Bill > S1348

This bill mandates that if an employer receives federal subsidies from the retiree drug subsidy program, established by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-173), and these subsidies are not already accounted for in the cost of the insurance provided, then these subsidies must be used to cover any premiums or portions of premiums that enrollees are required to pay for federal health insurance for the aged, commonly known as Medicare, up to the total amount of the subsidies received. This provision is being added to several sections of Massachusetts General Laws related to state employee and retiree health insurance, specifically sections 10B and 10C of chapter 32A, section 18 of chapter 32A, and section 18A of chapter 32B, ensuring that these federal funds are directly applied to reduce out-of-pocket costs for Medicare-eligible retirees.