On the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, the nurses at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA fought for over a year to secure a contract settlement which would allow for vital improvements in our working conditions. Key provisions of this settlement included stronger language surrounding workplace violence protections as well as the right to opt-in to contractually protected health insurance plans.

Our settlement regarding heath insurance was absolutely paramount in reaching an agreement with Mass General Brigham (MGB), which allowed us to avoid going out on strike. 

Prior to the new contract language, nurses would have the ability to opt-in to the two contractually protected plans (Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare HPHC or Blue Cross Blue Shield BCBS) only once, at time of hire. After this one time option to opt-in, nurses would be locked into the MGB offered insurance plans for the rest of their career (which the hospital can change or alter at any time). Our new language has allowed nurses two open enrollment cycles where we can choose whatever plan we see fit. 

During open enrollment for 2025, we learned the HPHC and BCBS plans were no longer compliant with MA state law. We received notice that nurses who use these plans would have to pay a $2,000 tax penalty for every adult covered by the plan (including adult children). MGB failed to disclose  this problem in a timely manner.

MGB can easily fix this issue by changing the plan designs, a low-cost approach that will get rid of the tax penalties. This fix would cost MGB only $50,000 in total but will save nurses millions of dollars in taxes. Approximately 2,000 Brigham nurses are on these insurance plans. MGB has refused this simple solution. 

We urge you to advocate on behalf of Brigham nurses and your constituents and demand that MGB change the plans to comply with state law.

Nurses deserve access to healthcare that meets our needs and keeps our families healthy.