Firefighter Cancer and Cardiac Benefit Program
Forecasted
Firefighter Cancer and Cardiac Benefit Program reimburses Colorado firefighter employers for insurance or alternate plan costs to maintain statutory cancer and cardiac benefits, prioritizing volunteers and part-time staff.
Funder: Department of Local Affairs
Due Dates (Anticipated): May 2027 (Recommended submission) | July 2027 (Prior-year final deadline) | September 2027 (Application schedule deadline)
Funding Amounts: State Fiscal Year 2027 remaining balance: $1,300,000; reimbursement of eligible employer-paid coverage costs, subject to available funds
Summary: Reimburses qualifying Colorado firefighter employers for direct costs of insurance or alternate plans providing statutory cancer and cardiac benefits.
Key Information: This is employer benefit-coverage reimbursement, not research funding or payment of individual firefighter claims.
Description
The Firefighter Cancer and Cardiac Benefit Program is administered by Colorado’s Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), through the Division of Local Government. Its fund reimburses qualifying employers for the direct costs of maintaining insurance coverage or alternate plans that provide benefits required by CRS 29-5-302 to qualifying firefighters. The program supports ongoing benefit coverage rather than research or separate project activities.
Reimbursement requests covering part-time and volunteer firefighters receive priority, giving personnel with fewer employer-provided benefit options the first opportunity to benefit from available funds. After eligible part-time and volunteer requests are processed, remaining funds support reimbursements across employee categories, including full-time firefighters. DOLA reviews requests and administers the fund, but does not administer firefighters’ actual benefits.
