“I believe, wholeheartedly, that they expedited his death,” said former San Francisco Fire Department chief Jeanine Nicholson of her colleague’s tragic ordeal
NEED TO KNOW
- Ken Jones, a retired firefighter, was allegedly denied insurance coverage for critical cancer treatments before his death
- His story has sparked calls for reform in the insurance industry and accountability for delayed care
- In a statement to NBC, Blue Shield said they plan to implement care managers for complex claims
A veteran firefighter, who gained national attention after allegedly being denied insurance coverage for his stage 4 lung cancer treatment, has died from the disease.
On Saturday, May 30, Ken Jones — a retired San Francisco firefighter who spent 17 years working for the city — died at age 71 after being diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in March 2025.
Before his death, Jones had required a specific course of treatment that included chemotherapy and immunotherapy. However, his insurance provider, Blue Shield of California, reportedly denied coverage, as well as an appeal filed by Jones’ oncologists…