06/05/2026
Retired San Francisco firefighter Ken Jones died on May 30, 2026, at age 71, following a 14 month battle with lung cancer. His death came after his city sponsored insurer, Blue Shield of California, repeatedly denied coverage for key combination chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments recommended by his oncologists.
Blue Shield rejected the treatment regimen, citing that it did not meet standard oncology guidelines. This forced Jones' family to appeal to the San Francisco Health Service Board and pay out of pocket for tens of thousands of dollars in medical expenses.
Jones’ case sparked significant outrage and brought widespread attention to the barriers first responders face in securing coverage for occupational illnesses.