While the Association generally supports this move, we must be certain that retirees are accorded proper representation on the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC), as well as at the local level, when critical decisions are being made. We cannot support a plan that unfairly stacks the deck against retirees and survivors.

“Once the decision is made at the local level to join the GIC, it is the agency’s commission which makes all decisions regarding plan design, copayments, and deductibles. Retirees, employees, and municipal officials would no longer have direct control over their insurance plans,” Association Legislative Liaison Shawn Duhamel pointed out.
Since the election of former Governor William Weld in 1991, the GIC has been dominated by conservative business interests. Weld sent a clear message to retiree and labor representatives early in his tenure when he removed existing commissioners and replaced them with individuals supportive of his agenda.

Our Association has long maintained that retirees deserve a voice on the commission that will truly represent our members. With a move being made to bring more retirees into the GIC, the need for an unencumbered retiree voice is critical.

The GIC cannot function properly when little to no input is received from retiree and labor representatives. The current appointees are fine people, but are not effective when forced to operate under the thumb of a conservative Republican governor.

Allowing Administration officials and wealthy private sector businessmen to have near complete control over our health plans ignores the purpose of having a balanced commission, whereby ideas are shared and debated.
Local retirees also deserve more of a voice at the local level when the initial decision is made to join the GIC. With retirees often making up more than half of the local insurance pools, it seems only right that they be granted more than 10% of the weighted vote, as the law currently allows for under coalition bargaining.