City Of Boston Annual Healthcare Enrollment 2021

Press release from the City of Boston:

February 25, 2021

This past year has been full of uncertainty, and we want to make sure that you are prepared for the change in the City of Boston’s Non-Medicare health plans.

It’s important to understand how and why the City of Boston and the Public Employee Committee (PEC) jointly came to these decisions, and what it will mean for you during the upcoming annual enrollment period and in the new plan year beginning on July 1, 2021.

Last year, the City of Boston and the PEC, the bargaining representative for Boston’s union employees and retirees with respect to health insurance for over a decade, worked together to reach an updated five-year agreement. The agreement specifically included introducing a new Value Network HMO with a provider network focused on high-quality, high-performance, lower-cost providers in Massachusetts.

Together, we undertook a diligent review of the healthcare market to determine the competitiveness of our provider networks and fees. Thanks to this careful review through a collaborative effort, the City and the PEC will be able to limit the impact of rising healthcare costs on our employees without compromising on quality access to care.

Employees and non-Medicare retirees will now have access to three non-Medicare plans effective July 1, 2021:

READ MORE ABOUT:

• The Public Employee Committee
• The most recent PEC agreement

Current AllWays Standard HMO members

Current Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (HPHC) Standard HMO members

Current Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO (Blue Care Elect Preferred) members

You should review your new healthcare options before the annual enrollment period. While you are not required to take any action during annual enrollment, you can choose to move plans and add or remove dependents for the new plan year.

We know healthcare decisions can be complicated. Each individual and family has unique needs to consider. It's essential that you understand these changes to make the best choice for yourself and your family. We encourage you to research your options, and we'll be here to help you make the best choice for your needs.

Expect much more communication from us over the coming weeks:

• To start, we'll be mailing a comprehensive booklet to your homes in April.
• During annual enrollment, we will host virtual information sessions with morning, afternoon, and evening options available for you and your family to join.
• You'll also have opportunities to speak to the health insurance carriers as a prospective member.

This press release was produced by the City of Boston. The views expressed here are the author’s own.