New Law Uses Lottery to Help Families of Fallen First Responders
Tuesday, July 9, 2019 | 0
An Iowa law that took effect this month will use lottery proceeds to help families of fallen first responders cover insurance costs.
The Iowa Public Safety Survivor Benefits Fund allows $100,000 of the lottery revenue to go to families of firefighters and law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, according to an Iowa news report. The money will help families keep health insurance coverage.
Until last year, families could not retain the insurance after the responder died. The legislature changed that to let municipalities decide on extending coverage to survivors, and by how much. The new lottery fund will help cover the gap for those whose coverage is not fully covered by the local government, the newspaper reported.
“Insurance coverage is one of the immediate concerns their survivors can face, and it’s right that we find a way to help them continue that coverage,” Rep. Mike Sexton, R-Rockwell City, said in a news release.
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