Providence Health may cut health insurance for striking nurses if the strike continues past the end of February.

Providence Health & Services in Oregon warned striking nurses Thursday that their health insurance will expire at the end of the month if their walkout continues. The strike, which began Jan. 10, has now lasted 36 days and involves nearly 5,000 nurses at all eight Providence hospitals across the state.

Oregon's largest hospital system cited the length of the strike in a notice to nurses who've walked out from eight hospitals. The union accused Providence of delaying after members voted down a tentative deal.

As the Providence nurses strike inches toward the five-week mark with no end in sight, the question becomes which side feels more pressure to settle.

Providence Health & Services has issued a warning to striking nurses, stating that healthcare benefits for them and their families will be terminated.

About 82% of the Oregon Nurses Association’s bargaining unit voted against a tentative agreement with Providence last week.

OREGON -- Providence said on Friday that 43 percent of nurses represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) at its Medford medical center have returned to work. This report comes after the healthcare system sent an email to nurses on strike telling them they would lose their healthcare at the end of the month.

Nurses at seven hospitals across Oregon have rejected Providence’s latest offer to end a nearly month-long strike, according to the Oregon Nurses Association on

Nurses have been on strike at Providence hospitals since Jan. 10, including Providence Medford, pictured. Providence management has told nearly 5,000 striking employees they will lose health benefits by the end of the month if the do not return to work.

Providence Health & Services has issued a warning to striking nurses, stating that healthcare benefits for them and their families will be terminated.