Beacon Kalamazoo ends healthcare benefit for 100's of retired RNs

Seniors will have to pay hundreds or thousands more per year

KALAMAZOO, MI – Hundreds of retired nurses with decades of service to the hospital – most of them on a fixed income – will have to pay hundreds or thousands of  dollars more each year for health care after Beacon Kalamazoo refused to honor a longtime benefit.

“I gave 38 years to the hospital, taking care of other families, sometimes leaving sick babies at home to go to work,” said RN Linn Crutcher, 76, who has received reimbursement for Medigap insurance since 2014. “I feel I’ve earned this benefit. Taking away this health care coverage is a slap in the face and a financial burden that many of us seniors will have a hard time absorbing.” 

Under previous ownership, the hospital reimbursed 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 Dec. 31. While Beacon refuses 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, up to $1,850 a year. 

With the increasing costs of health care, Crutcher stands to pay nearly $2,700 out of pocket to keep Medigap insurance next year – a huge unplanned expense. 

The retired nurses say they feel disrespected and don’t know how they’ll cover the extra health care costs.

“I feel betrayed, like I’ve been discarded,” said Judy Harris, 83, a retired RN with 27 years of service to the Kalamazoo hospital. “Losing this benefit is a $2,000 additional expense every year that is not in my budget. I put so much into that hospital and now they’re reneging on the promise they made.” 

The Michigan Nurses Association is the largest union and professional association of registered nurses and healthcare professionals in Michigan. MNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United and the AFL-CIO.