“It took two years of convincing the doctors at my local VA clinic that there was something medically wrong with me. Finally, two weeks after I had to transfer from my fire department, I had a CT scan on my lower back that showed L5-S1 bulging discs and arthritis. The scan also showed something else that we weren’t expecting—it found cancer on my kidney.
I was somewhat jaded by the time I began the claims process with Provident. However, I learned quickly that their process is very simple and every person I worked with spoke to me as if I were a family member. The sincere care and concern they showed me made the uncertainty of the past two years seem insignificant.
When the check came, I thought how great it would be to pay off some bills and free up some money for the family. In truth, I placed it in savings and was afraid to touch it just in case my wife needed it should things not turn out. Thankfully, everything is on the right track today.
Your organization is the epitome of the motto, “Serving Those Who Serve.” From myself and my family, thank you for your service.”
South Carolina
“I would like to thank everyone at Provident for all your help and support over the past year and a half. The shock of having a heart attack at my age was more than I could have imagined. Being a firefighter, I have thought I might be injured while fighting a fire, but the last thing I would have thought was having a heart attack.
I especially want to thank Mark Schmitt for all his support when I was not sure what to do; he was there to walk me through it. Mark was always there to answer my questions and always with a kind and understanding attitude. He just said, ‘Leave it to me and I’ll take care of it. You just concentrate on getting better.’
Provident helped make a difficult situation more bearable. Your help took a lot of stress off my shoulders, which was a large help to my recovery. I would recommend your company to other fire companies. I think they would be in very good hands having you as their insurance carrier. It would be my pleasure to speak on your behalf if you ever need it. I think every fire company in the country should know what a tremendous service you offer. It has been a year and a half since my heart attack and I still haven’t received a dime from workers comp, but I never missed a days pay thanks to Provident.”
Plumstead Twp FRA, Pennsylvania
“I can’t say enough about how caring and dedicated to our members Provident has been. Filing claims and getting one-on-one support has been so simple and fast! I 100% TRUST our members in your hands. You have helped and continue to help hundreds of our members and have done so with compassion and ease. Thank you for making our partnership worthwhile!”
SC State Firefighters’ Association
“Provident was there for us at one of our most difficult times in life. Back in October 2016, we had a work-related injury occur. On the very first day, Melissa, a Provident claims representative, contacted and assisted us in filling out all the needed paperwork. She even advised us of coverage that we did not know we were entitled to. Melissa, and additional staff we met, were always professional and courteous. They showed true care for our situation.
For over 4 years while we were recovering from our injury and getting treatment, Melissa would reach out to us and sincerely show concern for how we were doing. She was always responsive to our questions; it was as if we knew her our entire life and she understood what we were going through. Melissa is truly the most amazing representative we have ever spoken to. She always asked how we were doing and gave words of encouragement. Provident is very fortunate to have someone like her handling their customers. We say this so that Provident is aware of the high asset Melissa is. In our 50+ years, my family and I had never experienced any kind of injury or had to deal with any kind of insurance benefits for injuries. Melissa removed the high level of anxiety from our situation by constantly advising us that Provident was there for us and most importantly by showing it with actions. Melissa’s professional and friendly service made the process effortless and simple.
For myself and my family, Provident played a major role in us getting through these tough times. When we were told to expect something, it was always on time. I strongly recommend Provident for your needs as they cared and protected my family where other insurance companies would not have. I have recommended Provident to everyone I talk to. I am very involved in the vol. fire service and have expressed the service we received was above anything you could imagine. Our family will never be able to thank Provident and Melissa enough for all they did for us.”
DVFA & LADVFA Mutual Relief Association
“If there was a better Accident & Health policy than Provident’s, I would sell it. How many underwriters reject accounts because they don’t fit the underwriting guidelines? When I brought an account that didn’t fit perfectly in the program, I worked with Provident to find an alternative solution—a solution that resulted in a happy client and opportunities for additional business.
