April 5 - May 3, 2017
Annual enrollment time will take place April 5 - May 3, 2017, giving you the opportunity to review your benefit options and choose a new health plan or make other benefit changes if you desire. If you want to keep your current Group Insurance Commission (GIC) health plan, you do not need to fill out any paperwork. Your coverage will continue automatically. Please take this opportunity to think about what you and your family need in the way of health care and other benefits.
During annual enrollment, if eligible, you may:
- Change health plans
- Enroll in the GIC Retiree Dental Plan
- Apply for the buy-out option
- Apply for reduced non-smoker Optional Life Insurance rates if you have GIC optional life insurance as a smoker and have been tobacco-free for at least 12 months
Be sure to read your GIC Benefit Decision Guide for annual enrollment details. The guide will be mailed to your permanent address during the week of April 1. If you are traveling or at a seasonal address, see our website to download the guide, or contact the GIC to ask us to send a copy to your current address.
Do your homework during annual enrollment, even if you don’t plan to make any changes:
- Review the GIC Benefit Decision Guide for benefit and rate changes effective July 1.
- If you are considering enrolling or staying in an HMO, PPO, POS, or EPO, contact the plans to find out if your doctors and hospitals still participate in your plan. Specify the plan’s full name, such as “Tufts Health Plan Medicare Complement” or “Tufts Health Plan Medicare Preferred,” not just Tufts Health Plan.
- If you are a Non-Medicare Retiree/Survivor, check on copay tier assignments that affect what you pay when you get physician or hospital services. Copay tiers can change each July 1 with new data. Physician and hospital tiers do not apply to the GIC’s Medicare plans.
Your GIC Benefit Decision Guide is an overview of GIC benefits; it is not a comprehensive plan handbook. There may be other services that you and your family need. Contact each plan to find out details about those benefits.
Keep in mind! Once you choose a health plan, you cannot change plans during the year, unless you move out of the plan’s service area or become eligible for Medicare (in which case you must switch plans). If your doctor or hospital leaves your health plan, you must find a new participating provider in your chosen plan.
See this website for the latest annual enrollment news, forms to expedite your decisions, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Mark the Date! Completed annual enrollment forms are due to the GIC no later than Wednesday, May 3, 2017.
This information provided by the Group Insurance Commission .
