Background of Denial
Retired San Francisco firefighter Ken Jones has had his crucial cancer treatment coverage denied by Blue Shield, through his city-run health plan. His family and friends appealed to the city's Health Service Board to reverse this decision. Other city members have also reported similar denials of coverage.
Health Board Involvement
Supervisor Matt Dorsey, a member of the Health Service Board, indicated that the city transitioned to Blue Shield last year with the expectation of improved options. During a hearing, Rachel Jones, Ken Jones's daughter, stated that the insurance company prioritized profits over her father's life, noting his career involved exposure to toxic smoke.
Board Investigation and Past Issues
Supervisor Dorsey stated that the board plans to investigate the firefighters' claims. He also referenced a previous instance in June where the SF Health Service Board, along with Supervisor Dorsey and SF City Attorney David Chiu, intervened to resolve a dispute between Blue Shield and the University of California Health system. That dispute, which threatened access to care for thousands of city and state workers, was resolved in July.
Firefighter Cancer Risk and Support
Former Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson, a cancer survivor, highlighted that firefighters should not need to plead for necessary medical care and noted that this issue affects multiple firefighters. California labor law automatically presumes cancer diagnoses for firefighters are job-related.
A GoFundMe campaign established for Jones's stage 4 metastatic lung cancer treatment reached its $50,000 goal. However, the campaign was paused after Blue Shield confirmed its refusal to cover the treatment.
The San Francisco Fire Department recently became one of the first in the country to equip its staff with gear free of cancer-causing "forever chemicals." Mayor Daniel Lurie commented on the importance of returning the commitment firefighters show to the city. The San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation reports that over 400 SF firefighters have died from cancer since 2006.