NFL, NFLPA Announce New Retirement Benefit Initiative
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NFLPA Executive Director Gene Upshaw and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, at a meeting on July 24 with 11 prominent retired NFL players, announced a new $7 million fund for retired players to help pay for joint replacement surgeries and other medical assistance. The two also announced a commitment to new procedures to speed up disability awards to retired players. The announcement came as part of a new four-point initiative by the NFLPA/NFL aimed at addressing the concerns and needs of NFL retired players. The four-point program includes the following:
- Retired Players Medical and Assistance Fund. The NFLPA/NFL recently-formed “Alliance” to coordinate medical support services for retired players in need of care – comprised of the NFLPA Players Assistance Trust (PAT), the NFL Alumni Association’s Dire Need Fund, and the Hall of Fame Enshrinee Assistance Fund – has established an initial $7 million unified fund to pay for joint replacement surgeries and to address other financial hardships of retired players. Additional funding will be provided by current and retired players, and NFL clubs. The joint replacement surgeries will be available at no cost to retired players without insurance or with financial need. The NFLPA/NFL are in the process of identifying 10-15 leading medical centers across the country to provide these surgeries and developing a central point of contact and common application process.
- Improve and Expedite Disability Benefits Procedures. The NFLPA/NFL are committed to improving the process for obtaining disability benefits, including expediting and simplifying the application procedures to ensure that players entitled to disability benefits receive them as quickly as possible. The recent decision to apply Social Security guidelines to the NFL disability benefits is an important element of this effort.
- Cardiovascular Health (CVH) Program. The NFLPA/NFL will combine and expand their current cardiovascular health programs available to retired players, including their national subsidized CVH screening program with board-certified cardiologists identified by team doctors.
- Assisted Living and Improved Post-Retirement Health Insurance. Commissioner Goodell and Upshaw also said they would explore a new program to provide financial assistance to retired players to facilitate access to assisted living facilities and expanded health insurance options. These two initiatives will be areas of ongoing focus for the league and the Players Association.
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