Email to Prevent Changes to Health Insurance

January 26, 2015

To:       Local Association Presidents

            MTA Board of Directors

            MTA Staff

From:   Barbara Madeloni, MTA President

            Janet Anderson, MTA Vice President

The following important message is being sent to all MTA members. 

From: Barbara Madeloni, President, and Janet Anderson, Vice President

Subject: Oppose unfair changes to GIC health insurance

Greetings:

Please take action right away to fight unfair changes to health insurance for educators, other public employees and retirees.

E-mail members of the Group Insurance Commission and urge them to lobby for support for a supplemental budget for FY15 that closes the GIC funding gap, and ask them to adopt a budget for FY16 that fully funds current benefits for GIC subscribers.

Further, please urge the commissioners to oppose proposed plan design changes in health insurance for state and municipal employees, their dependents and retirees.

Due to chronic underfunding by the state and increased claim costs, the GIC anticipates a budget shortfall of $160 million to $190 million for the current operating year.

The MTA is strongly opposed to any attempt to close this significant shortfall on the backs of educators, other public employees and retirees.

The time for action is short. The next GIC meeting will occur on Jan. 30, and it is possible that any decisions made by the GIC ultimately would affect all MTA members.

Any changes adopted by the GIC would be implemented effective July 1, 2015, for all GIC participants. Plan design changes could subsequently affect municipalities even if they are not in the GIC.

Please click here to send an e-mail message to commissioners urging them to seek full budget funding and stating clearly that a lack of adequate and transparent funding by the state should not result in unfair burdens on public service employees.

Click here to see options that the commission will entertain at its meeting on Jan. 30. Members are encouraged to attend this meeting, which will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the GIC offices on the fourth floor of the Charles F. Hurley Building, 19 Staniford St., Boston.

In addition, members are encouraged to attend the GIC’s annual public hearing at 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 4, on the sixth floor at 19 Staniford St., Boston.

Thank you for taking immediate action on this urgent matter.

Barbara and Janet