Retiree Guide: Navigating Gic Insurance Changes

As a retiree, you may continue, change, or enrol in health coverage with the GIC, and may enrol in the GIC retiree dental plan. You can also reduce or drop your optional life insurance at any time by completing and returning an Employment Status Change Form (Form 1A). If you are Medicare-eligible, you must enrol in a GIC Medicare Plan.

If you are a retired teacher, you are eligible for GIC coverage if you have at least basic life insurance or health insurance through the participating city, town, or district on the date of your retirement.

Enrolling in GIC health insurance benefits

To enroll in GIC health insurance benefits, you can do so during the GIC's spring Annual Enrollment period. You can use myGICLink to request a digital version of your enrollment form. To qualify for state retiree health insurance benefits, you must be retired from specific branches of the state government, including the Executive Branch, the judiciary, or the legislature, and receive a pension from a public retirement system. If you wish to add a spouse or dependent to your coverage, you must include documentation such as a marriage or birth certificate with your enrollment form. If you are enrolling within 60 days of a qualifying event, you must attach proof of this event to your form.

If you are a retired teacher from a municipality that participates in the GIC's RMT program and will receive a pension from the Teachers' Retirement Board, you are eligible for GIC coverage if you have basic life insurance or health insurance through the participating city, town, or district on your retirement date. You can add a spouse or dependent to your coverage, but you must include the necessary documentation with your form.

Remember, if you drop your retiree dental coverage, you cannot re-enroll in the plan unless you have a documented loss of coverage elsewhere and apply within 60 days.

Changing GIC health insurance benefits

If you are a retiree in Massachusetts, you can continue, change, or enroll in health coverage with the Group Insurance Commission (GIC). You can also enroll in the GIC retiree dental plan. To do so, you must complete the process within 60 days of retirement. If you miss this window, you will have to wait until the next Annual Enrollment period or have a qualifying event, such as involuntary loss of coverage, marriage, or a spouse's open enrollment.

To change your GIC health insurance benefits, you can use the myGICLink Member Benefits Portal to request a digital version of your enrollment form. You can also contact the GIC by phone at (617) 727-2310, Monday to Friday, 8:45 a.m.-5 p.m. or use their online contact form.

If you are a retired municipal teacher, you must apply for GIC coverage up to two months before your retirement date, and no later than the 15th of the month in which you are retiring. You can mail Form RMT to the following address:

PO Box 556, Randolph, MA 02368

If you are adding a spouse or dependent to your coverage, you must include documentation such as a copy of a marriage or birth certificate with your form. If you are enrolling within 60 days of a qualifying event, you must also attach proof of the event to your enrollment form.

Please note that you cannot change your health plan if your doctor or hospital leaves your health plan's network until the next GIC annual enrollment period. Additionally, if you drop your retiree dental coverage, you cannot re-enroll in the plan unless you have a documented loss of coverage elsewhere and apply within 60 days.

GIC retiree dental insurance

All state retirees, Elderly Governmental Retirees (EGRs), survivors, and GIC Retired Municipal Teachers (RMTs) who do not participate in the municipal health-only program are eligible for the GIC Retiree Dental Plan. Retirees and survivors from the following municipalities that have elected to offer the plan are eligible:

• City of Melrose
• Town of Ashland
• Town of Bedford
• Town of Brookline
• Town of Holbrook
• Town of Marblehead
• Town of Middleborough
• Town of Millis
• Town of North Andover
• Town of Randolph
• Town of Swampscott
• Town of Weston
• Town of Westwood
• Athol Roylston School District
• Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School District

If your municipality is not listed, you are not eligible for GIC Retiree Dental benefits. Contact your municipal benefits office for additional information.

You may join during Annual Enrollment, or within 60 days of a qualifying status change, such as when COBRA dental coverage ends, when you become a survivor of a GIC member, or at retirement. If you drop GIC Retiree Dental coverage, you may never re-enroll.

GIC life insurance

If you are a retiree, you may continue, change, or enroll in health coverage with the GIC, and you may also enroll in the GIC retiree dental plan. It is important to note that you cannot change your health plan outside of the annual enrollment period if your doctor or hospital leaves your health plan's network.

To enroll in or make changes to your GIC retiree benefits, you can use the MyGICLink Member Benefits Portal or contact the Group Insurance Commission directly. The Group Insurance Commission can be reached by phone at (617) 727-2310, Monday through Friday, from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also submit an online contact form through their website.

If you are a GIC Retired Municipal Teacher (RMT), there are specific instructions for enrolling in or changing your GIC benefits. You should apply for GIC coverage up to two months before your retirement date and no later than the 15th of the month in which you are retiring. You can mail Form RMT to the following address:

Group Insurance Commission

PO Box 556, Randolph, MA 02368

It is important to note that once you choose a health plan as an RMT, you may not change plans until the next annual enrollment, even if your doctor or hospital leaves the plan during the year.

GIC vision insurance

During Annual Enrollment or within 60 days of a qualifying status change, you may enroll in GIC dental and vision benefits and change your dental product selection. You can receive basic services every 24 months (age 19-60) or every 12 months (age 18 or under and 61 or over) at no cost. These basic services include routine eye examinations, fashion and designer frames, and scratch-resistant lens coating.

If you are a GIC Retired Municipal Teacher (RMT), you are eligible for GIC coverage if you are retiring from a city, town, or school district that participates in the GIC's RMT program and will receive a pension from the Teachers' Retirement Board. You must also have at least basic life insurance or health insurance through the participating city, town, or district on the date of your retirement.

To add a spouse or dependent to your GIC coverage, you must provide documentation such as a copy of a marriage or birth certificate. If you are enrolling within 60 days of a qualifying event, you must attach proof of the event to your enrollment form.

If you drop your GIC vision coverage, you may not be able to re-enroll in the plan unless you have a documented loss of coverage elsewhere and apply within 60 days.

Frequently asked questions