During a renewal, I was informed by a client that a claim had been denied. I wasn’t aware that a claim had been filed. It turned out that the claim was three years old and denied for insufficient information. I investigated it, and Provident was willing to re-open the case and immediately began settling it to the insured’s satisfaction. Few companies would be willing to do this.
I have been doing business with Provident for over 30 years. The year 2020 was a challenging one for all of us. Despite this, Provident has continued to do its best to provide our first responders with the most comprehensive coverage and most responsive claim department in the industry. It has been a privilege to be part of the Provident Team.”
Fort Wayne, IN
“I ended up on short-term disability from my employer, but Provident made up the difference in my lost income. Provident also compensated me for my time in physical therapy. Not only did the company do that, but it was very prompt in following up on my claim. My claim was made on a Tuesday, processed Wednesday, and I had a check in-hand just a few days later.
I told everyone that your team and the benefits department are outstanding. Everyone knew the answers to all my questions, and they made the process simple for me. Bill Gentile was phenomenal. Everyone I spoke to could relate to me being a firefighter, and I thought that was important. Everybody at Provident showed a true team effort. I have recommended Provident to as many people as possible, and I will continue to do so.”
Saginaw, MI
“I have been a member of the Washington Fire Service since 1989. Today, I serve in the capacity as a volunteer firefighter and am an elected Fire Commissioner with Grant County Fire District #13, located in central Washington state. I am a third-generation firefighter with a large family history in volunteer and career firefighting. After retiring as Volunteer Fire Chief from my local district in 2015, I continued to serve and promote the fire service in Washington.
One of the obvious shortfalls we have in Washington is the disparaging difference between career firefighters and volunteer firefighters. As a former Fire Chief, I often felt a tremendous pressure and responsibility to the families of the volunteers to ensure that their household income would not be jeopardized due to their volunteering and responding within our fire district. Several cases occurred during my tenure as Fire Chief that had the potential to create a financial hardship for our responders. When I became an independent insurance agent in 2014, I quickly realized that there was a solution, and that solution was Provident insurance.
Today, I have made my specialty at Trask Insurance to help and assist fire departments and fire districts throughout Washington. I feel that it is my way to give back, and continue to be a responder, by educating volunteer fire departments on the shortfalls of income and wage loss, accident and illness benefits, and line of duty deaths.
I’ve also spent a considerable amount of time working with the state associations (Washington Fire Chiefs, Washington Volunteer Firefighters’ Association, and Washington Fire Commissioners Association) in educating their membership by promoting health, safety, and wellness among departments. I am an outspoken supporter of our state legislators, trying to get laws enacted to provide benefits and incentives promoting more volunteer firefighters in Washington. I have a simple service motto about self-compelled agency core values – trust, loyalty, and respect.”
Moses Lake, WA
“My husband is a first responder. One night during training, he was riding with a police officer when they received a call of an active shooter and pursued it. My husband walked away from that scene as a different man. He was always outgoing and a jokester. Shortly after coming home that morning, I started to notice changes in his behavior. He shut down on me and his family. Little did I know at the time that he saw his peers’ lives and his own flashing before him that night as they were actively being shot at. He witnessed glass bursting from patrol cars, for the shooter was just feet from him.
After that event, he became overwhelmed at minor things and was very quiet. He wasn’t laughing anymore. He was angry most of the time, and when I was able to get through to him with a conversation, he would deflect or become upset. Our marriage was on the outs.
He began an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) therapy, but that only covered the cost of three sessions. After that he sought other counseling with a state-run facility. Ultimately, the costs were getting too high, and he had to leave therapy altogether.
After a series of unfortunate events, which nearly cost us our marriage and home, he reached out to his first and favorite therapist again. The therapist then referred him to Provident, where he received the Mental Stress Management Benefit to help him pay for the services at no charge to us.
Today, he is smiling again. If it hadn’t been for Provident and his therapist, I don’t think I would be able to sit across from him, in our home, at our dinner table, while writing this testimony.
Thank you to all the amazing and generous people at Provident. You may not see the benefits of your daily work, but I certainly do, as does my family. Thank you again for your generosity and blessing you have given me and my family. You have helped give back my husband and our children their father.”