A veteran Florida firefighter who was recently diagnosed with cancer is suing over denied health benefits that should be covered under state law.
In August, Reedy Creek firefighter Paul Grasso found out he had thyroid cancer, one of 21 cancers that entitles him and other first responders to health coverage under Senate Bill 426, which was signed into law in May by Gov. Rick DeSantis, WESH-TV reports. But in September, officials from Reedy Creek, the community around the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, said Grasso, a 40-year-old father of three, didn't qualify for medical benefits.
“It was a complete shock,” Grasso's wife, Keziah, told WESH. "Everyone can agree firefighters deserve the utmost and this is definitely not a time to fail them.”
In order to receive medical benefits under the state law, Grasso needs to meet certain requirements, such as:
- not using tobacco products for at least five years before the diagnosis
- not working in a position that has been proven t create a greater risk for any cancer for at least five years before the diagnosis
- working as firefighter with the same department for at least five continuous years before the diagnosis
Atlhough Grasso has been firefighter for 13 years, he has only been a member of Reedy Creek's department since 2017. Officials cited that stipulation for denying benefits to Grasso.
"They have a moral obligation to provide benefits,” Geoff Bichler, Grasso's lawyer, told WESH. "Unfortunately, the way the law is drafted there are too many questions and loopholes.”
Bichler also is representing at least nine other firefighters from other communities in similar cases.
“It’s not just an injury. It’s cancer, which means this isn’t over," Grasso told WESH.
