UMass Boston

Health & Dental Insurance

Invest in Your Health

Benefited faculty and staff are eligible for health insurance through the Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission (GIC) as well as dental and vision coverage through the MA Public Employees Fund.

GIC Frequently Asked Questions

Health Insurance

As a regular, benefited employee, you have the opportunity to elect a health insurance plan with comprehensive coverage for necessary medical treatment, preventative care and prescription drugs offered by UMass Boston through GIC (Group Insurance Commission). GIC provides and administers health insurance and other benefits to the commonwealth’s employees and retirees, along with their dependents and survivors. For detailed information, please refer to the GIC Benefit Decision Guide.

  • Cost: UMass Boston covers 75% of your health insurance premiums. Employees are responsible for the remaining 25% which is deducted biweekly from your paycheck on a pre-tax basis.
  • New hires and newly benefited employee enrollment deadline: The enrollment period begins on the date of hire/benefit start date. GIC enforces a strict 21 calendar day enrollment period. GIC will deny late enrollments.  Coverage begins on the first of the month following your date of hire. If your date of hire is on the first of the month, coverage will be effective that day
  • Annual/Open Enrollment: The annual Open Enrollment period occurs in April of each year for changes effective July 1.  
  • Qualifying Events: If you experience a qualifying event, you may be eligible to make certain changes to your coverage within 60 days of the event. For more information on qualifying events, please visit the link below.

To enroll, make changes or review your GIC benefits, please register at the MYGICLINK Portal. Additional health plan information and rates can be found at Mass.Gov. 

 

Understanding Your Benefits

Benefited Employees

Access the GIC Benefits Decision Guide

  • Review the various health plan options for active state employees.
  • Group Insurance Commission, 1.617.727.2310
  • GIC provides and administers health insurance and other benefits to the commonwealth's employees and retirees, and their dependents and survivors.
  • Full-time and at least 50% part-time employees are eligible for these benefits

Benefited Employees' Spouse and Dependents

An employee's spouse and dependent (up to age 26) are covered with GIC health insurance provided that the correct documentation and paperwork is filled out in a timely manner.

Effective Date Calendar

Date of employment is from

GIC Coverage begins on

Dec 2 – Jan 1

Jan 1

Jan 2 – Feb 1

Feb 1

Feb 2 – Mar 1

Mar 1

Mar 2 – Apr 1

Apr 1

Apr 2 – May 1

May 1

May 2 – Jun 1

Jun 1

Jun 2 – Jul 1

Jul 1

Jul 2 – Aug 1

Aug 1

Aug 2 – Sep 1

Sep 1

Sep 2 – Oct 1

Oct 1

Oct 2 – Nov 1

Nov 1

Nov 2 – Dec 1

Dec 1

Please note:

  • Eligible new employees must make their benefit elections within 10 calendar days of the employee’s first date of employment.
  • Family coverage requires a copy of a marriage certificate for spouse and a copy of a birth certificate for each dependent.
  • Employees who do not enroll in a health insurance plan when first eligible may enroll during Annual Enrollment. Coverage will begin July 1, following Annual Enrollment.

Enroll or Change Coverage

Coverage is effective the first day of the month following 60 days in an eligible position with employees contributing 25% of the total health and basic life insurance premiums.

To enroll, change coverage, change address, add/drop spouse/dependents, switch from individual to family coverage, etc., an employee can log into MyGIC or fill out Form 1 GIC Health Insurance Enrollment and Change

  • Some changes may require additional documentation
  • Please read Form 1 and instructions on back of form

Employees may change plans during annual open enrollment (the end-of-April/beginning-of-May each year with plan changes effective July 1). Employees may also change coverage when a qualifying life event occurs. For more information, please visit GIC.

GIC Health Plan and Rates

GIC offers different health plans for comprehensive coverage for necessary medical treatment, preventative care and prescription drugs. These plan types are indemnity, PPO-type, POS, HMO, and EPO.

