Retired San Francisco city employees and firefighters are calling for stronger healthcare coverage following the death of firefighter Ken Jones, who passed away from cancer last month. Fellow firefighters and retirees contend that delays in his treatment were linked to Blue Shield’s initial denial of a request for cancer care, raising concerns about how serious medical cases are handled.
In response, representatives of retired workers and firefighters recently met privately with Blue Shield officials for nearly three hours to discuss the approval process for cancer treatments and other critical healthcare services. Participants sought assurances that patients facing life-threatening illnesses would receive timely access to care.
Blue Shield stated that it is working to improve support for members with serious health conditions and to strengthen coordination between patients, doctors, and the insurer. Another meeting has been scheduled for July 8, when Blue Shield says it plans to present its proposed policy changes in writing. Since 2006, approximately 400 San Francisco firefighters have died from cancer.
