INCREASES IN DENTAL and MEDICAL PREMIUMS AND PPO PHARMACY CO-PAYS

The hospital recently sent a letter to all nurses regarding certain changes in its health benefits program. The letter went out before CRONA could provide its comments.

Because of how the letter is written, it may create the impression that increases in the medical and dental premiums that will go into effect on August 1, 2011 are as a result of CHANGES in the provisions of the new collective bargaining agreement. That is not true.

For many years, nurses have had increases in their medical and dental premiums. The increases would go into effect every January after an open enrollment period.

During open enrollment in November 2010, all other hospital employees had such increases that went into effect in January 2011. The increases did not affect CRONA nurses because we were still in negotiations with the hospital.

Now that the nurses have ratified the new contract, the hospital is holding an open enrollment period that will be implemented on August 1, 2011. It will include increases in medical and dental premiums that all other employees began paying as of January 2011.

In other words, CRONA nurses have avoided paying increased premiums for 7 months. The increases that will go into effect in August have nothing to do with any new provisions that we negotiated as part of the new contract.

The other change that will go into effect in August is an increase in the PPO pharmacy co-pays. As CRONA previously notified everyone, that is something that it reluctantly agreed to during the bargaining process. The materials we posted on-line and provided before the ratification vote showed that increase.

I hope this clears up any confusion that may have resulted from the poor choice of wording in the hospital’s recent letter. As always, contact CRONA if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Lorie Johnson
President
CRONA