×

‘Cancer Bill’ To Cover Volunteer Firefighters

The "Cancer Bill" will take effect Jan. 1 ensuring health benefits to volunteer firefighters statewide. The individual fire departments are being charged with covering the costs of the benefits. P-J photo by Jordan W. Patterson

Beginning Jan. 1, interior volunteer firefighters will be covered by insurance if they are diagnosed with cancer, but the cost of the coverage falls onto local fire departments alone.

The New York State Volunteer Firefighter Gap Coverage Cancer Disability Benefits Act, referred to as the “Cancer Bill,” looks to cover standardized health care benefit costs for volunteers who have been diagnosed with cancer following Gov. Andrew Cuomo signing the bill into law this year.

The legislation only impacts volunteer departments across the state. Eligible volunteers include interior firefighters who have been in the position for at least five years. Volunteer fire departments have the option to choose from different insurance companies with varied coverage plans. However, the base amount of money volunteers would receive if they were diagnosed with cancer has been set.

Dependent on the severity of the cancer, a volunteer could receive from $6,250 to $25,000 in the form of a lump sum. The maximum payout of the initial lump sum option is $50,000. Additionally, if volunteers become totally disabled as a result of cancer, they can receive a monthly benefit of $1,500 for up to 36 months. There is also a death benefit of $50,000 to be paid to the family of a volunteer diagnosed with cancer.

If a volunteer is already receiving disability benefits from other sources the “Cancer Bill” funds will be reduced to not exceed $1,500 per month.

“First of all, it’s a good thing,” said Julius Leone, president of the New York Fire Chief Association.

“It helps protect the firefighters that have potential to develop cancer.”

State volunteer fire departments were given about a year to prepare for the unfunded state mandate. Leone acknowledged that some fire departments had concerns about funding for the program as the burden falls only on the individual department. Leone admitted that “it would be great” if the state provided funding, but he noted that wasn’t included in the legislation nor is it being considered for the near future.

Most departments began by identifying which volunteers were eligible and then began deciding on a insurance provider. Finally, the departments were tasked with budgeting for the cost of enrolling with an additional insurance agency.

“I think most (fire departments) have a good handle on it now,” Leone said.

Leone explained that various agencies offer competitive prices for departments to choose from. He said that some insurance companies coverage may include more benefits than a competing insurance provider.

“Fire departments are shopping to find what best suits that fire department in terms of price,” Leone said.

For Keith Bean, fire chief of the Kennedy Volunteer Fire Department, the so called “Cancer Bill” is vague. Currently, Kennedy Volunteer Fire Department only has five volunteers who qualify under the new legislation, but Bean said the total number may increase if eligibility is larger in scope. Bean said the law isn’t clear what five-year members are eligible. His reporting included five interior firefighters who have been active for five consecutive years. To be active, a volunteer has to show proof of a physical and required testing to be an interior firefighter.

“I know they’re trying to protect (firefighters), but I don’t think they gave us enough information,” Bean said.

Bean said the cost to Kennedy would total around $1,000 or $200 per person. Kennedy’s current insurance company will be providing the added coverage. He added that Kennedy was “lucky” because the department maintains a small number of interior firefighters, unlike other local departments around the county.

“It’s going to hard for when you get some of these smaller departments that don’t have a lot of money,” Bean said.

The NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control will be regulating and monitoring the implementation of the new state mandate. The office will also determine what constitutes as compliance under the new law.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today