ABOUT RAMHIC

The Retailers Association of Massachusetts Health Insurance Cooperative (RAMHIC) is the Association’s program designed to reduce health insurance costs for its small business members. Authorized by state law, RAMHIC utilizes the increased purchasing power of the RAM membership to negotiate with health insurance carriers to obtain and offer discounted health insurance coverage. The 2020 discount for all plans purchased through RAMHIC is set at 3%. RAMHIC also assists members and their employees to reduce overall health care costs through comprehensive wellness programming designed to create a healthier and more educated consumer of health care.

Member testimonials

Eligibility

• Retail Industry Employer - must be an employer within the retail, restaurant or wholesale sectors of the retail industry,
• Member of Participating Trade Association - must be a member of either the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Package Store Association or Northeastern Retail Lumber Association,
• Small Business - workforce must consist of 50 or fewer eligible employees.  Please note that this threshold does not necessarily refer to your total number of employees but rather your eligible employees only. Eligible employees are those who work 30 or more hours per week and who have been hired for an intended period of not less than five months.
• Wellness Participation - must promote the RAMHIC wellness program to your employees and their families and agree that 50% of the individuals covered by RAMHIC will participate in the wellness program. (Failure to maintain a participation rate of 50% may result in non-renewal at the next plan year),
• Sign Membership  Agreement - must sign a RAMHIC membership agreement, which outlines the rules and potential administration and wellness program fees required by RAMHIC,
• Three  Year  Waiting  Period - must not have withdrawn from or have been terminated from RAMHIC or another state-certified cooperative in the past 3 years.

Download RAMHIC Frequently Asked Questions.

Steps To Apply - Plan Options - Rate Quotes

1. Contact Carriers or have your broker request a quote

Fallon Health

• To request a quote from Fallon Health, call you broker or Fallon Health sales at 866-906-0099.
• 2020 Plan Options available through Fallon Health; 2019 Plan Options 
• Summary of Benefits and Coverage (Plan Option & Networks)
• QHD 3000 HSA               Direct Care     Select Care
• QHD 2000 HSA               Direct Care     Select Care
• Bronze Deductible          Direct Care     Select Care
• Deductible 5000 Low     Direct Care     Select Care
• Deductible 4000 Low     Direct Care     Select Care
• Deductible 3000 Low     Direct Care     Select Care
• Deductible 2500 Low     Direct Care     Select Care
• Deductible 2000 Low     Direct Care     Select Care
• Copay 100 Hybrid           Direct Care     Select Care
• Copay 500                        Direct Care     Select Care

Click here for additional information on Fallon Health

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

• To request a quote from BCBSMA members may contact the following: 
• For groups of 2 or more with a broker call 1-888-723-4840 or email [email protected]
• For groups of 1 or non-brokered accounts call 1-800-422-3545.
• For more information regarding the BCBSMA offerings please visit our microsite 
• Employers may also use BCBSMA's Plan Comparison Tool to learn more about RAMHIC offered plans. 
• Click Here To Learn How Hospital Cost Sharing Works

2. Fill out the RAMHIC membership enrollment forms

• RAMHIC Agreement -- to be completed by all applicants.
• Qualified Association Membership Verification Form -- to be completed by current RAM or MassPack members.
• Join RAM online  -- to be completed by businesses new to the Association.
• Membership in RAM is generally limited to businesses within the Retail Trade or Wholesale Trade SIC codes (5000-5999). Certain businesses with service sector SIC codes approved by RAM may be eligible to participate if they have a significant retail component to their business
• Click here for a list of service sector SIC codes that potentially could be eligible .

3. Submit completed documents to RAM

All documents must be completed and submitted back to RAM via email at [email protected], by fax: 617-523-4321 or standard mail to 18 Tremont Street, Suite 810, Boston, MA 02108.

Wellness Participation

Businesses enrolled in RAMHIC are required to maintain a wellness participation rate of 50% of their covered employees.  Covered employees shall satisfy this requirement by participating in the wellness program offered as part of their health plan by their selected insurance carrier—My Healthy Health Plan for Fallon Health and Healthy Actions for Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA.

Specific program participation requirements may be found in section 9 of the RAMHIC member agreement.

Wellness Promotional Materials 

Fallon's My Healthy Health Plan: instructional flyer for employee registration 

BCBSMA's Healthy Actions: instructional flyer for employee registration

• Healthy Actions Workplace Poster 1 / Healthy Actions Workplace Poster 2
• Healthy Actions How It Works Member Fact Sheet
• Healthy Actions Promotional Fact Sheet 

Additional Savings through Healthy Actions

For BCBSMA members, Healthy Actions offers covered employees significant financial incentives for participating in the program thus making it easier for businesses to meet RAMHIC’s wellness participation requirement. In addition, Healthy Actions also provides businesses the opportunity to earn additional year end savings (up to 7.5%) based on the percentage of covered employees participating in wellness. Click here to learn more.

Ancillary Products 

• BCBSMA Health Financial Accounts: members have access to health financial accounts from Health Equity which may be paired with your health plan to help you control your company's costs while supporting your employees in managing their health care dollars.
• Products include Health Savings Accounts, Health Reimbursement Arrangements, and Flexible Spending Accounts.  
• USAble Hospital Care Plan: this supplemental coverage is provided free of charge to all employee subscribers of a BCBSMA plan offered through RAMHIC.
• Click here for a copy of the Hospital Care Claim Form
• Hospital Care Plan Benefit Summary
• USAble Group Term Life: this life coverage is provided free of charge to all employee subscribers enrolled in a BCBSMA plan offered through RAMHIC (starting 10-1-18).
• Beneficiary Designation Form: to be completed by covered employee and retained in personnel file of participating employers.
• Claim Forms
• Dignity Planner: a funeral planning service included as part of the Life benefit.  
• Group Life Certificate
• Group Term Life Benefit Summary
• Dental Insurance
• Life Insurance, Accident Insurance and Critical Care Insurance.  To request a quote on these insurance products, please contact Jim Kinney with Digital Insurance at 800-269-8879 or via email at [email protected].
• Vision Plan

Become a RAMHIC Certified Broker