Brigham and Women’s Hospital nurses on Thursday urged the hospital to cover any potential tax penalties they incur after learning two of their health insurance plan options do not comply with state law, according to the nurses’ union. Noncompliance could result in hefty punitive costs for 2,000 nurses and their families, according to a news release by the Massachusetts Nurses Association.
In a statement, the hospital said it is in the process of requesting waivers of the requirements.
Health insurance options for nurses were a key issue in contract negotiations, which ended in August, averting the nurses’ potential one-day strike, the union said. A Mass General Brigham spokesperson said unionized nurses currently have five options for medical plans, three of which meet the comprehensive medical coverage standards for Massachusetts residents.
“Our phones, email inboxes and social media are flooded with Brigham nurses angry with the hospital about what seems like either deceit or incompetence,” said Kelly Morgan, a Brigham labor and delivery nurse and union chair. “Nurses are making critical decisions right now about how to care for themselves and their families, and the hospital has created utter chaos and confusion.”
The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Blue Cross Blue Shield plans are noncompliant with a state Minimum Creditable Coverage regulation set to take effect Jan. 1 because they include out-of-pocket expenses for preventative care, so those who use them may be subject to tax penalties of hundreds or thousands of dollars, the union said.
“This change in MCC status is not the result of any action or inaction by Mass General Brigham,” a Mass General Brigham spokesperson said. “In support of our nurses, we are in the process of applying for a waiver for each of the post-tax plans.”
Nurses said they are meeting with elected officials to expedite the waiver process and urging the hospital to cover any potential tax penalties if they do go into effect, according to the release.
“The hospital has completely lost the trust of its nurses with this fiasco,” Morgan said. “BWH management is not holding itself accountable and instead seems fine to upend the lives of nurses who are the backbone of this hospital. If a waiver is not granted or is delayed, there is a simple fix: The hospital can cover any tax penalties incurred by nurses and begin to heal its relationship with us.”
Stella Tannenbaum can be reached at stella.tannenbaum@globe.com.
