Articles about Health Insurance that may be useful to Massachusetts retirees
MAY 2002
- Retirees Urged To Take Close Look - News that the state has created a retiree dental plan has been met
with mostly positive reaction among eligible Association members. The
new plan, which begins July 1, 2002, is the first time such coverage
will be offered to retirees enrolled under the state Group Insurance
Commission (GIC). This includes those retired teachers and local
government retirees who hold GIC coverage.
MAY 2002
- Southwick Pensioners Have Town’s Support For Increased Premium Aid - Retirees of the Central Mass. community of Webster are again
attempting to win the support of the town’s voters as they seek
assistance with their health insurance premiums.
MAY 2002
- Increase Affects GIC’s State, RMT & EGR Retirees - Retirees and survivors, insured through the state’s Group Insurance
Commission (GIC), will be forced to pay more for their health insurance
beginning July 1.
MARCH 2002
- In one of his last official acts as Quincy mayor, James Sheets
announced that the basic life insurance coverage for all active and
retired employees of the city would increase from $5,000 to $7,500,
effective Jan. 1, 2002 and would increase again from $7,500 to $10,000,
effective July 1, 2002.
MARCH 2002
- Coverage Begins July 1 With Altus - After many years of research and countless meetings, the Association
has finally succeeded in obtaining dental coverage for retirees. In
mid-January, the state's Group Insurance Commission (GIC) voted
unanimously to offer dental coverage to retirees beginning in July.
MARCH 2002
- Retirees Forced To Shoulder Budget Cuts - With little advance notice, the state's Group Insurance Commission
(GIC) has moved to increase insurance copayments for the coming fiscal
year. Retirees will now be forced to pay higher prices for prescription
drugs, office visits, and other medical services.
JANUARY 2002 -
Association member Paul Leger, who heads the Fitchburg Retired
Municipal Employees Association (FRMEA), has announced that beginning
January 2002, Fitchburg retirees will receive $10,000 group life
insurance coverage.Fitchburg's
employees and retirees had been insured for $5,000 coverage, but when
the employee's unions bargained for and won $10,000 coverage beginning
in January, Leger and his troops demanded that the city give retirees
the same benefit.
JANUARY 2002
- Polaroid's Problems Highlight Dilemma - Members, who do not carry health insurance with their city or town
when they retire because they have coverage under their spouse's
private sector insurance, should beware.
JANUARY 2002
- GIC Bidding Process Underway - As members, insured through the state's Group Insurance Commission
(GIC), press for group dental insurance for retirees, the Association
continues to work closely with GIC officials to obtain the benefit for
the coming fiscal year.
SEPTEMBER 2001
- Governor Jane Swift has named Theron (Ron) Bradley to serve as a
commissioner on the Commonwealth’s Group Insurance Commission. Bradley,
who lives in Wilmington, is the vice president of compensation and
benefits at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington.
Since 1968 the Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association has been the leading voice for Massachusetts public retirees and their families. Join with our 52,000 members as we continue the fight.
