Nearly Half of All Firefighters Not Covered by Health Insurance
June 20, 2012
With the High Park fire scorching Colorado, approximately 1,500 federal and local firefighters have been dispatched to the area to battle the blaze. Many do not realize, however, that many of the men and women working to save lives from the fire do not carry health insurance benefits.
An article released by 9 News said that the Federal Wildland Fire Service Association claims roughly 40 percent of federal firefighters are do not receive health insurance as part of their job. This is because they are considered part-time workers and, therefore, they are not entitled to receive benefits.
Firefighters have asked the federal government to offer them a temporary policy that would offer plans for seasonal employees and their families. However, officials have argued that offering this coverage would be too costly for the government to cover.
Officials added that firefighters who are injured on the job are covered by the federal government’s workers’ compensation or social security disability plans. To qualify, an injured employee must prove that their health issues are a result of their work to have their medical expenses covered by government funds.
Unfortunately, the process of proving a worker’s compensation claim can be extremely complicated. That is why the Denver Personal Injury Lawyers with the McDivitt Law firm suggests discussing your case with an experienced attorney if you are a firefighter suffering from a work injury. Contact us today for a free consultation of your case.
