KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The Michigan Nurses Association says changes to health insurance coverage following Beacon Health System’s acquisition of Ascension Borgess are making it harder for caregivers and retirees to access care.
These concerns are part of a broader push by the association, which has supported recent “Be Better, Beacon” signs that have been seen across Kalamazoo.
Nurses say the issues affect medical, dental and mental health coverage, as well as benefits for retired nurses.
Ashley Daniels, a registered nurse at Beacon Kalamazoo Hospital, has worked at the facility for more than a decade, and has seen significant changes since the transition in July.
According to Daniels, access to care has become more difficult under the current insurance network, particularly when it comes to long-standing providers in Southwest Michigan.
“Ever since Beacon took over, our insurance benefits, medical, dental, mental health, it’s been increasingly harder to get care,” Daniels said.
Many nurses are now faced with a choice: switch providers or pay more out of pocket to continue seeing doctors and dentists they trust.
“We either have to switch to providers we don’t know very well, or stay with our trusted providers and incur extra costs,” Daniels said.
Daniels added that the changes extend beyond active employees and affect retired nurses as well.
Under previous ownership, retired nurses received reimbursement for Medigap insurance, which helps cover costs not paid by Medicare. That benefit ended Dec. 31.
“When you’re on a fixed income, losing that support is even more stressful,” Daniels said. “Now retirees have to take on those extra costs themselves.”
According to Daniels, benefits play a critical role in nurse retention and overall patient care.
“A lot of it has to do with your benefits,” she said. “It’s kind of ironic that we provide health care, but don’t have access to good health care ourselves.”
In a statement, Beacon Health System officials say they value nurses past and present, and recognize that benefit transitions can be challenging following an acquisition.
“We recognize and appreciate the decades of service provided by our retired nurses, understand the concerns raised in recent reports and acknowledge that after an acquisition, benefit transitions can be difficult to navigate,” the statement reads in part.
Beacon added that it remains focused on fostering a respectful and supportive environment for nurses, and is committed to providing outstanding care to the communities it serves.
Daniels hopes Beacon will address nurses’ concerns moving forward.
“I love where I work,” Daniels said. “I just want Beacon to fix this so nurses can feel confident about their health care coverage.”
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