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Smallest Premium Hike In Over A Decade For State, Town Workers

More from WBUR's Martha Bebinger:

The 375,000 state and municipal workers who get their health insurance from the state insurance plan, the so-called Group Insurance Commission, will see the lowest premium increases in more than a decade.

GIC chief Dolores Mitchell
GIC chief Dolores Mitchell

If you're insured through the GIC, you may not even notice the 1.4 % average increase. Premiums are barely rising, in part because patients are seeking less care. GIC director Dolores Mitchell says tough negotiations with insurers and providers are also paying off.

"I'm hopeful that we've set an example that others will try to emulate," she says, "particularly in relation to the limited network effort that we've been doing."

The GIC gave bonuses this year to members who chose cheaper limited network plans. April enrollment will test whether members are satisfied with less choice of doctors in exchange for lower cost insurance.

This program aired on March 2, 2012. The audio for this program is not available.

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Carey Goldberg Editor, CommonHealth
Carey Goldberg is the editor of WBUR's CommonHealth section.

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