Medical workers at Seton Medical Center went on strike to protest the health care plan their job provided.
About 400 employees called on the hospital to rescind recent changes to its medical plan. Starting in January, they said they were given the impossible choice of paying $6,000 to continue seeing their primary care physician or accepting a more restrictive plan.
They said the new plan severely restricts access to pediatric and gynecological care and works only in a select few facilities.
Rachel Ortua has worked at Seton Medical Center for many years. She loves the community of people at the hospital, where she grew up just a few blocks from the hospital campus.
She said she is in a difficult situation right now. Ortua told KPIX that the hospital changed health insurance providers, severely limiting where her family, including her 6-month-old daughter, could receive care.
“Her pediatrician is no longer covered by insurance, and my OB is no longer covered by insurance. We are currently out of network with all doctors,” Ortua said.
Ortua said her new insurance only works at Seton Health and John Muir Health, which are more than an hour away. And she constantly worries what will happen if her daughter has an emergency and how much it will cost.
“I grew up with chronic asthma and I actually have food allergies, and the most stressful thing for me at the moment is starting her on baby food,” Ortua said. . “She's worried about what if she has an allergic reaction to some food, or what if she has asthma like I do.”
That made her feel betrayed.
“I work full time at a hospital and it's unfair that I have to worry about getting proper medical care for my daughter,” Ortua said.
That's why Ortua and hundreds of colleagues went on a two-day strike outside the hospital to demand better benefits. She says her daughter is the only reason she's out and she wants to make sure her daughter gets the medical care she needs and deserves. said.
“I'm just fighting for my daughter. That's one of the only and main reasons why I'm participating in this strike,” Ortua said.
Ortua said she plans to be on the picket line again Tuesday. She hopes the strike will show the hospital how serious workers are about reform.
Seaton said in a statement that it is already offering free medical benefits and up to 400 hours of paid vacation per year, as well as a 16% raise over three years.
“I am disappointed in the union's decision to walk away mid-way through negotiations at the expense of patient care,” Seaton said in a statement.
The hospital further stated that its priority is to provide uninterrupted care to patients.
