MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – A former Marion County firefighter has filed a lawsuit against the county claiming he was denied cancer benefits.

Phillip “Phil” Shinn, is a former volunteer and paid firefighter for Marion County Fire Rescue (MCFR). The Professional Fire Fighters of Marion County (PFFMC), a local labor union organization for firefighters, says he served the county for over 30 years and retired with the rank of lieutenant.

Phillip Shinn (center) retired in 2018 after three decades as a firefighter for Marion County Fire Rescue. Courtesy: Mary Ann Shinn
Marion County has denied Phillip Shinn’s claims for coverage under benefits provided by a law passed in 2019 that is supposed to provide firefighters benefits for 21 types of cancers. Courtesy: Mary Ann Shinn
Phillip Shinn is battling multiple myeloma. Courtesy: Mary Ann Shinn

The union says after retiring Shinn was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of cancer that forms from plasma cells in the bone. The union says Shinn is now in treatment but has had his claim for coverage under the Cancer Presumption Bill (SB426) denied “repeatedly.”

The PFFMC says that the county believes that Shinn is not eligible for the coverage because he enrolled in Medicare insurance.

“I was relieved and comforted by the knowledge that my family would not be left with unimaginable debt from the cancer treatments due to my eligibility for the Florida Cancer Presumption Bill, but then my faith and comfort were crushed by Marion County’s denial” stated Shinn.

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The bill, which was passed in 2019 by the House and the Senate unanimously is described as “legislative measure that aims to provide certain benefits and support to firefighters who develop cancer-related illnesses during their career or up to 10 years after they retire.”

The law establishes a presumption that there are 21 types of cancers firefighters can develop in association with the job and aims to make it easier for them to obtain worker’s compensation benefits. According to the bill, multiple myeloma is included in the list of cancers.

“Firefighters face several cancer types due to their occupational exposures which places them at a higher risk level than the general public,” stated PFFMC in a news release. “These risks stem from exposure to various carcinogens and hazardous substances encountered during firefighting activities, including; smoke and soot, chemical agents, diesel exhaust, radiation, heat and stress, and repeated exposures throughout a career.”

SB426 also states that a firefighter is entitled to the following benefits if the firefighter has been employed by his or her employer for at least 5 continuous years, has not used tobacco products for at least the preceding 5 years, and has not been employed in any other position in the preceding 5 years which is proven to create a higher risk for any cancer:

  1. Cancer treatment covered within an employer-sponsored health plan or through a group health insurance trust fund. The employer must timely reimburse the firefighter for any out-of-pocket deductible, copayment, or coinsurance costs incurred due to the treatment of cancer.
  2. A one-time cash payout of $25,000, upon the firefighter’s initial diagnosis of cancer

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The issue goes before a judge on May 14. The PFFMC says stand in support of Shinn and “they are committed to standing with Phil in his fight against cancer and his upcoming court fight for coverage.”

If you would like to keep up with Shinn’s journey, you can click here.