Radish
Trad climber
SeKi, California
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 11, 2012 - 05:34pm PT
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Holy Shit!!!!!
President Obama has ordered the federal government to extend health insurance coverage to its seasonal wildland firefighters this month.
The Office of Personnel Management confirmed to Federal Times that seasonal firefighters will soon be covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP).
“Federal firefighters are putting their lives at risk every day across the country,” OPM Director John Berry said in a statement. “When the President returned from his trip to Colorado, he directed us to solve the problem of extending access to the FEHBP for those firefighters, and I believe we have a solution.”
Thousands of federal firefighters aren’t eligible for FEHBP because they work fewer than six months a year. Forest Service firefighter John Lauer started an online petition in late May after a fellow firefighter’s son was born prematurely. Because Lauer’s friend had no health insurance, he had to spend $70,000 on his son’s treatments.
The National Federation of Federal Employees, which represents firefighters, began promoting Lauer’s petition in mid-June. It quickly gathered more than 100,000 signatures and national media attention, and NFFE began talking to OPM about the problem.
Berry said OPM will provide additional details on granting FEHBP coverage to firefighters by the end of July.
Lauer updated his online petition Tuesday to thank its more than 126,000 signers.
“I speak on behalf of my own crew when I say that everybody is extremely grateful for their support,” Lauer said. “This is going to make a real improvement in the lives of thousands of people and their families.”
NFFE National President William Dougan also applauded the decision.
“No longer do our firefighters have to fear incurring thousands in medical bills if they are injured outside of the job, or if their child gets sick,” Dougan said. “These brave individuals put their lives on the line every year to protect our homes and communities. I could not be more proud that this new policy returns the favor by giving them the protection they need.”
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locker
Gym climber
DUH!!!...
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Jul 11, 2012 - 05:40pm PT
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Obama is a good President...
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Norton
Social climber
the Wastelands
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Jul 11, 2012 - 05:45pm PT
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just another example of Obama's communist Socialism
this will only add trillions to the national debt
think of the children
Romney/SARAH
2012
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sullly
Trad climber
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Jul 11, 2012 - 05:48pm PT
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He doesn't have my vote until war money goes to cancer research.
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Radish
Trad climber
SeKi, California
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 11, 2012 - 05:51pm PT
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This might include YOSAR too......
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Salamanizer
Trad climber
The land of Fruits & Nuts!
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Jul 11, 2012 - 06:18pm PT
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I'm all for Firefighters, and they have (as they should) good benefits. But these are seasonal Firefighters who are only employed a few months out of the year. Who's going to be paying for it?
I can't afford any more taxes, the country is broke, where is the money going to come from?
I'm thinking he's just buying votes. When the country goes bankrupt, who's going to pay for these benefits then? I just don't understand the logic.
A government big enough to give you everything you need, is a government big enough to take everything you have.
He is not a good president!
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Jul 11, 2012 - 07:01pm PT
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Good move!
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Jul 11, 2012 - 07:26pm PT
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If you worked for the City Of Stockton for as little as one month, you're entitled to free medical insurance for life.
It's not like Stockton's going broke, or anything.
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Rankin
Social climber
Greensboro, North Carolina
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Jul 11, 2012 - 07:32pm PT
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A man of the people.
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Jul 11, 2012 - 07:33pm PT
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Those slacker firefighters.
Sponging their medical care off the taxpayer. They should be paying for it themselves. Like I am....$1300 per month for my wife and I.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Jul 11, 2012 - 07:38pm PT
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It has been stated that he will "ensure temporary federal firefighters who are bravely battling fires have access to the health insurance they deserve."
The specifics have not been released. No one has stated they are getting it for free. All the language I've seen suggests they will get the opportunity to purchase it themselves. Sounds good to me!
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Jul 11, 2012 - 07:42pm PT
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Obama directed OPM and the Agriculture and Interior departments to work on extending health benefits to part-time firefighters after he returned from his trip to Colorado to assess the Waldo Canyon fire. The agencies also are working with NFFE, which represents federal firefighters, on hammering out the details.
Perhaps the sarcasm in my preceding post wasn't dripping enough.
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Salamanizer
Trad climber
The land of Fruits & Nuts!
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Jul 11, 2012 - 08:00pm PT
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They already have the opportunity to purchase it themselves, and they're already covered while working. Why should benefits be extended into the off season? Are benefits being extended into the off season? Who's paying for that. They sure as hell aren't.
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Norton
Social climber
the Wastelands
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Jul 11, 2012 - 08:09pm PT
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this is the "off season" for fighting fires?
you mean like winter is the real fire season?
yeah, I agree, screw the fire fighters
I just don't want any of my tax dollars going to help them if they get injured or burned
jesus christ
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telemon01
Trad climber
Montana
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Jul 11, 2012 - 08:37pm PT
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All the seasonal firefighters and seasonal NPS employees I know collect unemployment and ski all winter.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Jul 11, 2012 - 08:40pm PT
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I caught it HighTraverse. :) Hard working people. Glad they'll get the opportunity to get affordable health care. Wish that were the case for everyone.
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locker
Gym climber
DUH!!!...
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Jul 11, 2012 - 08:41pm PT
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"Glad they'll get the opportunity to get affordable health care. Wish that were the case for everyone"...
+1
Me too!!!...
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ontheedgeandscaredtodeath
Trad climber
San Francisco, Ca
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Jul 11, 2012 - 09:08pm PT
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Many seasonal firefighters do a years worth of work during the fire season. When I was a hotshot 1000 hours of overtime alone was common. 16+ hour days for 21 day stints, mostly living out in the brush without tents, showers, etc. I climbed during the off season and never collected a dime of unemployment. No real point beyond that the work is hard and takes a toll on one's body and that these folks deserve some reasonable health care options.
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Salamanizer
Trad climber
The land of Fruits & Nuts!
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Jul 11, 2012 - 10:45pm PT
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this is the "off season" for fighting fires?
you mean like winter is the real fire season?
yeah, I agree, screw the fire fighters
I just don't want any of my tax dollars going to help them if they get injured or burned
jesus christ
Nobody ever said any of that. Who said "this" is the off season?
Who said screw the firefighters?
Who said they shouldn't get anything if they're injured on the job.
I used to be a seasonal firefighter. I know the deal, but I never felt I was entitled to year round health benefits because I worked 4 months out of the year. I had full medical coverage while I was working. When laid off, I went to work somewhere else and paid my own medical. I never took unemployment which I also think they should not be entitled too. It's a seasonal job, they know it's seasonal. If you don't like that, find a better job like I did. Or one that will work around your "seasonal" job.
This president is bankrupting this country and still blaming it on Bush and you morons are still falling for it. Unbelievable.
No work, no pay, period.
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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Jul 12, 2012 - 12:04am PT
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You guys seem to be criticizing a plan that you know nothing about, like if they get year round coverage or how much it costs
Why spray with no info?
Peace
Karl
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