Wounded deputy who lost health insurance will get one-time payment from Deuel County

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

By David Hendee

Deuel County Deputy Michael Hutchinson, who lost his county-provided family health insurance last month after being shot on duty last year, will receive a $1,500 stipend from the county.

Hutchinson said he would use the money to pay for about 10 months of insurance purchased through the Affordable Care Act.

“I’m not unhappy about it,” he said Tuesday. “They did something, which was better than nothing.”

The one-time payment, requested by Hutchinson’s attorney, ends the wounded western Nebraska deputy’s campaign to regain the insurance coverage. The issue drew widespread attention, including threats, angry letters and social media comments directed toward county officials.

FULL story and related stories at link.


MATT DIXON/THE WORLD-HERALD
Deuel County Deputy Mike Hutchinson was shot four times in the line of duty in December. “I’m not asking for anything special. Just don’t cancel my insurance.”

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Read more: http://www.livewellnebraska.com/health/wounded-deputy-who-lost-health-insurance-will-get-one-time/article_ad8cf3bc-6cf1-581f-8d32-4cb205d8392a.html

[AtheistCrusader]

1. Not to nitpick, but wouldn't L&I insurance cover any on the job injury like this?

[Grins]

3. Here...

"All of his medical bills related to the shooting have been paid by the county’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier.

But Hutchinson fell off the county’s group plan May 31 after the county switched to a new third-party provider, and it was noted that he wasn’t working at least 30 hours a week. Rules regarding who is qualified to participate in the group health plan are not set by the county, and the county does not have a right to deviate from those rules, officials said."


So, the 'death panel' called the insurance carrier, set the rules to not-pay the victim. And, gee. "Thirty-hours a week". Where have I heard that before....?

[Grins]

2. My first thouoght...

My first thought was $1,500 was so piddling the county should have done nothing. $1,500 would only bring more attention to it.Then I looked up Deuel County...

Deuel County, Nebraska. 441 square miles, population under 2,000. That's too small to financially sustain a Sheriff's or police department.

And if we had universal health care, a single-payer system, neither the officer nor the town would have a problem.