Our weekly upgrade concentrates on great news from the state’s GIC, today’s Mass Senior citizens members-only Location Meeting happening in Tewksbury, and the current news on the application of the Social Safety And Security Justness Act.
Despite the proceeded surge in health care prices, the GIC staff has actually suggested that the 17-member Commission hold the line on boosts in copayments and deductibles. The GIC has actually advised enhancements in insurance coverage including bone and joint care, fertility treatment, and better parody with some mental health and wellness solutions. If authorized by the Commission at the GIC’s February 6th conference (as anticipated), FY26 will certainly mark the 8th consecutive year of plan design and out-of-pocket price security across all GIC health plans.
Mass Retirees deeply appreciates the job of the GIC team and insurance coverage suppliers on these intricate issues. We are additionally very appreciative that the GIC proceeds to oppose expense shifting, on the premises that such plans are inefficient at regulating costs and just offer to hurt enrollees. If medical care costs should rise– and we completely anticipate expenses to increase for FY26– the fairest strategy is with insurance coverage premiums, with the Commonwealth soaking up the lion’s share of brand-new expenses.
WEP/GPO Repeal: Unfortunately, we have no information to report on the implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act. The last directly from the Social Security Administration was released on Monday, January 6th– the information of which we reported in recently’s message. As we have previously stated, as a result of the size of WEP/GPO repeal it will likely take SSA a number of months to carry out and provide retroactive payments to qualified retired people to 1/1/2024. Once new information is readily available, we will swiftly alert all Mass Retirees members. A word of caution: We STRONGLY recommend participants to be very careful and take with a grain of salt details you may see or receive from informal resources. We know the spread of false information online that relates to WEP/GPO abolition. Mass Retirees will not publish unverified speculation or rumors.
Ultimately, today (Friday, 1/17) we kickoff our 2025 Area Meeting timetable with our Tewksbury Area Meeting, which starts at 11AM at the Tewksbury/Wilmington Elks Lodge. Area conferences are open to all dues-paying Mass Retirees Association participants. If you are a retired Massachusetts public staff member, yet not an Association participant, please sign up with today at https://massretirees.com/new-members-join/