Falling workers’ compensation denial ratesoffer new evidence that political advocacy and legislative reforms are helping professional firefighters better secure medical treatment when they face life-threatening, job-related cancer, the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters said today.

Just over a decade ago, Texas municipalities and their insurers denied more than 90 percent of firefighter occupational cancer claims. According to Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) data compiled through Feb. 28, 2026 and obtained through a state open records request, denial rates have been steadily falling since legislative reforms advocated by TSAFF and others were passed beginning in 2017 and continuing into the 2025 legislative session.

In the last five fully reported years (2021-2025), TDI reports the denial rates averaged about 19 percent per year but have fallen to about six percent in both 2024 and 2025. The number of firefighter cancer claims also has risen substantially in recent years – from 54 in 2018 to 95 in 2024 and 90 in 2025 – for a total of 584.

TSAFF President John Riddle said, “We’re grateful more Texas firefighters with occupational cancer are getting the medical care they have earned through service to their communities. The downward denial trend is encouraging, but our work will not be finished until no firefighter is denied the medical coverage they earned. Too many good people have suffered or died from cancer they contracted on the job only to be abandoned by the cities or their insurance carriers. Denial of legitimate claims is agonizing and infuriating, both for the firefighters and for the people who care about them. For that reason, we will keep pushing for policies that strengthen presumptive protections and reduce the demoralizing barriers in the claims process – for cancer but also for other line-of-duty injuries and illnesses.”

Texas firefighters have sponsored or helped pass 28 pieces of fire service-relatedlegislation over the past five legislative sessions, including a record 11 bills in the 2025 regular session, secured a $5 million appropriation in 2025 for ongoing firefighter cancer research led by UTHealth Houston, and advocated for new research of cancer in female firefighters. Looking ahead to the 2027 Texas legislative session, TSAFF members have prioritized several more reforms of the workers’ comp system.

Riddle added, “When it comes to health and safety issues, Texas firefighters have built a serious and credible presence at the state capitol. We remain committed to comprehensive reforms of the workers’ compsystem. Our work with dedicated legislators and their staffs is producing measurable results, but the coverage still must be further improved – for cancer coverage but also for other line-of-duty injuries. For that reason, our work with elected and appointed officials in our communities and at the state capitol goes on – before, during and after legislative sessions.”