Do no harm: Who should bear the costs of retired NFL players’ medical bills? (2 Viewers)

[Vacherie Saint]

And why not the taxpayers?.....after all, we wanted him to play, we were cheering him all along, until he destroyed his body & health. heck, the gov. is throwing money away left & right.....its about time to do something useful....

Oh my. Hopefully that was a troll.

Anyway, some deal needs to be worked out for the older guys between the league, union, and ownership simply because the tech didn't really exsist back then to properly assess long term risks or develop safety equipment to mitigate those risks. The lawsuits will almost insure this happens, but I believe all parties are culpable and should share the expense.

That said, today's players, along with their unions and employers should have no shortage of resources available to plan for potential long term health expenses.

 

[mister pc]

How about the individual that decided to play football or race cars, or box, or whatever, how about they pay for their own medical care, just seems fair

does that apply for individuals who decided to join the military?

 

[birdog]

Thank you for all the negative responses.....it is the nature of the beast.

Now what I see here is the fight which both the league & the union is engaging in denying help for the ex-players. The story is heart-wrenching. I say this with no malice....if no one wants to help, (League, union) and their high priced lawyers gets them out of the loop.....then somebody should be paying the medical bills for all the injuries which they have to bear for the rest of their lives.

Its the human thing to do....so yes.....in the end the taxpayers should be the ones paying for it, provided neither the league nor the union can be forced to pay the medical cost of these injuries.

fire away......

 

[SaintBrad]

Thank you for all the negative responses.....it is the nature of the beast.

Now what I see here is the fight which both the league & the union is engaging in denying help for the ex-players. The story is heart-wrenching. I say this with no malice....if no one wants to help, (League, union) and their high priced lawyers gets them out of the loop.....then somebody should be paying the medical bills for all the injuries which they have to bear for the rest of their lives.

Its the human thing to do....so yes.....in the end the taxpayers should be the ones paying for it, provided neither the league nor the union can be forced to pay the medical cost of these injuries.

fire away......

Uhm. No. Never.

 

[Vacherie Saint]

Thank you for all the negative responses.....it is the nature of the beast.

Now what I see here is the fight which both the league & the union is engaging in denying help for the ex-players. The story is heart-wrenching. I say this with no malice....if no one wants to help, (League, union) and their high priced lawyers gets them out of the loop.....then somebody should be paying the medical bills for all the injuries which they have to bear for the rest of their lives.

Its the human thing to do....so yes.....in the end the taxpayers should be the ones paying for it, provided neither the league nor the union can be forced to pay the medical cost of these injuries.

fire away......

Most of the people I know could give two **** about NFL football. Should they have to pay for Phil McConkey's knee surgery too? Your altruism (with other people's money) is pretty short sighted. If we can pay for NFL players med bills, why not the Mesothelioma crowd?

 

[Keto]

I don't buy the argument that "they knew the risks." I don't think any rookie really understands the risks to health. Not just even rookies, pretty much everyone that didn't/doesn't play pro football. As a physician, I can tell you that people in general are terrible judges of risk, and it's worse when you are young and "invincible."

 

[jrdbrn]

I don't buy the argument that "they knew the risks." I don't think any rookie really understands the risks to health. Not just even rookies, pretty much everyone that didn't/doesn't play pro football. As a physician, I can tell you that people in general are terrible judges of risk, and it's worse when you are young and "invincible."

If they don't know the risks in 2013, then they're ignorant.

 

[Rod-138]

Bird dog - I know you're passionate and what not, but the consequences of making decisions based on emotion are much worse than you can imagine.

Lets say Willie Roaf makes a knee injury claim 5 years from now and its denied because he never reported the injury while playing for the Chiefs. Lets say his claim is denied for whatever reason.

Sounds like crap right? I mean, his knee was probably injured while playing in the NFL.

Well - That's the type of story you think of when you make your argument; however, that story is not an accurate depiction of reality.

Reality is a huge chunk of the lawsuits and injury claims reported to the NFL are for players that never actually played football for a team longer than training camp/preseason.

Like, lets say Mike Hass is cut by every football team in the NFL and tries to play in Canada a few years. He hurts his knee there and is forced to retire. Well, he struggles finding a job and has a bum knee, whats a good option ? oh yeah, sue the Saints.

He played for them - he has a knee injury - why can't he say it started while playing for the Saints? He does, he sues, he may or may not win.

That's the reality of the suits that come through, the ones that arn't feel good stories or make bleeding hearts bleed for more rights. Guys that don't really deserve benefits. (Mike Hass was just an example by the way)

The problem, is while you're right, the retired veteran's story sounds like a story I'd want to endorse for help, but by creating a loophole, well, lawyers eat up that loophole and take advantage of it for all the retired rookies that get cut. Nothing is as simple as it seems and the laws governing this stuff are not regulated to football - its all workers and all jobs.

The only real option would be for the NFL to self insure with an agreement from the Players association to contribute to the system - like a tax - to provide coverage for players post 5 year retirement or something to that effect.

