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The Massachusetts Nursing Association announced that about 2,000 nurses could face hefty tax penalties for not having health insurance.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital emergency entrance.
The Massachusetts Nurses Association said in a news release last Thursday that Brigham and Women’s Hospital “belatedly” informed nurses that two of the insurance plans offered did not comply with state law. It has been announced that some nurses at Women’s Hospital may face tax penalties.
About 2,000 nurses could face penalties for using non-compliant plans, the release said. The plan was designed by Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare (HPHC) and Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS). The union said it was notified two weeks ago that both plans were in violation of new statewide minimum credit coverage (MCC) requirements to limit out-of-pocket costs for preventive care.
“Our phones, email inboxes, and social media are flooded with Brigham nurses angry at the hospital for deception and seeming incompetence,” said Kelly Morgan, a Brigham labor and delivery nurse and union president. I’m doing it,” he said. Mr Morgan accused the hospital of causing “utter chaos and confusion”.
The statement said the hospital and MNA reached an agreement in August that allowed nurses to choose between MNA-provided insurance or hospital-provided insurance. The HPHC and BCBS plans were both offered by MNA, but the statement said the hospital chose them. HPHC and BCBS did not respond to requests for comment.
The statement said the hospital did not notify the nurses of the violations during contract negotiations. The union said the nurses learned their plans were not compliant through an online portal.
The nurses are now “seeking assistance” to resolve the issue and avoid tax penalties, according to the statement. Their first request is to have the hospital apply for an MCC exemption. According to the statement, the hospital agreed to apply for a waiver, but only until November. The union said the nurses are in contact with elected officials to expedite the process. The second requirement, if enacted, would be for hospitals to pay all tax penalties, according to the statement.
A hospital spokesperson said Massachusetts General Brigham offers multiple “excellent health plans” with both in-network and out-of-network options.
“While we hope our nurses will agree that the best place for care is at MGB, there is an extensive network of providers available for members to browse, and members receive some from MGB providers. “You can always choose to use an in-network provider that is not affiliated with MGB, while you can receive lower rates for the service you receive,” the spokesperson said.
Mr Morgan said the hospital had not done enough to gain nurses’ trust after the “debacle”.
“BWH management is not holding themselves accountable and instead seems comfortable with upending the lives of the nurses who are the backbone of this hospital,” Morgan said.
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Eva Levin is a general associate at Boston.com. She covers breaking news and local news from Boston and beyond.
