House committee OKs Rep. Karlee Macer’s survivor health coverage expansion

INDIANAPOLIS – An Indiana House committee has approved legislation authored by State Rep. Karlee Macer (D-Indianapolis) that expands the health coverage provided to surviving family of public safety officers who are killed in the line of duty.

House Bill 1110, approved by the House Insurance Committee, covers instances in which families of public safety officers can qualify to receive healthcare coverage.

The bill states that should a public safety officer die in the line of duty, and if the employer of the officer provides healthcare for active-duty officers, then the employer shall offer to provide and pay for the coverage of the officer’s spouse and children.

Macer’s bill expands the number of people who would qualify, including Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel and Park Rangers.

“These public safety officers and EMS are willing to give their lives for the safety of Hoosiers, and in the rare cases where someone loses their life, their family should have security in the knowledge that they will have healthcare,” Rep. Macer commented.

“This is a good step forward in recognizing the sacrifice that is made by our public safety officers and EMS,” Macer said. “The risk that they are willing to take in order to keep us safe is incredible, and it is only fair that their families are supported if they [public safety officers and EMS] lose their life in the line of duty.”

The measure now moves to the House floor for consideration.