South Carolina Firefighter Cancer Health Care Benefit Plan

Cancer Definition and Types of Cancer Covered: Pursuant to SC Code of Laws §23-9-197 (A)(1), “cancer” includes malignant neoplasms of the following body areas and organ systems:

• Central and peripheral nervous system;
• Oropharyngeal;
• Respiratory tract;
• Gastrointestinal tract;
• Hepatobiliary;
• Solid organ and endocrine;
• Genitourinary and male reproductive;
• GYN;
• Skin, soft tissue, and breast; and
• Bone and blood

Plan Eligibility Requirements for South Carolina Firefighters: Pursuant to SC Code of Laws §23-9-197, the following definitions apply when determining eligibility for the Plan:

1. Fire Department: “means any organization located and based in South Carolina that provides rescue, fire suppression, and related activities including any public or government-sponsored organizations, excluding federal agencies, engaged in rescue, fire suppression, and related activities.”
2. Firefighter: “means any person, paid or unpaid, engages in rescue, fire suppression, or related activities, under the supervision of a fire chief or fire department in this State or who is employed by the State Commission of Forestry, South Carolina State Fire, or a forestry district for the purpose of fire protection.” Upon being diagnosed with a covered type of cancer, the Plan shall provide benefits to a firefighter, as defined above, “only if the firefighter has served in a South Carolina fire department/forestry commission for at least five continuous years and been in active service within ten years of the diagnosis.”
    

Proof of eligibility may include, but is not limited to:

• Proof of at least five continuous years of service with a fire department/forestry commission (as defined by S.C. Code Ann. 23-9-197) that is located and based in South Carolina,
• Proof of active service may include, but is not limited to: a certificate of Fire Department/Forestry Commission Associations from the South Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal that has been validated by the signature of the applicant’s fire chief and/or an official letter from the applicant’s fire chief attesting to the applicant’s tenure of service with the department.
• And/or proof of employment by the State Commission of Forestry or a forestry district for the purpose of fire protection and proof of active service with a South Carolina fire department/forestry commission (as defined by S.C. Code Ann. 23-9-197) within 10 years of the diagnosis,
• Proof of diagnosis of an eligible form of cancer (as defined by S.C. Code Ann. 23-9-197) on or after July 1, 2021, to establish the claim and receive the $20,000 onetime benefit,
• Documentation of out-of-pocket medical expenses related to the eligible cancer diagnosis for the twelve thousand-dollar ($12,000.00) reimbursement benefit,
• A death certificate listing the eligible form of cancer used for payout of the other Plan benefits or circumstances that arise out of the treatment of the eligible form of cancer used for the payout of the other Plan benefits as the primary or secondary cause of death, to receive the $75,000 death benefit.

Service Operational Timeline: The benefits of the Plan are operational and provide coverage to eligible firefighters who are diagnosed with a covered type of cancer on or after July 1, 2021.

Firefighter Cancer Health Care Benefit Plan is effective as of July 1, 2021.

Source: SCStateHouse.gov

Yes, this program is available for volunteer firefighters.