BELLEVUE, Wash. — A Bellevue police officer who was severely injured while on the job will get his city health benefits extended after losing them earlier this year.
Officer Kevin Bereta nearly died after falling off an overpass while assigned to Vice President Kamala Harris' motorcade as security detail during her visit to Seattle on Aug. 15, 2023. Bereta lost control of his bike and fell about 60 feet off an overpass, sustaining a life-changing injury.
In an interview with KING 5 at the beginning of March, Bereta revealed he was kicked off his City of Bellevue health insurance. He exceeded the six months allowed to recover and has not been cleared medically to return to light duty.
“I can’t play with my kids like I used to," Bereta said at the time. "I can lay on the floor and I’ll play cards with them and that’s about the extent of what I can do. I have to watch them play and all I hear is ‘Daddy, play with me’ and that just kills me."
The City and the Bellevue Police Officers Guild announced a change in city policy Monday that will allow Bereta to maintain his existing health insurance benefits for up to two years. The City said the policy will provide reimbursement for insurance premiums and is available to "any city employee who experiences a workplace injury or illness resulting in a temporary disability that prevents them from working sufficient hours to maintain benefits," including Bereta.
In a release, the City said the interim solution was chosen because it could be implemented quickly. However, it said officials plan to evaluate potential long-term changes that would help employees who end up in "unique situations."
The Beretas and their three children told KING 5 they were paying out of pocket for insurance, amounting to several thousand dollars a month.
