CIGNA insurance has offered to pay medical costs through August for Police Officer Colvin Georges, who was gravely wounded in the line of duty, while other arrangements for long-term care are finalized in the coming days, Government House announced in a press release.
Georges was shot in the neck on the night of May 26 while pursuing a criminal suspect. He is paralyzed and presently hospitalized in Florida. Mounting medical bills have quickly outstripped insurance coverage and Workers Compensation.
Scott Evelyn, CIGNA’s Florida and Caribbean president and general manager, informed the government last week that the insurer will cover all of Georges’ medical bills beyond his $200,000 Workers Compensation coverage through the end of this month, the statement said.
“We graciously accept CIGNA’s magnanimous offer to provide this coverage for Officer Georges," Gov. John deJongh Jr. wrote in a letter thanking Evelyn. "This arrangement will give us time to fix the apparent ‘gap’ in the employees’ medical insurance coverage and the Workers Compensation program without jeopardizing the necessary care for this young man who was severely injured in the line of duty,” deJongh wrote.
Since the night he was shot, the Virgin Islands Government, through the Labor Department’s Workers Compensation Program, has paid $200,000 for medical services provided on Officer Georges’ behalf. Medical expenditures in excess of $200,000 for Georges have been paid by CIGNA, according to Government House.
CIGNA has agreed to pay Georges expenses through the end of August, deJongh said.
“The Virgin Islands Government is taking steps to ensure that all of Officer Georges’ medical, rehabilitative and long-term care expenses will be covered in full and that neither Officer Georges or his family will be burdened with these costs after Aug. 31, when CIGNA can no longer provide coverage to the wounded officer under terms of the existing contract with the insurance carrier and the government,” deJongh said.
