NFL Lockout: Family Goes to Extremes to Ensure Health Insurance Coverage Insurance Guidelines

28
Feb

NFL Lockout: Family Goes to Extremes to Ensure Health Insurance Coverage

The expiration of the NFL labor contract is upon us and a NFL lockout seems imminent. Players are being encouraged to apply for COBRA coverage to ensure they have individual health insurance protection during this lockout period. To avoid any complications, an unnamed NFL player’s wife was induced early to deliver their baby before the lockout started to ensure medical costs from having the baby would be covered through the NFL.

This seems like an extreme measure to save money, but according to the article “Desperate Measures? Player’s Wife Induces Labor Early as NFL Lockout Approaches” by Brad Cohen on SportsGrid.com, it may be necessary. Although COBRA is an option for the players, it does not come cheap. Linebacker Channing Crowder, who plays for the Miami Dolphins, says it’s going to cost him $1300 per month for COBRA coverage. Many NFL players may be choosing to not carry health insurance at all and avoid the extra costs. But this is not a good idea, because if something unfortunately happens during this time to affect a player’s health, health care costs could be far more expensive than $1300.

The article points out that many NFL players are not financially prepared for this lockout. According to Business Insider, it’s going to take more than a few players’ issues to get the union to give in, but the financial hardships of some of the players could help negotiations. It is possible that the NFL players shop around for more affordable health insurance quotes but that takes a commitment and they just may not have the time at this point. Hopefully they can come to an agreement quickly and there will be no devastating effects for any of the players.

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