April 5 - May 3, 2017

 

Annual enrollment time will take place in 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:

  • Enroll in or change health plans
  • Apply for Long Term Disability  – you may also do this anytime during the year

  • Enroll in Flexible Spending Account benefits

  • Apply for Optional Life Insurance Coverage - you may also do this anytime during the year

  • Apply for the buy-out option
  • Apply for Long Term Disability  – you may also do this anytime during the year
  • Apply for reduced non-smoker optional life insurance rates if you have optional life insurance as a smoker and have been tobacco-free for at least 12 months
  • Enroll in GIC Dental/Vision or change dental plans if you are eligible (primarily Managers, Legislators, Legislative staff and certain Executive Office staff)
  • Opt in or out of pre-tax premium basic life and health insurance deductions

Be sure to read your GIC Benefit Decision Guide for annual enrollment details.  Ask your GIC Coordinator for your guide.  These will be delivered to agencies during the week of April 1.  The guides are also available here . 

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.
  • Consider enrolling in a less expensive plan to save money every month on your premiums. Limited Network plans have the same benefits as the wider network plans, but save money because they have fewer physicians, hospitals, and other providers.
  • 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 Spirit” or “Tufts Health Plan Navigator,” not just Tufts Health Plan.
  • 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.

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.  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.  A new Summary of Benefits and Coverage document, as required by federal health care reform, provides a summary of a GIC plan’s benefits and cost-sharing requirements.  View and print all GIC SBCs from our website.

Mark the Date!  Enrollment forms are due to your GIC Benefits Coordinator no later than Wednesday, May 3, 2017.

This information provided by the Group Insurance Commission .