MADISON VILLAGE, Ohio — Retired police officers and firefighters in Ohio are facing issues with their health insurance from Thin Blue Line Benefits. Many say they are paying premiums but not getting their medical bills covered.
This problem came to light when several individuals reached out to News 5. Many first responders retire before turning 65, which means they must purchase insurance to bridge the gap until they can qualify for Medicare.
Dawn Shannon, a former police chief in Madison Village, chose Thin Blue Line Benefits in 2023 for her healthcare needs. “We decided to give it a try,” she explained. Everything seemed fine until the fall of 2024. That’s when she found out a bill from a doctor’s visit in November remained unpaid. In January, she visited a Cleveland Clinic facility only to discover that her coverage had been canceled.
“The Cleveland Clinic billing department told me I had no insurance,” Shannon said, clearly shocked and frustrated.
Jay McDonald, president of the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, mentioned that other members have shared similar stories of trouble with Thin Blue Line Benefits. Unfortunately, the company has not addressed these complaints or paid the claims. “I’m very concerned. Our members have dedicated their lives to serving the community and deserve reliable healthcare,” he said.
Attempts to contact Thin Blue Line Benefits using their provided phone number led to a customer service center that couldn’t provide further assistance. News 5 investigators later obtained a letter from the claims administrator, Quilt Benefits, stating that they had ended their agreements with Thin Blue Line Benefits due to unpaid provider claims.
“This cannot go on,” Shannon asserted. “We’re meeting with a health market company to explore our options and find a way to ensure our insurance works when we need it.”
If you are having issues with Thin Blue Line Benefits, Jay McDonald suggests contacting the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio. They have been successful in working with the company to get claims paid for their members.
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