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Nonprofit Health Executives Reap Hefty Bonuses

WBUR's Martha Bebinger reports that executives at the top three health insurers in the state have all won generous bonuses, some up to 245 percent of their salaries.

In the past three years, executives at the state’s three largest health insurers — all nonprofits — have received bonuses that range from 14 to 245 percent of their salaries. The payments are generally less than bonuses paid by for-profit insurance companies. But amid an outcry about paying nonprofit insurance board members, these bonuses are raising more questions about what it means to be a nonprofit health insurance company in Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts Hospital Association says the average bonus for hospital executives across the state is under 20%.

Here, you can see compensation for executives at Blue Cross Blue Shield, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan from 2008-2010:



This program aired on March 10, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.

Headshot of Rachel Zimmerman

Rachel Zimmerman Reporter
Rachel Zimmerman previously reported on health and the intersection of health and business for WBUR. She is working on a memoir about rebuilding her family after her husband’s suicide. 

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