PENNSYLVANIA NwPACC Group Medicare to lower retirees' costs for health insurance

The reduction stems from an increase in federal subsidies.
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Retirees of companies and unions that are part of Northwest Pennsylvania Cooperation Council Inc. will be getting a break on their insurance costs effective March 1.
Dick Miller, NwPACC executive director, said monthly premiums for the NwPACC Group Medicare supplemental health insurance will be going down from $279 to $210.50 a month for retirees in Mercer and Crawford counties.
Rates in Erie County will drop from $216 to $211 per month, while rates in Butler County will decline from $194 to $174 per month.
The reduction is a result of increased federal subsidies to insurance carriers for Medicare subscribers under the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003.
Coverage
NwPACC's plan, SecurityBlue (offered by Highmark BC/BS), covers about 650 retirees who pay their own premiums.
Unlike many Medicare supplement packages, the NwPACC plan offers unlimited prescription drug coverage in addition to general health insurance.
The plan doesn't offer vision or dental coverage.
"NwPACC chose the plan with the unlimited drug feature because it will help those retirees who are impacted most financially," Miller said.
NwPACC is a private, nonprofit labor-management agency.