[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6348544,"mediaKeyId","2241654-a63263161069af5194a9a8bb3cb8d2be","parentId",2241654,"title","GIC reports high attendance at public information sessions as staff prepares for annual enrollment","audioSeconds",552,"startMs",917000,"endMs",1469000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2241654-a63263161069af5194a9a8bb3cb8d2be&start=917&end=1469","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2241654-a63263161069af5194a9a8bb3cb8d2be/thumbnail_917000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6348544/Massachusetts/GIC-reports-high-attendance-at-public-information-sessions-as-staff-prepares-for-annual-enrollment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6348544-0b275fbcd72c947c595ccc87f864a85f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158155&Signature=IIT7ABZ362vMgfTjsc-6xgqzwQXb4iEG55Av0qno9db4SSSOEwaQZg7DXZ2vePBrjvv-hOSuwgwXwmQI0G-qp6g8l61eJaloOzQwVWgRaEOd2u5H3ePeYdyzRy9LVFyirffpZe68KHrRP6U8CKRC4WhgWnDX-6EmMZkQK-VYkYSgm99CIWjcGWxm21Zm8YB03TXKjfNh7~Q-Qt3kaVaimTKNW0TH-l2cMqkBCQt86udrnuuNzhagJuPHbyAlQuPH~~O3yJziJ6zhecDRRAii5blbjf31TIOPR~Z0sJZR-zYJdtBfo-zBvGEIMpHE8juXlI-W4S2Abxu2o8p3F470xw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","MA Group Insurance Commission","date","2025-02-06T00:00:00Z","article","Deputy Executive Director Erica Chabelli told the Group Insurance Commission on Feb. 16 that public information sessions held Jan. 28 and Jan. 30 drew higher-than-usual attendance and engagement ahead of the GIC's annual enrollment period.

Chabelli said the GIC held three sessions (two on Jan. 28 at noon and 6 p.m., and one Jan. 30 at 9 a.m.). The sessions were recorded and posted to the GIC YouTube page; presentation slides and FAQs are on the GIC website. Staff provided live captioning for each session and arranged American Sign Language interpreters for the first session after a request. Chabelli said roughly 70% of registrants attended overall, higher than typical, and staff answered about 57 questions and comments during the events and follow-up contacts.

Executive Director Matt and several commissioners praised the sessions as \"terrific\" and noted that the events allow staff to answer many general questions in real time while directing more specific, personal inquiries to phone or online contact forms. Paul Murphy, director of operations, was identified as a primary presenter who fielded retirement questions; Angeline Dewar and other staff helped staff the GIC booth at the Mass Municipal Association conference, which Matt said remains a useful outreach venue.

Matt also reported two other items in his verbal executive director update: he said House 1 (the governor's budget) was released and staff are evaluating potential impacts to the GIC as it moves through the Legislature, and he welcomed the town of Holliston as a new municipal entrant to the GIC for the upcoming enrollment year. Chabelli and staff said they are monitoring YouTube analytics but that most participants joined via Zoom, limiting demographic data available from YouTube at this time.

Chabelli said the materials (recordings, slides, FAQs) will be emailed to members and coordinators following the meeting, and that staff will continue to monitor engagement metrics and follow up on member questions submitted via the contact form.

