Legislative & Health Care Update
Copyright 2018
The Retirees' Corner
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Waltham, MA 02453
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Mass Retirees
| Mass Retirees is part of a joint effort by a coalition of public employee and retiree organizations working together on the issues of healthcare and public employee pensions. These amendments were developed through our collaborative process and have wide support among our organizations. |
#1169: GIC Out of Pocket Cap, filed by Rep. Paul Mark: This amendment caps annual state and local out-of-pocket costs (copayments and deductibles) at $2,500 per person or $5,000 per family. The state Group Insurance Commission (GIC) currently caps these costs at $5,000 per person or $10,000 per family. Cities and towns adopting the Municipal Insurance Reform law (Sections 22-23, M.G.L. Chapter 32B) would be bound by this cap, as well as the GIC.
#745: Group Insurance Commission, filed by Rep. Dan Cullinane: This amendment restructures the GIC by limiting the Governor's power to unilaterally appoint all 17 commissioners. The proposal grants Mass Retirees an appointed retiree representative on the Commission. All five labor seats on the Commission would be appointed by their respective unions. In addition, the legislative leadership would appoint two of the 17 commissioners. Currently, the GIC insures over 435,000 lives, which include a growing number of retirees and employees from over 60 municipalities and subdivisions.
IMPORTANT ACTION ALERT – TAKE ACTION TODAY!
Today the Massachusetts House of Representatives begins debate on the state budget.
REAM is asking you to contact your State Representative in support of Amendment #1169 filed by Representative Paul Mark. The amendment would lower the cap on out-of-pocket health insurance costs.
The amendment seeks to lower the annual cap on copayments and deductibles to $2,500 per person or $5,000 per family. Under the state’s Group Insurance Commission the current cap is $5,000 per person or $10,000 per family.
Please Contact Your State Representative TODAY in support of Amendment #1169.
Key Email/Talking Points:
- Please support and Pass Amendment #1169. It would lower the cap on retirees out-of-pocket health insurance costs.
- The amendment would protect retirees and employees at both the state and local level from runaway healthcare costs.
- Retirees have seen sharp increase in co-payments and deductibles. It has to stop somewhere.
- These costs can be sky-high for anyone with chronic health problems, requiring frequent doctor visits or high prescription drug usage.
- This amendment seeks to protect the most vulnerable \ No one should be forced to face financial hardship because they or a family member is sick.