Monthly
Status Report
May,
2005
The
House of Representatives passed their FY 06 budget
last week. Here is what happened with GIC.
Until December 31, 2005 the following premium
rates stay in effect:
- the commonwealth's share of
the group insurance premium for state employees
who have retired before
July 1, 1994 shall be 90 per cent
- the commonwealth's
share of the group insurance premium for
state employees who have retired on
or after July 1, 1994 shall be 85 per cent
- the
commonwealth's share of the group insurance
premium for active employees upon retirement
shall be 85 per cent;
- the commonwealth's share
of such premiums for active state employees
and their dependents
whose salary,
as determined by the commission in consultation
with the human resources division and
the office of the state comptroller, is between
$0
and
$34,999, shall be 85 per cent of such
premiums and rates;
- the commonwealth's share of such
premiums for active state employees and their
dependents whose salary,
as determined by the commission in
consultation with the human resources division
and the
office
of the state comptroller, is $35,000
and greater, shall be 80 per cent of such premiums
and rates
Effective January 1, 2006 the following premium
rates are in effect:
- the commonwealth's share
of such premiums for active state employees
and their dependents
shall be 85 percent
- the commonwealth's share
of such premiums for active state employees
and their dependents who are hired
after June 30, 2003 shall be 75 per cent of
such premiums and rates;
- the commonwealth's
share of such premiums for active
state employees hired after June 30,
2003 and their dependents shall be
80 percent;
After a great deal of intense lobbying by the
state employee coalition the House receded from
their position of maintaining the premium breakdowns
as they are now and sunset them on December 31,
2005. This proposal now has to go before the Senate,
then Conference Committee, then to the Governor.
Stay tuned and keep calling your legislators.
Please take a moment to call State
Representative Marty Walsh at 617.722.2090 and
thank him for his
great work on this issue. Rep. Walsh filed
the amendment to go back to 85%/15% and held
steadfast in the face of strong opposition to
maintain
the
tiered system.
The Senate budget will be debated
during the week of May 23. Members are encouraged
to call their state Senator and encourage them
to support the House budget for state employee
health insurance.
