The NBA players union announced today that they would begin funding health insurance for retired players who have played at least three years in the league. It will be established through prominent benefits provider United Healthcare.
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The NBPA plans to have an open enrollment period in the fall with coverage beginning January 1, 2017.
So, what’s the significance of three years you might ask?
It’s a wise and caring move from a players’ union that is in a unique position to provide for the players who built the league.
The Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul, who is president of the Players Association, issued a statement saying he believes it’s important for present-day players to help take care of their extended NBA family, past and present, to ensure their well-being. Yes, it’s extremely competitive, but it’s also one big family.
The Players Association’s proposal includes a system, partnering with UnitedHealthcare, offering tiered financial coverage that offers lower out-of-pocket costs the longer a player’s tenure in the league lasts.
These are groundbreaking developments for a major American sports league. But any professional sport does extreme damage to the body – play an 82-game season and see how your back and knees feel, and now imagine doing that for many years and that pain staying with you for life.
According to the New York Times, this will cost the union between $12 million and $15 million per year.
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“I couldn’t be more proud of Chris, our executive committee and our entire membership”, Michele Roberts, the executive director of the NBAPA, said in the press release. Especially in sports such as football and hockey where concussions are prevalent, retired players who feel the long-term affects of brain injuries could have more of an opportunity to receive the care they need and prevent devastating effects.
