As many of you know, last week the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) announced that the number of healthcare carriers available to active and retired GIC members would be reduced significantly. As of July 1, 2018, members and their families will no longer be able to get healthcare through Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Tufts Health Plan (except for Medicare retirees) and Fallon Health, a drastic change that will impact over 200,000 hard-working employees, retirees, and their dependents throughout the Commonwealth.
I’ve already begun to hear from concerned families in my district who fear that they will be forced on to a new plan that may or may not allow them to keep their current doctors or continue the course of treatment that they are currently on. In addition, the decision will have a real impact on those insurers – all of whom are Massachusetts companies – and their employees who have been dropped as a result of this abrupt decision that took everyone by surprise.
Dear Cindy,
Thank you for recognizing the negative impact the GIC’s recent insurance decision will have on families as well as individuals without families. I am a retired Arlington teacher with 40 years dedicated service and without Medicare . Any future health problems will grow to be financially difficult as our raise each YEAR is minimal $350 max while the percentage of our share of insurance cost continues to rise equal to the present faculty whose yearly raises leap far ahead of ours. The teachers in my group (aged without Medicare) are a very small minority. I hope you will continue to
Remember and work for us. Thanks, Cindy. Frances Florencourt