No formal vote was required for the public information report; commissioners expressed thanks to the staff who organized and presented the sessions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","GIC Commission Meeting - February 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Deputy Executive Director Erica Chabelli told the Group Insurance Commission on Feb. 16 that three public information sessions ahead of annual enrollment drew higher-than-usual attendance, with staff answering roughly 57 questions during and following the events.","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},6348549,"Group Insurance Commission approves FY26 plan design changes, including dental enhancements and new digital MSK tool",1208,1465000,2673000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2241654-a63263161069af5194a9a8bb3cb8d2be&start=1465&end=2673","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2241654-a63263161069af5194a9a8bb3cb8d2be/thumbnail_1465000.jpg","/articles/6348549/Massachusetts/Group-Insurance-Commission-approves-FY26-plan-design-changes-including-dental-enhancements-and-new-digital-MSK-tool","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6348549-493a702d1ac828fbc2b63874bed4cd62/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158155&Signature=Q0zxgLLRA1aHQuRs2XLOUf3Y7F2CxyMUFVtZoW2VvkIwX4ayMMhW4OH2oJtZOhVDtwwFXmtXCmfZMKUQKgIcL14CbIl1Qqeceu~65eTow2j1YPJQFMwdzUTwZbxzOYvsMB0qz75WeWzBEoSBNw5Tya9lVz1~OFT-QVyNPsPztVokCgAw5gx0pKB24qbvj2VuNsxDBnogi01XIzkiEBnCihWhrakLn9OD6tABXMIhNlUEJ9kuMw2QDstTmAqnUjaQT8pAWhKpdFZbuUSKj~qesX63H5Ldtua-l4ApIXsZs4RCV5I-KcW9Qz26cruB0rxnUqFLQaqaDtC3nsY4VIm-Yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Group Insurance Commission voted unanimously on Feb. 16 to approve staff-recommended plan design changes that will take effect July 1 as part of the fiscal year 2026 plan year.

The changes approved include several medical plan adjustments and a set of enhancements to the dental plans tied to a carrier change. Vice Chair Bobby Kaplan presided over the meeting and the roll call vote was conducted by Andrew Stern, general counsel.

Commissioners approved incorporation of the Hinge Health musculoskeletal app through the Commission's CVS partnership, broader fertility benefit coverage by removing cycle limits so coverage is determined by medical necessity, and removal of session limits for nutritional counseling as a result of a mental health parity audit. Staff also said the commission will implement provisions stemming from the federal PACT Act, including targeted no-cost or reduced-cost coverage for certain cardiac medications and a continuity-of-care program for medications that move off the formulary; staff said specific heart conditions are still being determined.

On the dental side, the Commission accepted staff recommendations resulting from a recent procurement to move dental coverage from MetLife to Altus. As presented by Cameron McBean, director of vendor management, the active-member dental plans' annual maximum will rise to $1,750 from $1,500; the dental plan year will align with the GIC fiscal year rather than the calendar year; routine dental care for children under 13 will have no cost sharing when members use in-network providers; and retiree dental coverage will add adult orthodontia, an enhanced table of allowance, and no-cost preventive services for retirees who use in-network providers. Staff said the active plan participants will see a small premium reduction despite the enhancements, while retiree premium impacts will be minimal but vary by product type.

Executive Director Matt reported that staff will finalize details needed for rate-setting and that the commission will vote on final rates at a later meeting. He also reminded commissioners that annual enrollment runs April 2–May 1 and that benefit statements are available in the myGIC member portal; paper benefit forms have been mailed to members who have not registered for the portal.

During discussion, Commissioners asked for further cost estimates tied to recent legislative mandates and the new mandates' projected budgetary impact. Staff said actuaries are working on specific estimates and that the commission regularly provides technical feedback to the Legislature when mandates add cost or reduce plan flexibility. On the PACT Act implementation, staff said work with CVS and Willis Towers Watson is ongoing to identify which heart conditions and medications will receive the no-cost or reduced-cost coverage.

The motion on the plan-design package was moved and seconded; a roll call produced unanimous approval of those present (yes: 12; no: 0; abstain: 0). The commission recorded the motion as approving the \"GIC staff's plan design recommendations as presented beginning in FY26 (effective July 1).\"","The Group Insurance Commission voted unanimously to approve fiscal year 2026 plan design recommendations, adopting several medical plan tweaks (including the Hinge Health musculoskeletal app and fertility benefit harmonization) and a switch in dental carriers that raises dental annual maximums and adds retiree preventive coverage.","actionData","errors"]

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GIC reports high attendance at public information sessions as staff prepares for annual enrollment

Group Insurance Commission approves FY26 plan design changes, including dental enhancements and new digital MSK tool