Insurance Help for Firefighters and First Responders

The U.S. House unanimously passed the “Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act,” to ensure that emergency services volunteers are not counted as full-time employees under the Employer Mandate of the Affordable Care Act. Michigan Congresswoman Candice Miller, who cosponsored the bill, says this move shields fire departments from new health care costs, which would cause many to close their doors. The St. Clair Shores Republican says many of these departments are already stretching their limited resources for equipment, training and recruitment and they just can’t afford to comply with the mandate. The bill now goes to the Senate.