GIC survivor health insurance

An overview of survivor benefits and eligibility.

Survivor health insurance eligibility scenarios

Updated May, 2019

Your surviving spouse may be eligible for GIC health insurance

If you (the state or municipal employee/retiree) have coverage through the GIC at the time of your death, your surviving spouse is eligible for GIC health insurance coverage until he/she remarries. However, he/she must apply for survivor spouse coverage by contacting the GIC for a survivor application; survivor coverage is not an automatic benefit. If your surviving spouse is a state or GIC participating municipal employee or retiree, he or she must elect coverage through the state or participating municipality and is not eligible for survivor health coverage.

If legally separated or divorced, survivors are not eligible for survivor health insurance

Your legally separated or former spouse may continue coverage under COBRA for up to 36 months after your death. Alternately, if your separated or former spouse is a Massachusetts resident, he/she may purchase health insurance directly from the Massachusetts Health Connector (1 [phone]). If he or she lives in another state, he/she can find out about coverage in that state through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

What happens to your GIC coverage if you are a surviving spouse who is remarrying

Your coverage as a survivor ends at the end of the month in which you remarry. You are eligible to convert to non-group coverage with your health plan. Alternately, if you are a Massachusetts resident, you may purchase health insurance directly from the Massachusetts Health Connector (1 [phone]).  If he or she lives in another state, he/she can find out about coverage in that state through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Your surviving dependents may be eligible for GIC health insurance coverage, as long as you are a GIC insured and cover a dependent

Upon your death and if there is no surviving parent, your dependents may continue in the group health plan until age 26, provided they continue to meet eligibility requirements and are not eligible for other group health coverage. The dependent's legal representative must contact the GIC’s continuing coverage unit to apply for coverage on behalf of the dependent.  A copy of the certified death certificates for both  parents must be submitted to the GIC.