A face to Detroit's bankruptcy: Paralyzed firefighter to lose health benefits

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Hat tip: Deadline Detroit

A face to Detroit's bankruptcy: Paralyzed firefighter to lose health benefits
http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/23824525/a-face-to-detroits-bankruptcy-paralyzed-firefighter-to-lose-health-benefits

"August 13, 2010 - Friday the 13th - I was only at work for a couple minutes, never even stepped foot in the firehouse, taking my gear out of the car. We've got to run down to Jefferson and Drexel. We were working on the scene for ten, fifteen minutes and, without warning, a building collapsed on us.

"I was hit with a chunk of limestone the size of a parking block, and that basically exploded my seventh thoracic vertebra. Now I'm left to live the rest of my life as a T6 Paraplegic.
....

"I got a letter saying that my healthcare, through the city of Detroit, was going to be terminated as of January 1, 2014, and that, if I don't have another plan purchased by December 15th of this year, that I'll have a gap in coverage. And they're offering a $200 a month stipend to supplement the cost of purchasing my own health insurance.
....

"The benefits that we got, they weren't given to us. They were earned. These guys worked their asses off for said 30, 40 years, sacrificing life and ... health. The least they could do is have some sort of security after they're gone, after the fires are out."

[hatrack]

1. Jesus CHRIST this pisses me off.

"Shining City On The Hill" my pale hairy ASS.

[kestrel91316]

2. At least he can't be denied coverage, and he probably qualifies for subsidies.

But frankly, since this is a workplace injury, he shouldn't have to foot the bill for a medical policy, and should be given a no-deductible, no-copay cadillac policy.