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The Select Board unanimously voted to begin the legal process for changing the town’s employee health insurance benefits, with a possible move from the Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust to Massachusetts Strategic Health Group effective July 1. The town must notify the current trust of its intent to leave by April 1 after employees faced a 38%–40% increase in fiscal year 2026 and a projected 16%–20% renewal increase.
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The vote starts an evaluation and bargaining process; it does not yet finalize a new insurance provider or plan. The proposed alternative would change the carrier from Blue Cross Blue Shield to Harvard Pilgrim and could change plan design, while the town works to compare provider networks and consult employee unions, retirees, and other representatives. The board’s final decision was not stated in the minutes.
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