West Virginia Firefighters Get Insurance Premium Subsidy Check

A volunteer fire department in Kanawha County has become the first in West Virginia to receive a rebate check to cover the costs of higher premiums for workers’ compensation insurance.

The check for $1,638 was presented to the Cabin Creek Volunteer Fire Department.

Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin signed legislation in April making $5 million available to the fire departments for premiums. Auditor Glen Gainer’s office was tasked with developing the program to provide reimbursements.

Auditor’s office spokesman Justin Southern says 47 volunteer fire departments had submitted rebate forms as of Tuesday and 14 checks totaling more than $46,000 have been processed.

BrickStreet Mutual Insurance officials announced last year they would stop writing workers’ compensation coverage for the departments effective July 1, requiring the departments to find new providers.