Health Insurance Benefits Available to City Employees

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The City of Boston offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Explore health insurance, retirement and savings programs, paid time off, and other benefits available to City workers.

Have questions? Contact:

Health Benefits Office
HBI@boston.gov
Phone: 617-635-4570

Fax: 617-635-3932
1 City Hall Square
Room 807
Boston, MA 02201
Office Hours

Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Employee Health Insurance Plans

Health Insurance

We offer three non-Medicare health insurance plans for City of Boston employees (excluding seasonal and emergency hires) who work at least 20 or more hours a week on a regular basis.

If you are eligible, you may also cover family including children (until age 26), grandchildren (as defined under Massachusetts state law), disabled children over age 25, and a spouse or ex-spouse.

Medicare (Retiree) Group Health Insurance

As a retiree of the City of Boston, you may be eligible to continue your health coverage. By law, all Medicare-eligible retirees, spouses, and dependents must apply for Medicare Parts A & B and switch to a Medicare plan to continue coverage. We offer six Medicare plans to supplement Medicare Parts A & B for our retirees. Visit the benefits available to retirees page for more information.

COBRA

The program covers employees after they stop working with the City of Boston. You can keep your insurance for up to 18 months. You will have to pay your total monthly premium plus a 2 percent administrative fee. Read more information about COBRA.

Group Life Insurance

You must enroll in basic life insurance if you wish to enroll in a City health insurance plan. The basic life insurance is a $5,000 group term policy. Some unions may be eligible to elect the $10,000 benefit. The cost for this benefit is shared 50/50 between the City and employee. If you enroll in basic life insurance and want additional coverage, you can also enroll in the optional life insurance policy for an amount up to your base salary (maximum amount is $74,000). The cost is based on the amount of coverage and your age, and is 100 percent employee paid.

Read more information about Group Life insurance
Basic Life Insurance application
Optional Life Insurance application
Line of Duty Beneficiary Designation form (active uniform police and fire)

For questions about these benefits, visit bostonmutual.com.

Dental and Vision

Massachusetts Public Employee Fund

If you qualify, you’ll get an enrollment form after six months of working for the City. You'll have the choice between an indemnity plan or a network plan. You'll also be able to sign up for individual benefits or a family plan.

There’s an informational booklet about the Massachusetts Public Employee Fund. You can also find out which unions get coverage through the fund. For more information, visit the MPEF's website or call:

Fund office: 1-800-325-5214
Dental Unit: 1-800-553-6277
Vision Unit: 1-800-406-1656

Not in the Public Employee Fund?

Other workers at the City can get dental and vision insurance through their unions. There are several unions that offer this benefit, including:

the Boston Teacher's Union
BPS Managerial Employees
- Dental Benefits Enrollment Application
- BCBS Dental Blue Summary of Benefits
the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association
the Boston Police Superior Officers Association
the Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society, and
the Boston Firefighters Local 718 (dental only)

Coverage Through Your Healthcare Plan

Your healthcare provider may cover limited vision and dental services. Some offer discounts on eyeglasses and contact lenses at certain stores. Make sure to go over your coverage summary to see what they have to offer.

Most healthcare plans will cover limited vision exams. Some plans offer discounts on eyeglasses and contact lenses at certain stores. Check with your health insurance carrier for details:

Benefits Billing

Options to Pay for Health Insurance Coverage

If you receive a benefits billing statement related to your City of Boston health or life insurance, you have two options to pay for the coverage:

Make a check out to 'City of Boston':

1 City Hall Square

Attn: Health Benefits and Insurance

Room 807

Boston, MA 02201

Pay online

Visit our payment website. Please refer to your Benefits Billing Statement. Complete the requested information to submit your payment online.
Payments made by electronic check / ACH are not subject to a service charge. The online credit card service charge is 2.75 percent of the total payment ($1 minimum).
Upon receipt of your payment, it will be processed and posted to your account within two to four business days.

NOTE: If you are receiving an active paycheck or pension, your deductions will not be affected.

Tax Information

Important 2025 Tax Information

In accordance with the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act, effective for forms for Tax Year 2025, the City of Boston will no longer automatically furnish IRS Form 1095-C or Form 1095-B to all active employees unless required by state law. Instead, these forms will be provided upon request.

If you want to obtain your Form 1095, you may submit a request by logging into your benefits portal at app.unifyhr.com and selecting the option to request a copy of your form.

You may alternatively request your form by writing to WEX ACA 1095, P.O. Box 2310, Fargo, ND 58108-2310. To request your 1095 form in writing, please complete this 1095 Form Request and mail it to the PO Box provided in this notice.

Please review the Health Insurance Related Tax Forms. If you have questions or need assistance logging into your portal or requesting your form, email ACA1095Request@wexinc.com. Forms will be available within 30 days after a request is received.

Employees living in a state where state law requires forms to be furnished will continue to receive a form automatically, and forms will be sent in accordance with the applicable state’s requirements.