Press Release: 4/8/2026

Massachusetts Legislature Approves Health Insurance Funding for Public Employees

 

Ensures no coverage interruptions for 460,000 members and dependents

 

APRIL 7, 2026

 

The Massachusetts Legislature approved crucial funding to support health insurance coverage for the 460,000 public employees, retirees, and dependents who access health care through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC).

 

In passing the legislation, H.5348, the Legislature covered costs to ensure there are no interruptions to coverage for members who receive their insurance coverage through the GIC, a quasi-independent state agency.

 

“Health care is a fundamental promise we make to the public employees, retirees, and families who keep our Commonwealth running,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Today the Legislature acted together to ensure that more than 460,000 people can continue to access the care they rely on without disruption. I am grateful to Chair Rodrigues for his leadership on this legislation, and to our partners in the House for their collaboration on this critical need.”

 

“Given that hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts residents access their health care through the Group Insurance Commission, ensuring that it is adequately funded is of vital importance,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I want to thank Chairman Michlewitz and my colleagues in the House, as well as our partners in the Senate, for recognizing the urgent need for this funding.”

 

The bill appropriates $300 million in FY26 general fund revenues to cover GIC costs driven by higher-than-anticipated utilization and pharmaceutical expenses. Identical funding was proposed by both the House and Senate this year in their respective versions of a broader supplemental budget, which remains before the Legislature.

 

“With the swift passage of this mini supplemental budget, the Legislature is prioritizing access to vital health care for state employees and doing our due diligence, paying providers on time for the health care services our residents depend on,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues, (D-Westport) Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “I look forward to the Governor’s quick and decisive action on this bill.”

 

“This timely funding will allow critical healthcare to continue to be provided to hundreds of thousands of people all across the Commonwealth,” said Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Chair of the House Committee on Ways & Means (D-Boston). “I want to thank Speaker Mariano, Chair Rodrigues and all my colleagues in the Legislature for their support on this critical piece of legislation.”

 

The House and Senate worked together during informal sessions on Monday, April 6th to advance and finalize the limited supplemental appropriations bill. The legislation will now be sent to the Governor for her signature.