City can’t explain canceled health insurance

D.C. Fire Chief Adrian H. Thompson yesterday met with representatives of the city’s Department of Personnel and the Office of Pay and Retirement, but they could not figure out why firefighters are having their medical insurance canceled.

“They are checking the status of all fire and EMS personnel health insurance,” fire department spokeswoman Kathryn Friedman said, adding that she could not say how long such a review would take.

The Washington Times reported yesterday that city firefighters have been discovering during doctor visits that their health insurance has been canceled for nonpayment by the District, even though their paychecks indicate that insurance premiums are being deducted.

Firefighters also say they have been pressing to get their paychecks corrected because they are getting paid too little — and in some cases, too much.

Randi Blank, a spokeswoman for the D.C. Office of Personnel, said the errors could be the result of any of a number of administrative problems stemming from efforts to modernize the city’s payroll.

Personnel officials are checking computer records against hard copies of fire department files to determine how many employees have been affected, Miss Blank said, adding that she has not heard of the problem occurring in any other city agency.

“I’m pretty upset about it because nobody should have their insurance canceled, especially when the deductions are being made,” D.C. Council member Phil Mendelson, at-large Democrat, said yesterday.

Mr. Mendelson said he was unaware of the insurance cancellations. He said he thought the fire department’s payroll problems had been resolved after he raised the issue with Chief Thompson during hearings in March and April.

Meanwhile, more firefighters have come forward to say their insurance was canceled without their knowledge.

Firefighter Craig Hagaman said he learned on April 22 that his family had no insurance when his wife tried to use her insurance card for a prescription.

“They told her, ‘This card’s no good,’” he said.

His insurance was canceled March 23 for nonpayment by the city, retroactive to March 7, 2004. During that time, Mr. Hagaman’s wife gave birth to their third child.

Last month, Mr. Hagaman tore a ligament in his knee while on duty. The department has scheduled a surgery next month, but he can’t get a second opinion because he has no insurance.

“Getting [department officials] to pay bills has been an uphill battle,” said Sgt. Mychael Shymansky, who was injured on duty last year. “It’s just been one promise broken after another. It’s very frustrating.”

On Oct. 22, Sgt. Shymansky was responding to a fire when he began to have chest pains. Paramedics took him to George Washington University Hospital, the nearest facility. Doctors concluded that the pains resulted from overexertion, and he was released.

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