Since January, 14 new towns, as well as 5 other public entities, have decided to provide health insurance for their retirees and employees with the MIIA insurance pool. This brings the total number of towns in the pool to 65, with 17 other public units.

As the MIIA pool enters its eighth year of operation, Blue Cross/Blue Shield continues to provide a menu of insurance plans, including an indemnity plan (VIP 2000), Blue Choice (PPO), HMO Blue, Medex and a dental plan, while Express Scripts is the pharmacy benefit manager for the program. Participating towns and units can choose specific plans to be offered to their retirees.

Under the program, MIIA assesses insurance premiums separately for each town and unit. The percentage rate, at which a retiree contributes to the premium, is still determined by his town or unit.

"When we reported on insurance pools over 4 years ago, we noted a trend among municipalities in the direction of pools," comments Insurance Coordinator Cheryl Stillman. "That trend has not abated but continues today as insurance pools, like MIIA, enlist more towns and subdivisions."