12/21/24
July 29, 2016
NBA Players Assocation votes unanimously to fund health insurance for retired players: The plan involves a tiered coverage program for players with varying years of experience, including coverage for the spouses of those with 10 years or more of service. The biggest beneficiaries, however, will likely be the retired players with between three and six years of experience who are not eligible for Medicare.
posted by Ufez Jones to basketball at 10:50 AM - 2 comments
The article does not say whether or not the NBA is providing any funding to support the plan. If they are not, then it is strictly an NBPA function. This is similar to what many, if not most, unions provide for their members. My wife's health insurance is through the Teachers' Union, for example. If the league itself has no responsibility for the plan, then comparing the NBA players action to whatever the NFL as a league does is not valid. I would suggest the NFLPA set up its own retiree health insurance plan and hold the owners up for as large a contribution to the plan as they can get.
posted by Howard_T at 03:31 PM on July 29, 2016
Really liking the lead the NBA players have been taking on stuff like this. Can't wait to hear the NFL's reasons for not doing the same, something along the lines of "When you have 12 guys on a team, it's easy . . . "