'A Christmas Miracle'

Bassett Halts Changes to Retiree Benefits

By DARLA M. YOUNGS
COOPERSTOWN

Our concerns were heard.” The relief must have been palpable as Bassett Healthcare Network retiree Jan McGrath listened to a voice mail left by Bassett President and Chief Executive Officer Staci Thompson, MHA, FACMPE late Friday afternoon, December 6.

Only hours before, McGrath was one of more than two dozen Bassett Healthcare Network retirees who met on Thursday, December 5 to discuss unexpected changes to their Medicare Supplemental Plan, when words like “disappointed,” “betrayed,” “angry” and “shocked” were used over and over again.

A letter signed by Brenda Laughlin, Bassett’s chief human resources officer, reads: “We are writing to inform you of important updates to your Nova Healthcare Medical Supplemental Plan that will take effect on January 1, 2025. We understand that medical plan costs are an important part of your annual financial planning, so we want to be sure you are equipped with information about these plan updates ahead of the upcoming year.”

The letter was dated November 11, just 26 days before the annual Medicare Open Enrollment period ended on December 7 and almost a month after open enrollment began on October 15.

“This change may have seemed inevitable given network’s financial situation,” one retiree said, “but this didn’t just happen a month ago. It has obviously been in the works for some time.”

Prior to the changes announced as of the first of the year, Bassett retirees—based on age and service requirements—were not required to pay any out-of-pocket costs for the NOVA plan. In previous years, Bassett covered 100 percent of the $155.00 monthly Nova premium as well as 100 percent of the copays for services provided within the Bassett network, with a $100.00 deductible.

As of January 1, however, retirees on the NOVA plan had been notified that they would be required to pay a monthly cost of $55.00, or 35 percent of the monthly premium. Copays start at $10.00 for a visit to a Primary Care provider or Urgent Care and range from $20.00 to see a specialist to $100.00 for an emergency room visit.