NORTH ATTLEBORO - Some of the town’s retired employees are upset about pending changes to their health insurance program, including higher premium shares for certain retirees.
Stephen Peterson reported in Thursday’s edition of The Sun Chronicle the town will move active and retired employees into a new health insurance program starting Jan. 1 in an effort to reign in rising costs.
Employee health insurance has strained town finances in recent years.
The expense totals about $13 million in the town’s $121 million budget.
The town had a $2.5 million health insurance deficit in FY26 and covered it with reserve funds.
To lower costs, the town will switch halfway through this fiscal year from a self-insurance program to the Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission after own councilors in June approved a memorandum of agreement negotiated with employee unions to participate in the GIC program for 3½ years.
The town’s medical plans will move from Blue Cross Blue Shield to Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, with more options available.
Under the agreement negotiated with union leaders, all active and retired town and school employees will pay 25% of insurance costs. Overall, retired teachers will face a 7.5% cost increase, while retired town employees will face a 20% increase.
