9/11 Responders With Rare Cancer Denied Insurance Coverage
There are almost 3000 cases of cancer among firefighters, police officers, contractors and civilians who tended to the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. John Myers is one of those being denied coverage.
Click here for reuse options!A growing number are being diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer, but some — including Meyers — are being denied insurance coverage because their cancers were diagnosed too soon after 9/11.
The minimum latency period for oropharyngeal cancers — in other words, the minimum time period required to prove a link between exposure to toxins at ground zero and a diagnosis of that type of cancer — is four years…
Meyers was diagnosed three years and 10 months after his work at ground zero, about eight weeks shy of eligibility for cancer coverage or compensation.“We got screwed,” he said. “They don’t know what the latency period should be; four years may be right, or it may be wrong.”
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health determined the latency periods for 58 cancers, including oropharyngeal, now covered under its WTC Health Program…
Meyers was diagnosed three years and 10 months after his work at ground zero, about eight weeks shy of eligibility for cancer coverage or compensation.
“We got screwed,” he said. “They don’t know what the latency period should be; four years may be right, or it may be wrong.”
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health determined the latency periods for 58 cancers, including oropharyngeal, now covered under its WTC Health Program.
Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Cheston Catalano
Cheston Catalano is a Kentucky-based journalist whose work has been featured in the Chattanooga Times Free Press and the Clarksville Leaf Chronicle. He is a long-time contributor to Liberaland.
10 responses to 9/11 Responders With Rare Cancer Denied Insurance Coverage
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M D Reese September 11th, 2014 at 16:41
Riiiight–because cancer diagnosis is such an exact science, and cancer acts exactly the same way in everyone, no matter if they were exposed a little bit, or a whole hell of a lot, as these first responders were–
Don’t you just love the way our country takes care of its “heroes”?
M D Reese September 11th, 2014 at 16:41
Riiiight–because cancer diagnosis is such an exact science, and cancer acts exactly the same way in everyone, no matter if they were exposed a little bit, or a whole hell of a lot, as these first responders were–
Don’t you just love the way our country takes care of its “heroes”?
juicyfruityyy September 11th, 2014 at 16:50
Refusing to care for those who risk their lives Seems to be a recurring problem in this country. This is very discouraging.
juicyfruityyy September 11th, 2014 at 16:50
Refusing to care for those who risk their lives Seems to be a recurring problem in this country. This is very discouraging.
tiredoftea September 11th, 2014 at 17:07
But, our health care system is the best in the world!
tiredoftea September 11th, 2014 at 17:07
But, our health care system is the best in the world!
uzza September 11th, 2014 at 20:47
in·sur·ance
noun in-ˈshu̇r-ən(t)s
: an agreement in which a person makes regular payments to a company that the company uses to pay lawyers to devise ways to avoid paying if something is damaged, lost, or stolen, or if the person is injured or dies.
uzza September 11th, 2014 at 20:47
in·sur·ance
noun in-ˈshu̇r-ən(t)s
: an agreement in which a person makes regular payments to a company that the company uses to pay lawyers to devise ways to avoid paying if something is damaged, lost, or stolen, or if the person is injured or dies.
crc3 September 11th, 2014 at 21:41
Insurance companies are blood sucking money grabbers willing to take in as much as possible then not giving it back when the insured need it most…
crc3 September 11th, 2014 at 21:41
Insurance companies are blood sucking money grabbers willing to take in as much as possible then not giving it back when the insured need it most…