JULY 2000 - Insurance Pool Continues Despite County Abolition - Exactly two years ago, we reported in the Voice on what is claimed to be the oldest municipal health insurance pool in the Commonwealth - the Plymouth County Health Insurance Program. Under state law (Chapter 32B) counties, like Plymouth, can establish a health insurance program and offer it to the municipalities, as well as authorities, districts and other subdivisions, in that county.

JULY 2000 - Express Scripts To Be New Mail Order Carrier - Members, insured through the state’s Group Insurance Commission, will have a new pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) as of July 1. This spring, the GIC voted to replace the current PBM, Merck Medco, with Express Scripts after a lengthy search process.

MAY 2000 - Non-group Medex subscribers are not as fortunate as municipal retirees carrying the same Medicare gap insurance. For example, Medex Gold, which provides the most comprehensive coverage, including prescription drugs, now costs $314.59 monthly or $936.24 quarterly. Participants are directly billed by Blue Cross.

MAY 2000 - After several months of being on the brink of bankruptcy, state regulators have released Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (HPHC) from state receivership, permitting HPHC to go it on its own. This turnaround came as a surprise to retirees and healthcare experts alike.

MAY 2000 - The Blues are back! Blue Cross and Blue Shield, once a household name for health insurance coverage in this state, only to fall victim to the HMO phenomenon of the 80s, has recovered from membership doldrums and is once again a vibrant and growing insurer.

MAY 2000 - After a thirty-five-year struggle, which included 10 failed ballot initiatives, city of Easthampton retirees, including teachers, have finally succeeded in winning a health insurance subsidy.