After furious outcry, Massachusetts commission abandons plan to change state workers’ health insurance choices

Jan. 25--The Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission is reconsidering its move to limit the number of health plans for state workers after facing fierce criticism.

Citing "candid feedback," the commission plans to meet on Thursday, Feb. 1 and reconsider its recent vote to narrow the list of health plans, dropping Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Fallon Community Health and Tufts Health Plan.

The commission, which manages insurance for over 400,000 state employees, their families and retirees, had originally said the move would save money while leading to fewer health plan choices.

"While the goal of the GIC action to narrow options was to provide members with continuous coverage in a comparable plan while retaining their networks and doctors, and simultaneously controlling out-of-pocket and premium costs, the GIC recognizes that there is opportunity to better engage stakeholders more directly and robustly in the strategic process moving forward," the commission's chief of staff, Ashley Maagero Lee, said in an email Thursday.

They now plan to vote to re-instate Harvard Pilgrim, Fallon and Tufts.

The commission's about-face came after Attorney General Maura Healey called on them to reconsider and launched an investigation into whether the commission's original decision violated the state's Open Meeting Law.

Gov. Charlie Baker also criticized the roll-out of the proposed changes, calling it "very poor."

The GIC's proposal to narrow the list of health plans had drawn intense fire from the state's unions.

On Thursday, after the GIC's latest statement, SEIU Local 509 President Peter MacKinnon thanked state officials like Healey and top state lawmakers for "opposing a move that was throwing tens of thousands of Massachusetts families into crisis."

"We're relieved that the GIC is preparing to undo their incredibly misguided decision, and we thank Governor Baker for stepping in to fix this disaster," MacKinnon said in a statement.

He added: "The GIC's move would have forced working people and their families to find new doctors and other medical providers, go to the back of waiting lists for their children's treatment, and spend valuable time trying to preserve the quality of their healthcare. In the last week, hundreds of SEIU Local 509 members called the Governor, spoke to their legislators, and attended the GIC's hearings to protest this decision. We're glad their voices were heard."

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