Medicare

Articles about Medicare that may be useful to Massachusetts retirees

GIC Open Enrollment & Annual PAC Drive Begins

GIC Open Enrollment & Annual PAC Drive Begins

March 31, 2023: It is very hard to believe that today is the end of March. For what is normally the longest month of the year, time has flown by so far in 2023!

April represents the start of what will be a four-month sprint, before the August summer legislative recess. And in just four weeks’ time, the House of Representative will have finalized its version of the FY24 State Budget – in which we are making every effort to include a State and Teacher retiree COLA base increase.

GIC SELECTS CVS AS FY24 PHARMACY MANAGER

GIC SELECTS CVS AS FY24 PHARMACY MANAGER

INCLUDES MEDICARE & NON-MEDICARE PLANS

DECEMBER 15, 2022: The Group Insurance Commission held the final monthly commission meeting of the year on December 15th.  A major piece of business on the agenda was the selection of Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM).

Senate Passes Landmark Bill to Cut Prescription Drug Prices

Senate Passes Landmark Bill to Cut Prescription Drug Prices

The U.S. Senate passed a historic budget bill on Aug. 7 that would help millions of Medicare enrollees better afford their life-sustaining medications and help millions more Americans pay their Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance premiums. The measure must now be approved by the House of Representatives before going to the president's desk.

GIC Announces FY23 Plan Design & Premiums

GIC Announces FY23 Plan Design & Premiums

Popular UniCare OME Plan to Increase 1.3%

March 3, 2022: The state’s Group Insurance Commission held their monthly meeting to vote on the plan design structure proposed at the January meeting, as well as vote on the plan rates for FY23.  As we were anticipating from the January meeting the Commission voted to make no changes in the plan design, meaning members will see no increases to the copays and deductibles of the plans.

Preview of the January 2022 Voice

Preview of the January 2022 Voice
DECEMBER 10, 2021: As promised, for this week’s video I am joined by Bill Rehrey and Nancy McGovern for a sneak preview of our January 2022 edition of The Voice.
Before I dive into the details of what you will find in the upcoming newsletter, I’d like to thank the thousands of members who have promptly renewed your Mass Retirees membership for 2022. November began our membership renewal process for next year, with notices mailed to the 20,000+ members who renew at the end of the year. Members receive a renewal notice base

Medicare Advantage Marketing Targets Retirees

Medicare Advantage Marketing Targets Retirees

Members Should Not Drop GIC or Municipal Insurance

October 29, 2021: Each fall, during the Medicare open enrollment period, a plethora of ads targeting retirees dominate the airwaves and mailboxes of seniors. This year calls from members to our Beacon Hill office with complaints about aggessive sales tactics have hit an all time high.

One Million More Eligible for Vaccine on Thursday

One Million More Eligible for Vaccine on Thursday

Baker: High-Volume Sites Will Speed Process

Katie Lannan -  State House News Service

February 17, 2021: 

Massachusetts will roughly double the population eligible for COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday, when people over age 65, the residents and staff of affordable and low-income housing for seniors, and people with two or more health conditions that put them at higher risk will be newly able to make appointments.

2021 Medicare Part B Premiums Remain Steady

November 6, 2020: Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the 2021 monthly Medicare Parts A and B premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts in which the Medicare Part B monthly premium remains steady.