State GIC

Articles about the State GIC that may be useful to Massachusetts retirees

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Experiencing Technical Issues

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Experiencing Technical Issues

APRIL 19, 2023: Earlier today, news broke that Harvard Pilgrim Health Care was the target of a recent cybersecurity ransomware attack. While HPHC works to restore impacted systems and serve member needs, the state's Group Insurance Commission has also taken steps to protect enrollees. Please visit the link below to learn more. https://www.mass.gov/news/harvard-pilgrim-health-care-experiencing-technical-issues

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.

Governor Healey Files First Budget Proposal

Governor Healey Files First Budget Proposal

Expands Pension Funding & Proposes 3% COLA

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2023: Governor Maura Healey has filed her first state budget proposal, formally kicking off the FY24 budget process.

The $55.5 billion “spending blueprint” focuses on taming the high cost of living in Massachusetts, while investing heavily in the state’s future. This includes a new three-year appropriation schedule for the Commonwealth’s Pension Liability Fund, which funds both the State and Teachers’ Retirement Systems.

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).

Major retiree health insurance news

Major retiree health insurance news

October 21, 2022: Thursday brought some highly anticipated news to the 460,000 enrollees covered by the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC). After months of closed-door work to review and score the winning bids from respondents through the procurement process, the GIC unveiled the 4 Medicare and 7 non-Medicare health insurance plans to be offered starting in FY24.

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 launches health plan procurement process

GIC launches health plan procurement process

Weekly Update 4/1/2022: Every five years the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC) is required to rebid all health insurance, pharmacy, dental, and life insurance contracts. FY23, which begins July 1, 2022, marks the final year of the current 5-year contract cycle for all GIC health insurance and pharmaceutical drug plans.

Today we anticipate the release of the first component of the GIC’s FY24 procurement – the Request for Response (RFR) for the health insurance plans. The pharmacy plan RFR will be released in early June.

UNICARE’S INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO BETTER HEALTH CARE

UNICARE’S INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO BETTER HEALTH CARE

The Shift to Whole Person Health

March 2022 Voice

As healthcare costs have continued to rise, a major focus of Mass Retirees has been to look for and promote new ideas and solutions aimed at maintaining our members’ health while taking steps to keep insurance costs down. 

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.