Firefighter cancer presumption in Tennessee
In Tennessee, 9 cancers are presumed job-related once you've served 5 years, and other cancers count when tied to exposure.
The law is Tenn. Code Ann. § 7-51-201. It covers benefits for line-of-duty injury, disability, medical care and death.
Presumed means the law assumes your job caused the cancer, so your employer has to show it came from something else. Tennessee's cancer law is separate from workers' comp, which is the insurance that pays medical bills and lost pay when work makes you sick.
Conditions under Tennessee's law
- Your service lasted at least 5 years.
- Only full-time, paid firefighters fall under the rule, so volunteers don't get this coverage.
- On the job, you were exposed to smoke, heat, fumes, or chemicals that were toxic or cancer-causing.
- After July 1 of 2019, 2022, or 2025, you had a physical exam that screened for cancer, depending on which cancer you have.
- The state fire marshal's office recognizes the fire department you work for.
- Coverage continues for up to 5 years past your last on-duty exposure.
With medical evidence, your employer can claim your cancer had another cause, such as lifestyle habits or other jobs.
Questions about your diagnosis, your service record or your deadline go to the claims line: +1 833 853 0496
Cancers Tennessee covers
If a metro-government county of 400,000 or more opts in, any cancer can qualify when an earlier screening found none.
| Cancer | Covered in Tennessee? |
|---|---|
| Cancer of the breastA cancer screening exam after July 1, 2025 is required | Yes |
| Cancer of the colon or rectumColon cancer; a cancer screening exam after July 1, 2019 is required | Yes |
| LeukemiaA cancer screening exam after July 1, 2022 is required | Yes |
| Multiple myelomaA cancer screening exam after July 1, 2019 is required | Yes |
| Non-Hodgkin lymphomaA cancer screening exam after July 1, 2019 is required | Yes |
| Cancer of the pancreasA cancer screening exam after July 1, 2025 is required | Yes |
| Cancer of the prostateA cancer screening exam after July 1, 2025 is required | Yes |
| Skin cancer, including melanomaA cancer screening exam after July 1, 2019 is required | Yes |
| Cancer of the testiclesA cancer screening exam after July 1, 2022 is required | Yes |
| Bladder cancer | If linked to your work |
| Brain cancer | If linked to your work |
| Esophagus cancer | If linked to your work |
| Kidney cancer | If linked to your work |
| Liver cancer | If linked to your work |
| Lung cancer | If linked to your work |
| Mesothelioma | If linked to your work |
| Ovarian, cervical or uterine cancer | If linked to your work |
| Stomach cancer | If linked to your work |
| Throat or mouth cancer | If linked to your work |
| Thyroid cancer | If linked to your work |
How is a firefighter cancer claim filed in Tennessee?
- Ask your department, or the board that runs its pension or benefits, how to apply for line-of-duty benefits for injury, disability, medical care and death. Name Tennessee's law (Tenn. Code Ann. § 7-51-201). That board is the office that decides retirement and disability pay for your department.
- You can also file a workers' comp claim, which is a second claim with the Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation. Tennessee's cancer law does not help with that one, so your doctor has to say in writing that your work caused the cancer.
- Collect your diagnosis, the dates you were hired and served, your records of fires and exposures, and any results from physical exams.
- Try to start soon, because time limits apply. Ask your department or the board how long you have to apply. A workers' comp claim has its own deadlines.