(KALAMAZOO) - Hundreds of retired nurses with decades of service to Beacon Kalamazoo Hospital will now have to find new healthcare.
The Michigan Nurses Association says Beacon Kalamazoo is refusing to honor a longtime benefit for the nurses. That means they will have pay more for healthcare coverage. Many of the retired nurses are on a fixed income.
Previous owners Ascension Borgess Hospital would reimburse retired nurses for Medigap insurance, which takes care of many costs that Medicare does not cover. Retired nurses have been notified that the benefit will end December 31. While Beacon is refusing to release the list of retirees who are covered, it is believed to be in the hundreds.
The nurses have generally been receiving Medigap reimbursement for at least a decade, with the amount being up to $1,850 a year.
The retired nurses say they feel disrespected and don't know how they'll cover the extra health care costs.
RN Linn Crutcher who is 76, says she gave 38 years to the hospital, taking care of other families and sometimes leaving sick babies at home to go to work. She has received reimbursement for Medigap since 2014 and says she feels she's earned this benefit. Crutcher says taking away this health care coverage is a slap in the face and a financial burden that she and many seniors will have a hard time absorbing.
Crutcher says she stands to pay nearly $2,700 out of pocket for Medigap insurance next year to keep it, which is a huge, unplanned expense.