Articles about the State GIC that may be useful to Massachusetts retirees
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.
Guv: Weekday Operation Will Be "Huge Help"
Chris Lisinski, State House News Service
FEB. 5, 2021.....More than a week after Gov. Charlie Baker first directed adults 75 and older to start booking COVID-19 vaccine appointments through an online-only platform, a state-run call center aimed at helping seniors who struggle to access or navigate the website is now live.
Includes State/Teachers’ 3% COLA & Extends Retiree Work Waiver
December 4, 2020: House and Senate leaders completed work on the $46 billion-dollar FY21 budget with both branches voting on a conference committee report in a rare Friday session. The final version now goes to Governor Baker for approval. The vote today takes us one step closer to ending the 6-month delay of a final FY21 budget.
Ibis Program can help seniors to identify COVID-19 symptoms and get access to telehealth
JUNE 23, 2020: BOSTON, MA - The Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association of Massachusetts ("Mass Retirees") and Senscio Systems, a Massachusetts-based health technology company that specializes in artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for chronic health management announced a new partnership today.
Dear Members,
I hope you and your loved ones are safe and enduring this difficult time as best as you can. Here at Mass Retirees, our staff is doing as well as can be expected. We are still working on your behalf, albeit remotely. If you need us, please call or email.
MARCH 13, 2020: We hope that you and your family are safe and doing well while our nation fights the spread of the coronavirus.
In light of ongoing efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 and out of an abundance of caution for the health of our members, we have decided to postpone our upcoming membership meetings in Somerville and Leominster. We will make decisions on whether or not to proceed with future meetings based on the latest information available.
Welcome to the 1st Anniversary of Mass Retirees’ Facebook Friday. This week: The state GIC approves FY21 health insurance premium rates for 465,000 enrollees, with no increase in copayments or deductibles – but the battle to control healthcare inflation rages on! Watch here!
No Increase in Copayments or Deductibles
February 27, 2020: The 17-member Commission voted today on the rates for the health insurances plans to be offered by it. The new plan rates will be effective July 1. While members will see an increase in their monthly premiums, their copayments and deductibles will remain unchanged.
Premium Rate Vote Coming February 27th
FEBRUARY 6, 2020: It’s official. There will be no increases in copayments or deductibles in FY21 under the health insurance plans sponsored by the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC).
Today’s vote by the 17-member Commission followed recommendations made by GIC staff in January. This means that prescription drug and office visit copayments, as well as annual deductibles will not increase during the next fiscal year beginning July 1.