Veteran firefighter Ken Jones has discontinued his insurance coverage with Blue Shield as part of a plan to receive the immunotherapy his former insurer previously denied under Jones’ Medicare Advantage plan.
Jones, 71, has decided to enroll in basic Medicare in hopes the federally administered insurance program will cover the cost of his immunotherapy. His oncologist is hopeful the change will result in Jones receiving his next round of treatment later this month.
Jones was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer last year, which his doctor believes is linked to his 17 years working amid smoke and ash as a San Francisco firefighter.
Senior Investigative Reporter Bigad Shaban has the latest developments in the video above. You can also get caught up on this entire series of investigative reports by watching our previous reporting below.
Part 1:
Ken Jones, who spent 17 years as a San Francisco firefighter, is asking government officials to intervene after his city-provided insurance plan declined to approve a new course of treatment Jones’s oncologists believe would help slow down the progression of his stage 4 cancer.
Part 2:
A retired San Francisco firefighter, who spent nearly two decades willingly putting his life on the line for others, now finds himself fighting for survival while in a battle against his own insurance company. Senior Investigative Reporter Bigad Shaban reports.
Part 3:
The head of San Francisco’s health oversight board determined Blue Shield acted appropriately in denying immunotherapy to a San Francisco firefighter suffering from Stage 4 cancer. Senior Investigative Reporter Bigad Shaban explains why some are angered by the decision and what they perceive as a lackluster investigation by a city official.
Watch our entire investigative series
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