According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there are 27,182 fire departments listed in the National Fire Department Registry, which makes up 91% of all fire departments in the U.S.
Firefighters are brave men and women who risk their lives to help others. They deal with dangers that most people never have to face, and they’re not paid nearly enough for the risks they take.
Thankfully, there’s an insurance plan out there that can help provide peace of mind if anything bad happens, firefighter insurance. This type of policy covers a wide range of situations, from disability to death benefits and more.
In this article, we’ll discuss what these different types of coverage mean for you and your family if something terrible were ever to happen during your time on the job as a firefighter or auxiliary member.
Legal Coverage
Legal firefighter coverage is a form of insurance that covers any legal fees and costs associated with a lawsuit. This can include outside legal fees, legal assistant fees, court filing fees, and more.
It can also cover the cost of defending yourself in court or against criminal charges. The policy will provide funds for an attorney to defend you if you need it as well as pay for any fines imposed by the court.
Disability Coverage
Disability coverage pays a portion of a firefighter’s salary if they are unable to work due to an illness or injury. The amount paid is determined by the firefighter, who can choose between 50% and 75% of their typical monthly income for up to one year.
This type of insurance is beneficial for firefighters because it provides financial support if they are injured on the job, which could leave them unable to earn income during recovery time.
Death Benefits
Firefighter life insurance is a type of coverage that provides financial assistance to your family in the event of your death. In addition to providing money for burial expenses and other costs associated with the loss, this type of policy also acts as a final paycheck for your loved ones to help ease their transition into a new stage in life without you.
Here’s how it works. When you die, your family will receive either a lump sum or monthly payments from the insurance company, depending on which policy you choose. The amount paid out depends on what kind of firefighter life insurance policy was taken out.
Long-Term Care Coverage
Long-term care insurance covers the cost of care for people who are unable to perform daily tasks independently due to chronic illness or disability. This can include assistance with basic activities like bathing, dressing, eating, and shopping.
For firefighters, this type of coverage may be particularly important if they sustain injuries on the job that require long-term care. Long-term care insurance is also useful for illnesses that weren’t directly related to a firefighting incident but still require extensive treatment or rehabilitation services.
Long-term care insurance can help you pay for expenses related to living in an assisted living facility or nursing home facility without affecting your financial security.
According to American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, 7.5 million Americans had some kind of long-term care insurance as of January 2020.
Cancer Coverage
In addition to medical expenses, some firefighters are also at risk of developing cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cancer is a leading cause of death among firefighters, and firefighters are at higher risk of certain types of cancers as compared to the general population.
Most firefighter insurance policies cover several types of cancer, including:
- All cancers that are covered by Social Security
- Carcinoma in situ (early stage)
- Hodgkin’s Disease (if it’s been diagnosed within three years before your policy’s effective date)
Mental Health Coverage
With so much pressure and stress at work, mental health coverage is an important benefit to have. It can be used to pay for therapy and medications needed to treat conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety.
According to a new study, firefighters are more likely than other workers in their age group (18-55) to commit suicide.
Components of a Good Insurance Cover
Now that you have an idea of what firefighter insurance can do for you, it’s time to take a look at some specific features that make this type of policy attractive.
- There are several insurance carriers offering firefighting coverage, so you can find options that fit your needs and budget.
- You can customize the coverage provided by your policy based on the type of work performed by your department. Some carriers offer discounts for those working in rural areas or at night. Others may provide additional benefits such as medical payment coverage or life insurance.
- It’s important to understand all aspects of your policy before signing on the dotted line. This includes understanding any exclusions related to firefighting activities like loss resulting from smoke inhalation. Make sure you read through all fine print carefully before buying an insurance product.
Conclusion
We hope we’ve given you a good idea of what firefighter insurance covers and how it can benefit you. If you are a member of the firefighting community, it’s important to have proper coverage so that when an emergency happens, there is no question about who is responsible for paying your bills or providing compensation.
This will help ensure that even if something unexpected happens during work hours, your family will be taken care of financially while they wait for medical treatment.
