Charlton Select Board begins process to change town’s health insurance after steep premium hikes

CHARLTON — The Charlton Select Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to begin the formal process of changing the town’s health insurance benefits after officials warned that the current insurance arrangement could lead to continued premium increases.

During the board’s meeting on Feb. 24, 2026, Town Administrator Andrew Golas told members that the Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust, which provides the Town of Charlton’s health insurance, has significantly increased its premiums in recent months after facing “a number of financial challenges over the last year.”

“Since July of 2025, we’ve been evaluating our options once the town was blindsided by a 20% midyear premium adjustment, after already increasing 18% on July 1st, which impacted both the municipal budget and our employees,” Golas said, adding that last month, he was informed that six communities will be leaving the trust on July 1 to join the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC), with the possibility of other communities leaving for other insurance providers.

“We must provide notice to the trust of of an intent to leave prior to April 1,” Golas explained.

Insurance consultant Ken Lonbardi of NFP Corporate Services discussed the option of Charlton joining the Mass Strategic Health Group, another joint purchasing organization that he said offers more stability because its membership base is known and geographically concentrated.

“The fundamental challenge with Hampshire County is a significant amount of change that has occurred already as well as the potential for additional groups to leave that organization,” Lombardi said.

Under the potential change, Charlton employees would move from Blue Cross Blue Shield to Harvard Pilgrim coverage on July 1, though Lombardi said disruptions to doctors or providers are expected to be minimal.

Dylan Langlais, president of the Charlton firefighters’ union, Fire Local 4023, asked if employees could lose access to doctors under the proposed plan.

Lombardi said most providers participate in both networks.

“I think it was about 98% of all the providers that are being used by Hampshire County within Blue Cross’ network are also in Harvard Pilgrim,” Lombardi said.

The board ultimately voted to authorize the town to begin the process of changing health insurance benefits under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 32B, Sections 21–23.

The motion passed unanimously.

If the process moves forward, any new health insurance arrangement would take effect July 1, at the start of the next fiscal year.