Just east of the Berkshire Group is another insurance pool known as the Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust - a joint insurance purchasing group which has been serving hundreds of retirees in West/Central Mass. for many years. Currently, the Hampshire Trust is comprised of 61 member units including school, fire and water districts and municipalities. John Lillis, who sits on the Hampshire County Retirement Board and is director of the HampshireCouncil of Governments' insurance department, heads up the Trust staff.

It is interesting to note that several relatively small communities and districts, located in what were formerly Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire Counties, participate in the Trust. Member units value this arrangement since it provides them with somewhat equal footing on decisions affecting the Trust.

There are approximately 850 retirees and 2,750 employees whose health insurance, and that of their dependents, is provided through the Trust. Member units can select from several Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance plans in order to create an insurance program tailored to their retirees and employees. Among the BC/BS plans on the menu are Master Health Plus, MEDEX, Managed Blue for Seniors (Senior HMO), Network Blue New England (HMO) and Blue Care Elect Preferred (PPO).

Unlike the MIIA Trust (see related article, p.12), the premium for each BC/BS plan is uniform for all member units and not assessed separately on each unit (i.e., same MEDEX premium for all retirees enrolled in the Trust). But similar to all the insurance pools, the percentage of the premium, to be paid by the retiree, is established by their municipality or district.