Questions submitted by Town of Middleborough Employees
1. Will this affect our dental coverage? No
2. I am a retired teacher and I did not get a notice on my check.
It was explained to her that the town handles the retirees. The meetings being held now are to inform all active school staff of the change, but mainly to address the increase in deductions finishing up with MIIA/BCBS and also in getting caught up, so we are one month in advance for the new GIC plan.
3. I understand that we will have to pay for MIIA/Blue Cross until June and will have to pay for a short period of time towards the new GIC plan to be paid one month ahead as required by GIC. I am a teacher with 21 pays. What are the dates for payments in my case? It was explained to that an increase in deductions would begin in January to complete the MIIA/BCBS portion and these will continue on through late May, Early June. From that point on, deductions will be taken out, depending on the health plan chosen with GIC, to pay for July, August and September.
4. During open enrollment period annually, can you switch from one plan to another? Yes
5. At what point will the deductions go down? Depending on the plan you choose, you should see a savings in your September 2014 check.
6. When will we know the new rates and plans for next year? Will it be before April? Mr. Cristello replied March. Vendors should be sending information to all on their plans.
7. We understand that we will have choices. Will premiums be different for all of us? Yes - The GIC offers many different plan opportunities.
8. Are birth certificates required on dependents? Yes
9. Are copies acceptable or do they need to see originals for the documentation required? Copies are acceptable
10. Can employees write a lump sum check and pay what is owed all at once? No a lump sum is not acceptable, nor would a lump sum be pre-taxed.
11. Will there still be a mitigation fund? Yes
12. If they work in the summer, can they have the option to have insurance money held out of their summer pay? No
13. What are the rates? Rates for Middleborough are not available as of yet, but as soon as they are, we will get that information to you.
14. It was discussed that there is the possibility of employees having to meet the deductible of MIIA and then of GIC this year. Is this true? Yes there is a one time, possibility of having to meet two sets of deductibles this calendar year only. (2014) Because we are switching from MIIA/BCBS on July 1st 2014, you have probably met or will meet your deductibles for MIIA/Blue Cross before we are finished with them on June 30, 2014, as our plans run a fiscal year of 7/1/2013 through The GIC plans runs a calendar year, from January through December, and we are starting with them in July. If you do use your health insurance within the period July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014, you will also need to meet your deductibles with any GIC Health Plan that you choose.
15. Where do I find the listing to be sure that my primary doctor, my family members' primary doctors and our specialists are covered? The links to finding doctors and hospitals can be found on http://www.mass.gov (search GIC) or on the GIC Employee Resource tab of this website.
16. Are there any pre-existing conditions, or will all matters that we are being treated for or have been treated for be covered? As far as we know, there are no pre-existing conditions.
17. I attended the after school meeting on Monday 12/9 regarding the new insurance going into effect. I just wanted to double check the term of "new hire" and it going into effect days after your hire. Is this for employees hired post July 1st, 2014 or for new hires this school year? Could you please clarify this? This would be for new hires hired July 1st, 2014 and after.
18. I could not attend the first meeting due to a prior conflict and could not attend at 2:45pm at Nichols Middle School as I am in the elementary. I know there are many others in my shoes also. What options might we have since I would greatly like to understand the shift? The meeting covered revising deduction schedules for this school year. Please view the power point and call or email the business office with any questions.
19. Will deductibles be different for each plan? Per Mr. Cristello, it appears that the deductibles for each plan seem to be the same.
$250/person or $750.00/family
20. I understand about catching up. Some weeks deductions do not come out. I am bi-weekly. It was explained to her that the week in June that would have had no deductions, will now have deductions held out so to minimize the impact of the increase in deductions.
21. When does the new insurance coverage actually begin? I am an ESP at MECC. How much more per pay period is this new plan going to cost? The new plans will begin on July 1, 2014. Your new health insurance rates will depend on the plan that you choose. All information should be available in March.
1. Will this affect our dental coverage? No
2. I am a retired teacher and I did not get a notice on my check.
It was explained to her that the town handles the retirees. The meetings being held now are to inform all active school staff of the change, but mainly to address the increase in deductions finishing up with MIIA/BCBS and also in getting caught up, so we are one month in advance for the new GIC plan.
3. I understand that we will have to pay for MIIA/Blue Cross until June and will have to pay for a short period of time towards the new GIC plan to be paid one month ahead as required by GIC. I am a teacher with 21 pays. What are the dates for payments in my case? It was explained to that an increase in deductions would begin in January to complete the MIIA/BCBS portion and these will continue on through late May, Early June. From that point on, deductions will be taken out, depending on the health plan chosen with GIC, to pay for July, August and September.
4. During open enrollment period annually, can you switch from one plan to another? Yes
5. At what point will the deductions go down? Depending on the plan you choose, you should see a savings in your September 2014 check.
6. When will we know the new rates and plans for next year? Will it be before April? Mr. Cristello replied March. Vendors should be sending information to all on their plans.
7. We understand that we will have choices. Will premiums be different for all of us? Yes - The GIC offers many different plan opportunities.
8. Are birth certificates required on dependents? Yes
9. Are copies acceptable or do they need to see originals for the documentation required? Copies are acceptable
10. Can employees write a lump sum check and pay what is owed all at once? No a lump sum is not acceptable, nor would a lump sum be pre-taxed.
11. Will there still be a mitigation fund? Yes
12. If they work in the summer, can they have the option to have insurance money held out of their summer pay? No
13. What are the rates? Rates for Middleborough are not available as of yet, but as soon as they are, we will get that information to you.
14. It was discussed that there is the possibility of employees having to meet the deductible of MIIA and then of GIC this year. Is this true? Yes there is a one time, possibility of having to meet two sets of deductibles this calendar year only. (2014) Because we are switching from MIIA/BCBS on July 1st 2014, you have probably met or will meet your deductibles for MIIA/Blue Cross before we are finished with them on June 30, 2014, as our plans run a fiscal year of 7/1/2013 through The GIC plans runs a calendar year, from January through December, and we are starting with them in July. If you do use your health insurance within the period July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014, you will also need to meet your deductibles with any GIC Health Plan that you choose.
15. Where do I find the listing to be sure that my primary doctor, my family members' primary doctors and our specialists are covered? The links to finding doctors and hospitals can be found on http://www.mass.gov (search GIC) or on the GIC Employee Resource tab of this website.
16. Are there any pre-existing conditions, or will all matters that we are being treated for or have been treated for be covered? As far as we know, there are no pre-existing conditions.
17. I attended the after school meeting on Monday 12/9 regarding the new insurance going into effect. I just wanted to double check the term of "new hire" and it going into effect days after your hire. Is this for employees hired post July 1st, 2014 or for new hires this school year? Could you please clarify this? This would be for new hires hired July 1st, 2014 and after.
18. I could not attend the first meeting due to a prior conflict and could not attend at 2:45pm at Nichols Middle School as I am in the elementary. I know there are many others in my shoes also. What options might we have since I would greatly like to understand the shift? The meeting covered revising deduction schedules for this school year. Please view the power point and call or email the business office with any questions.
19. Will deductibles be different for each plan? Per Mr. Cristello, it appears that the deductibles for each plan seem to be the same.
$250/person or $750.00/family
20. I understand about catching up. Some weeks deductions do not come out. I am bi-weekly. It was explained to her that the week in June that would have had no deductions, will now have deductions held out so to minimize the impact of the increase in deductions.
21. When does the new insurance coverage actually begin? I am an ESP at MECC. How much more per pay period is this new plan going to cost? The new plans will begin on July 1, 2014. Your new health insurance rates will depend on the plan that you choose. All information should be available in March.
