NBA: NBPA Unanimously Votes To Fund Health Care For Retired Players

The NBPA has unanimously voted to fund health insurance for retired NBA players. Find out the details inside, New York Knicks fans!

The NBA took a massive step in the right direction on Wednesday, July 27, 2016. In a truly groundbreaking development, the National Basketball Players Association announced that it would provide health insurance to former NBA players.

Per usual, the NBA and NBPA are ahead of the curve as it pertains to socioeconomic and political reform.

Health insurance will now be available to any retired player with at least three years of NBA experience. That unprecedented system is the first of its kind amongst North American sports leagues.

NBPA president and eight-time All-NBA honoree Chris Paul spoke about how important it is to take care of those who paved the way for the players of today. Per NBPA.com:

"“The game has never before been more popular, and all the players in our league today recognize that we’re only in this position because of the hard work and dedication of the men who came before us,” said Chris Paul, NBPA President and nine-time All-Star. “It’s important that we take care of our entire extended NBA family, and I’m proud of my fellow players for taking this unprecedented step to ensure the health and well-being of our predecessors.”"

The vote on this sensitive matter was unanimous.

The NBA is at its most lucrative point to date and it only projects to get more powerful in future seasons. Unfortunately, not every player was fortunate enough to play during this era—and that’s why taking care of the trailblazing players is so important.

The full details were provided in that same article on NBPA.com:

• Retired players with between three and six years of NBA service time but who are not yet eligible for Medicare would be offered a plan that includes medical, hospital and prescription drug coverage with modest out-of-pocket costs for deductibles and co-pays;
• Those with between seven and nine years of service would be offered the same coverage with even lower out-of-pocket costs;
• Retired players with at least 10 years of service would be offered the same coverage as the seven-to-nine-year players, and would include coverage for their entire family;
• Retired players with three to nine years of service who are eligible for Medicare would be offered a $0 deductible and $0 co-pay plan along with a low-cost prescription drug plan; those with 10+ years of service to receive this coverage for themselves and their spouse.
• The open enrollment period for retired players would begin this fall, with coverage beginning on January 1, 2017.

These are groundbreaking developments for a major American sports league.

This is significant progress that shouldn’t be brushed aside as meaningless news. Merely providing health insurance to retired players will give them an opportunity to address the medical concerns that they may not have been able to approach without coverage.

Yes, basketball players are paid infinite amounts of money today, but many players of yesteryear weren’t afforded that same opportunity.

Furthermore, many players have encountered financial misfortune or played on contracts that weren’t exactly remunerative. Thus, said players may require help as they adjust to life without basketball and encounter the lingering effects of injuries sustained during their playing careers.

Here’s hoping that other sports leagues and unions follow in the NBPA’s footsteps.

must read: Five reasons the New York Knicks will make the playoffs

Here’s hoping that businesses will stop capping their workers’ hours in order to avoid paying for health care.