On Thursday, Montefiore sent a warning to striking nurses in New York City, indicating that they may lose their health insurance if they don’t return to work within 10 days, according to reports from the Post.
A letter from the major hospital system informed nurses that, starting February 1, they would have to cover their medical costs out-of-pocket if the strike continues. This was noted in a document obtained by the Post.
In a statement, a Montefiore spokesperson expressed pride in providing free health care benefits to their nurses, which include no copays, no deductibles, and free prescription drugs, dental, and vision care. They also mentioned that these benefits are non-negotiable.
“As required by federal law, we are informing the striking nurses that they will no longer be eligible for these health care benefits on February 1 and that they may continue their coverage under COBRA at their own expense at that time,” the spokesperson added.
The strike began on January 12, involving nurses from Montefiore, Mount Sinai, and NewYork-Presbyterian, as disagreements continued over wages, benefits, staffing, and worker safety.
Hospital officials and representatives from the New York State Nurses Association restarted negotiations on Thursday, seeking to find a resolution on the 11th day of the strike.
Montefiore reassured that the action wasn’t punitive, as it’s common for insurance providers to require employees to receive paychecks to maintain their benefits.
According to federal law, striking workers can apply for COBRA if they wish to keep their health insurance, but they must bear the costs themselves. The letter indicated that an individual plan would be roughly $1,120 per month, while a family plan could run about $3,140 monthly.
Mount Sinai confirmed they ceased paying nurses as the strike commenced. Meanwhile, an email inquiry to NewYork-Presbyterian went unanswered.
The union previously mentioned that nurses involved in the strike could apply for unemployment insurance and were eligible for COBRA benefits. Additionally, a hardship fund was established and received over 320 donations in under a week, according to NYSNA.