Access state employee health plans and rates.

Non-Benefited Employees

Employees who are not eligible for benefits through the GIC or who need interim coverage while waiting for their GIC coverage to commence may access the Massachusetts Health Connector. The Health Connector offers plans from many of Massachusetts major insurance carriers and each carrier offers at least three coverage options.

Enroll in a program or seek more information.

COBRA

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) gives employees and their families who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time under certain circumstances such as voluntary or involuntary job loss, reduction in hours worked, transition between jobs, and other life events. Qualified individuals may be required to pay the entire premium coverage up to 102 percent of the cost of the plan. More Information.

You may be able to get coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace that costs less than COBRA continuation coverage.

Group Insurance Commission (GIC) Annual Enrollment

2025 dates will be announced. 

The Group Insurance Commission’s (GIC) annual enrollment period begins in Spring 2025 (dates will be announced) for insurance enrollments and changes effective on July 1, 2025. If you want to keep your current GIC health plan, you are not required to complete any paperwork, your insurance coverage will continue automatically.  Please note, however, that you must re-enroll in the flexible spending accounts (HCSA and/or DCAP), if you wish to continue that benefit. 

Open Enrollment is your one-time annual opportunity to:

  • Change your GIC health insurance plan online via MyGICLink
  • Cancel your GIC health insurance plan without documentation
  • Participate in the Buy-Out program
  • Add or remove dependent(s) from your GIC health plan without a qualifying event
  • Enroll in the $5,000 Basic Life Insurance policy
  • Enroll, or re-enroll online to participate in the HCS/DCAP administered by TASC

Dental Insurance

Smile More, Worry Less

Dental insurance coverage is provided for benefited employees, their spouse and children up to age 26; coverage varies according to your position.

Classified Staff Union (CSU/MTA)

  • You must enroll within 30 days of initial eligibility. Coverage information is available from the plan administrator, MA Public Employees Fund, who will mail you an enrollment packet.
  • Dental and vision coverage are effective the first day of the month following 6 months of covered employment at no cost to the member.
  • Visit the MA Public Employees Fund or call 617.426.4440

Faculty Staff Union (FSU/MSP/MTA)

You must enroll within 30 days of initial eligibility. Coverage information is available from the plan administrator, Health Plans Inc.

Dental coverage is effective the first day of the month following 6 months of covered employment at no cost to the member.

  1. Visit the MTA Dental Plan insurance carrier (MetLife Dental) to look up dentists and other information.
  2. On the Metlife website, for Company Name, enter DHE.

Note: First-time users must create an account.

For more information, call 1.800.942.0854.

Professional Staff Union (PSU/MTA)

  • You must enroll within 30 days of initial eligibility. Coverage information is available from the plan administrator, MA Public Employees Fund, who will mail you an enrollment packet.
  • PSU/MTA: Dental and vision coverage are effective the first day of the month following 6 months of covered employment at no cost to the member.
  • Call 617.426.4440

Non-Unit Staff

  • You must enroll within 30 days of initial eligibility. Coverage information is available from the plan administrator, Health Plans Inc.
  • For new employees, coverage will begin on the first day of the month following 60 Calendar days from the date of employment, or two Calendar months, whichever comes first. Cost for individual coverage is $22.80/month and family coverage is $45.60/month. Visit the website for the Non-Unit Dental Plan insurance carrier (MetLife Dental) to look up dentists and other information.
  • On website, for Company Name, enter DHE Non-Unit
  • Note: first-time users must create an account
  • Call 1.800.942.0854

Teamsters (Local 25)

  • You must enroll within 30 days of initial eligibility. Coverage information is available from the plan administrator, Teamsters Care, who will mail you an enrollment packet.
  • Dental coverage is effective the first day of the month following 6 months of covered employment at no cost to the member.
  • Learn more about the Local 25 (Police) Dental and Vision Plan or call 1.800.225.6135 or 617.241.9220 x 2