9e761/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184460&Signature=ndx-MQTTaKeL8-JziUERWaX7wz5MY~mCyzbieIFdOB-EO-kFXmoZE-v69dpanWNdQcqE6ZtjRc-N~Ianlj0n0BfJ-w9jcLmnF7O6PP6LbvVCdGuTDIiQZ64EP0VNb-Kla-IW9uJb9ixc7uZP6TBp8cTO6J5mJtcTdu-Iir4oZh1P1cDnbyuHu6e9CjTJNZlkwErrMvgdGdkJgnYhRsqVTCmdS~vjC18lDWjruCbVAKGPStW7vvQXgoC7PdlStNq57FRraPPOzyww7rZZ2f1g50-kIDfv5M6xWFLpdM6w3vH53oDUR3g7Nkjk4kxIP1kn5JVn6CJ~MevPk3ARtZ6oTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Group Insurance Commission announced it will change dental and vision carriers for certain GIC plans, moving from MetLife and Davis Vision to a contract with Altus Dental and VSP. The change affects the active nonunion employee dental and vision plans and the retiree dental and vision plan.

Cameron McBean, who manages the GIC’s vendor relationships, said the procurement produced lower fully insured premiums, enabling higher annual dental maximums across the three dental plans offered to active nonunion employees and retirees. He also said the vision plan will move to annual exams for participants in the active vision plan; retiree vision discount use will no longer require prepayment with a voucher at Davis Vision.

Key member details announced in the session:
- Enrollment will transfer automatically for members currently in MetLife dental plans; no action required by the member to accept the carrier change.
- New cards should be mailed in June and coverage will be effective July 1.
- Altus will provide a microsite before annual enrollment with provider lookup and plan details.
- The retiree dental plan remains available to eligible housing authority retirees, but members who previously declined or dropped retiree dental cannot reenroll.
- Active employee dental and vision offerings remain limited to employees not covered by collective bargaining (nonunion/management active employees); unionized employees receive such benefits through collective bargaining.

“Your enrollment will automatically transfer to Altus, without any action on your part,” McBean said. Staff asked members to review the microsite and the Benefit Decision Guide for full plan details before annual enrollment.

GIC staff also reminded members that some eligibility distinctions (for example, higher education employees or housing authority staff) depend on collective‑bargaining coverage and local employer participation.","GIC said it will move active nonunion dental to Altus Dental (partnering with VSP for vision), increase dental annual maximums and make the retiree vision discount easier to use; currently enrolled members will be transferred automatically and new ID cards should arrive in June.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6364619,"GIC projects roughly 10.5% average premium increase for 2026, cites nationwide price pressures and new drugs",3910,140000,4050000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2163961-39d1f36091466276dbae6f7ec75da229&start=140&end=4050","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2163961-39d1f36091466276dbae6f7ec75da229/thumbnail_140000.jpg","/articles/6364619/Massachusetts/GIC-projects-roughly-105-average-premium-increase-for-2026-cites-nationwide-price-pressures-and-new-drugs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364619-64d36a7905dc3a2d3cf86b4f465211cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184460&Signature=K6ENJaJnJHxLGlyKp1lWd~uV6L6~zj58ZyhFffomCsx9AtsJ9oYZgGx6I4uduSntsS3jiOC21ASfmCqj300beQWzmyOd~Tc3AQvJ8kHRjdCDrOxOIN5a8mZa72Os1ADk825bKBJbREuTC9BYU8xPJD9BGlEXSGINELi7MvrqVeb1GbVgDReIfzhntLkba7d3CsGupTNqNGmD1mIUNaDzuhJ9DeV0oVpbWEF-Xv9wVw160MgEISiQAZ50nKKwfSlRPldtyYFWDx4HYcv78B9NgFAxpi0PCOZaEs5KdsHALE~iZwhAyKWmmPgC0jDkQfAISbpkxCUBZvfPclkPu2ynTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Group Insurance Commission (GIC) on a public listening session said it expects aggregate premium increases for the coming plan year to land near 10.5 percent, and attributed the rise to higher hospital and physician prices and increased spending on prescription drugs.

GIC presenters said the commission’s self‑insured structure means the Commonwealth, not private carriers, bears the risk when members use more care than expected. Matt Harder, GIC staff, told attendees the commission is presenting final rates to the commission in February and that projected increases will then be published in the Benefit Decision Guide ahead of annual enrollment.

Why it matters: GIC covers about 455,000 members, including roughly 110,000 retirees, and manages an annual budget of about $3 billion. A double‑digit average increase would affect payroll and pension deductions for many members and municipal groups that purchase coverage through the GIC.

GIC staff outlined the main drivers and modest plan changes. Cameron McBean, who manages vendor relationships, summarized cost drivers and new program partnerships and said, “Health care costs are going up across the board for everyone.” Staff cited rising prices charged by doctors and hospitals, higher prescription costs (including newly available drugs for weight loss and diabetes), and utilization trends as primary contributors.

Staff presented a projected range for marketplace increases (presented on slides as roughly 8.5%–12.5%), with the GIC’s working estimate near the higher end of that range. Jim (role not specified) noted the aggregate increase last year was 9.5 percent. Staff emphasized that actual changes will vary by individual plan and health‑plan combination.

Planned or under‑review changes described by staff include:
- A contract partnership with Hinge Health (through the GIC’s contract with CVS) to provide an app‑based musculoskeletal program for members with MSK conditions.
- Harmonization and enhancement of fertility benefits across medical plans so one plan does not offer superior reproductive assistance compared with others.
- Removal of limits on nutritional counseling as part of mental‑health parity work.
- Implementation work to comply with recent legislation, including the PACT Act, which staff said will have “moderate” financial impacts but will provide no cost‑sharing or reduced costs for certain covered medications.

Staff stressed these modifications and the final rate numbers must be approved by the commission; the formal vote on projected premiums was scheduled for the commission meeting in late February, with coverage changes to take effect July 1.

GIC asked members to review plan options during annual enrollment and to use the member portal or Benefit Decision Guide to compare plans before making elections.","The Group Insurance Commission told members its preliminary projection for the next plan year averages about a 10.5% premium increase, driven by rising provider prices and costly new prescription drugs; staff outlined several limited plan design changes and legislative mandates that will affect coverage.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

GIC clarifies Medicare enrollment rules, buyout program and annual‑enrollment logistics; basic life benefit to double July 1

GIC will switch dental and vision carriers to Altus and VSP; retiree and plan enhancements announced

GIC projects roughly 10.5% average premium increase for 2026, cites nationwide price pressures and new drugs