Duston Hall, Amsure Insurance
I wanted to follow up on a topic that came up during the CAFDA “Ask the Expert Panel” at the annual conference in Lake George, regarding cancer coverage for fire district members who are no longer actively engaged in firefighting operations and therefore may not qualify for protections under New York’s statutory firefighter cancer benefit after the 5-year timeline.
At the time, there was no mechanism to extend the statutory cancer coverage beyond its eligibility requirements (5 years), and that remains the case today. However, since the conference, I have identified a potential option that may help fire districts provide some level of protection for members who fall outside the statutory benefit.
VFIS offers a Critical Illness program that provides a lumpsum benefit upon diagnosis of certain covered conditions, including:
- Cancer
• Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Kidney Failure
Unlike life insurance, the benefit is paid directly to the member upon diagnosis and does not require a death claim. Coverage applies both on and off duty, and eligibility is determined by the fire district rather than years of firefighting service.
While this coverage is not a replacement for the statutory firefighter cancer benefit, I believe it can serve as a valuable supplement for:
- Active members who no longer qualify for the statutory cancer benefit
• Commissioners and administrative members who continue to serve the district but were not interior firefighters
• New members who may not yet qualify under other programs
• Long-serving members who remain active in support roles
One example involved a department that enrolled a new member who had previously responded at Ground Zero following 9/11. Although he was not eligible under the statutory firefighter cancer program, the district felt it was important to provide some level of protection through this coverage.
Typical benefit options include:
- $10,000 Benefit – Approximate cost $100 per member annually
• $20,000 Benefit – Approximate cost $200 per member annually
• $30,000 Benefit – Approximate cost $300 per member annually
Many of the districts I work with have elected to provide this coverage to a select group of members based on their own internally established eligibility guidelines.
I wanted to share this information because it addresses a concern that was raised by several attendees during the panel discussion. While it does not replace the statutory cancer benefit, it can provide meaningful financial assistance to members facing a serious diagnosis.