|
GIC Retired
Municipal Teachers (RMTs) 
Saugus RMTs moving to Saugus Municipality Program Effective January 1, 2008; Gill Montague Regional School District, Towns of Holbrook, Millis and Winthrop joining municipal program July 1, 2008.
Answers for RMTs joining the Municipality Program
Eligibility
If you are retiring
teacher from a city, town or school district that participates in the
Retired Municipal Teacher (Non-municipal) program, and will be receiving a pension
from the Teachers' Retirement Board, you are eligible for GIC coverage
if you have at least basic life insurance or health insurance through
the participating city/town/district on the date of
your retirement. If you do not elect GIC coverage at retirement, you may
enroll in GIC coverage during the GIC's annual
enrollment, or at any time during the year with proof of loss of coverage
elsewhere, provided you had at least basic life insurance or health insurance
through a participating city/town district on the date of your retirement.
Benefit
Options
Enrollment
To enroll in coverage
with the GIC, complete and return the following RMT
forms to the GIC. (NOTE: you may enroll before retirement; you do not need to enroll during the GIC's annual enrollment period):
- RMT application,
including certification by your city/town/district of your life and/or
health insurance coverage through the date of retirement.
- GIC Beneficiary
Form - Form 319 (one to three beneficiaries) or G-500 (four or more
beneficiaries or special designations, such as estate or trust).
- Insurance Data
Form (IDF) for family coverage, which must include certified copies
of birth certificates and/or marriage certificates.
NOTE: The following health plans, listed on the Insurance Data
Form (IDF), are not available to GIC RMTs: Harvard Pilgrim Independence Plan,
Navigator by Tufts Health Plan, UniCare State Indemnity Plan/ PLUS and
Community Choice.
- Retiree Dental
Plan application (if elected)
Coverage
Effective Date
Coverage begins on
the first day of the third month following your retirement date. For example,
if you retire on any day in June, your coverage begins on September 1st.
Note: The GIC cannot process your application until you have received
your first pension check from the Teachers' Retirement Board.
Family
Coverage Eligibility
Family coverage may
include your spouse, children under age 19, and dependents age 19-26 whose applications have been approved
by the GIC. Coverage is allowed under certain circumstances for handicapped
dependents.
Cost
of Coverage
Most of the cost of
your insurance will be paid for by the city/town/district you retired
from. The exact cost of premium changes at least yearly and varies from
plan to plan. See the monthly rate section to calculate your premium.
Medicare
If you are eligible
for Medicare Part A and Part B at retirement, or anytime in the future, it
is mandatory that to be covered by the GIC you enroll in Part B at retirement
and elect one of GIC's Medicare supplemental
plans. Your benefits will be similar and your premium costs, in most
cases, lower. See the Medicare Question and
Answers section of this website for additional details.
Answers
to Frequently Asked Questions
Q)
When should I apply for coverage?
A) You should apply about three months before your retirement date.
Q)
Where do I obtain the forms?
A) You obtain the forms from the insurance coordinator at your school
department or on the forms section of this website.
Q)
What are the requirements for changing coverage?
A) You may change from individual to family coverage or family to individual
coverage by notifying the GIC and providing the information required.
See the common family status change
questions section for additional details.
If you wish to change
from life insurance only to life and health coverage, you must wait until
the GIC's next annual enrollment, unless
you lose coverage elsewhere.
If you wish to change
from one health plan to another, you may do so at annual enrollment or
if you move outside your plan's service area.
Q)
How do I change my beneficiary?
A) You may change beneficiaries at any time by completing a Beneficiary
Designation (Form 319 for one to three beneficiaries; G-500 for four or
more beneficiaries or special designations, such as estate and trusts). Call the GIC for the form.
Q)
Will my spouse have coverage if I pre-decease him/her?
A) If you pre-decease your spouse, he/she is eligible for survivor
coverage provided your coverage was in force at the time of death.
The cost will be deducted if the survivor receives a pension. If not,
a bill will be sent for the premium each quarter. Coverage may be kept
until remarriage. Survivor coverage is offered once the GIC is notified
of your death.
Q)
What towns/cities/school districts participate in the RMT program?
A) According to Massachusetts Law Chapter 32B, the following city, towns
and school districts participate in our Retired Municipal Teacher (RMT)
benefit program. If your school district is not listed, contact your local
benefit office for your district's benefit options and forms: Amesbury,
Andover, Amherst, Amherst-Pelham Regional SD, Barnstable, Berkshire Hills
Regional SD, Berlin-Boylston Regional School District, Billerica, Blackstone
Valley Regional SD, Blue Hills Regional SD, Braintree, Bridgewater, Bourne,
Cohasset, Dedham, Dennis, Eastham, Everett, Gill-Montague Regional
SD (through June 30, 2008), Gloucester, Granby, Greater Lawrence Regional SD, Narragansett Regional
SD, Harvard, Hampden-Wilbraham Regional SD, Hingham, Holbrook (through June 30, 2008), Holyoke,
Hudson, Lawrence, Martha's Vineyard Regional SD, Medford, Millis (through June 30, 2008), Milton,
Monson, Montague, Newbury, North Adams , North Andover , North Attleboro,
N. Middlesex Regional SD, Norwell, Orange, Pelham, Pioneer Valley Regional
SD, Plainville, Quabbin Regional SD , Randolph, Rehoboth, Revere, Rockland,
Rockport, Rutland, Salisbury, Salem, Shawsheen Valley Regional
SD, Spencer, Spencer-E. Brookfield Regional SD, Stoneham, Stoughton, Upper
Cape Cod Regional SD, Ware, Wareham, Watertown, Westfield, West Bridgewater,
West Springfield, Weymouth, Whitman-Hanson SD, Winthrop (through June 30, 2008), Wilbraham Paxton,
Woburn.
Q) I am a retired teacher or Elderly Governmental Retiree (EGR) currently in the GIC’s Retired Municipal Teachers (RMTs) program. Can I stay in GIC health coverage when the municipality joins?
A) Yes, but you will no longer be in the GIC’s RMT program. Instead, you will be transferred to the same pool that your non-RMT/non-EGR colleagues (and state employees/retirees) join, and will have the same health plan choices as other subscribers in the pool. Even if you want to keep your current health plan, you must enroll during annual enrollment. There will be no lapse in your GIC health coverage if you sign up during annual enrollment.
Q) Besides the potential premium contribution ratio change for RMTs and EGRs currently insured under the GIC moving to municipal coverage, are there any other changes to my coverage?
A) RMTs will only receive health benefits under the GIC once the municipality joins the GIC; they no longer will have GIC basic life insurance benefits or GIC retiree dental benefits effective July 1. Former RMTs must be provided life insurance coverage in the municipality’s plan in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 32B. EGRs will be eligible only for GIC health insurance.
Other Questions? Call the GIC's Senior
Unit at extension 6.
|
require Acrobat Reader