SC Governor Signs Firefighters Cancer Benefits Bill

South Carolina's governor signed a bill Tuesday to help firefighters diagnosed with cancer.

"These men and women sacrifice to be there for us in our most difficult moments, and we must do all that we can to be there for them in theirs," Gov. Henry McMaster stated in an online post that included a photo of him signing into law the Firefighter Cancer Health Care Benefit Plan.

The new law creates a supplemental insurance policy for career and volunteer firefighters with cancer who have served with a South Carolina department at least five consecutive years and in active service within 10 years of the diagnosis. Firefighters will be reimbursed up to $12,000 annually for any out-of-pocket medical expenses. They also will receive a one-time benefit of $12,000 upon an initial diagnosis, and the family of firefighters who die of cancer will receive a $75,000 death benefit.

South Carolina had been one of two states that did not have presumption laws or some type of cancer protection bills for firefighters. Now Delaware is the only state without any cancer protection for firefighters.