"He called to tell us that his city would also be joining the MIIA (Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association) health insurance pool, starting October 1." Members will recall that in the September Voice we reported on several towns deciding to provide health insurance to their retirees and employees through MIIA.

According to Avila, "Premiums for the city's Master Health Plus were continuing upward, and officials believed they had to stem the tide. Before the switch, the mayor held a meeting to answer questions from almost 300 retirees and their families about the decision.

"Peter Corr (elected retirement board member), Phil St. Germain (retiree representative on the city's insurance advisory committee) and myself have spoken with many retirees and survivors. My sense is that retirees are generally comfortable with the MIIA move."

As a participant in the MIIA insurance pool, Taunton will replace the Master Health Plus plan with a Blue Cross PPO but will retain the other plans that it provided before the switch - namely, HMO Blue and Medex. Currently the city pays 75% of the insurance premium - 77% toward HMO Blue.

"After we spoke with Dick (Avila), we got back with MIIA to make certain that we covered all our bases," reports Stillman. "According to Ann Ludlow, who heads up the program, the Town of Ludlow also recently joined up."

Under MIIA, Ludlow is offering the following Blue Cross plans: HMO Blue, Blue Care Elect (PPO), Medex III, Blue Care 65 and Managed Care for Seniors. The town pays 81% of the premium - 50% toward Medex.