 

[birdog]

Most of the people I know could give two **** about NFL football. Should they have to pay for Phil McConkey's knee surgery too? Your altruism (with other people's money) is pretty short sighted. If we can pay for NFL players med bills, why not the Mesothelioma crowd?

What is it for you to understand the practical outcome of "someone" has to pay?

If no one pays.....ultimately the taxpayers will....its always been like that. The ex-player has no insurance to begin with.....both the NFL & THE UNION HAVE BIG TIME LAWYERS WHO WILL GET THEIR CLIENTS OFF THE HOOK....well, who else is left?

The taxpayers.....that's who.

Unless is perfectly OK with you to keep these guys, for whom thousands of fans cheered for a long time....in this condition. Don't touch him.....he is no one's problem.....

What freaking twisted mentality....

 

[Randy Jones]

As

If they don't know the risks in 2013, then they're ignorant.

I dont see how this statement is relevant. Knowing the risks has nothing to do with workers comp covering the cost of lingering effects of injuries.

 

[birdog]

Bird dog - I know you're passionate and what not, but the consequences of making decisions based on emotion are much worse than you can imagine.

Lets say Willie Roaf makes a knee injury claim 5 years from now and its denied because he never reported the injury while playing for the Chiefs. Lets say his claim is denied for whatever reason.

Sounds like crap right? I mean, his knee was probably injured while playing in the NFL.

Well - That's the type of story you think of when you make your argument; however, that story is not an accurate depiction of reality.

Reality is a huge chunk of the lawsuits and injury claims reported to the NFL are for players that never actually played football for a team longer than training camp/preseason.

Like, lets say Mike Hass is cut by every football team in the NFL and tries to play in Canada a few years. He hurts his knee there and is forced to retire. Well, he struggles finding a job and has a bum knee, whats a good option ? oh yeah, sue the Saints.

He played for them - he has a knee injury - why can't he say it started while playing for the Saints? He does, he sues, he may or may not win.

That's the reality of the suits that come through, the ones that arn't feel good stories or make bleeding hearts bleed for more rights. Guys that don't really deserve benefits. (Mike Hass was just an example by the way)

The problem, is while you're right, the retired veteran's story sounds like a story I'd want to endorse for help, but by creating a loophole, well, lawyers eat up that loophole and take advantage of it for all the retired rookies that get cut. Nothing is as simple as it seems and the laws governing this stuff are not regulated to football - its all workers and all jobs.

The only real option would be for the NFL to self insure with an agreement from the Players association to contribute to the system - like a tax - to provide coverage for players post 5 year retirement or something to that effect.

Everything what you're saying its true......I agree.

Well then let's look at reality....

We have millions of people....most of them illegals who came in this country.....no insurance, no money to pay when they're sick....but they do show up at the emergency door at the hospital. THEY'RE TREATED!

Who do you think pays the bill? You & me...that's who!

I'm all for suing everybody....but I'm a realist. I see what's going on...both the NFL & Union will probably get off the hook......but eventually someone will have to pay for these ex-players medical expenses. Who that payer ultimately is?

You & me....that's who.

Forget about compassion....in the end if no one pays....these ex-players are no different than those who can't afford to pay their bills...those who can't pay, the taxpayers will fit the bill. Its always been like that.

 

[bobad]

you are assuming all taxpayers watch football. That is not a valid assumption. Maybe all fans are taxpayers, but not all taxpayers are fans.

Not only that, but a lot of people who work in an office all their lives have to get knee and hip replacements. It's part of the aging process.

That's why people work, and why they buy good health insurance. Since 1985, retired workers can choose to keep their employer's health insurance plan. All they have to do is keep up the payments. Anyone who would drop their health insurance is asking for it.

 

[birdog]

Not only that, but a lot of people who work in an office all their lives have to get knee and hip replacements. It's part of the aging process.

That's why people work, and why they buy good health insurance. Since 1985, retired workers can choose to keep their employer's health insurance plan. All they have to do is keep up the payments. Anyone who would drop their health insurance is asking for it.

Do you think these ex-players voluntarily dropped their insurance coverage.....or they just couldn't afford it?

Its a big difference, you know...and if they couldn't afford it, then why are these ex-players any different than those who don't have any insurance coverage to begin with?

Again.... let's sue everybody. But the outcome is assured already....they will lose. Now what? No insurance, and no health. What are we supposed to do?

 

[Mudbug67]

Certainly the company's insurance after filing suit but keep in mind, he didn't sign on knowing people will be swinging crates at his legs intentionally. Compare apples to apples please.

Try this one; Let's say you hire on at a petro chemical plant and after 10 years you leave and shortly afterward you become sick with a condition long thought to be connected to chemicals present where you used to work. How do you get a previous employer to accept any responsibility? You hire an attorney and either convince a judge, a jury or the company,s attorney to cover you. If you lose you accept whatever help you can get.

That's how it works for you and I. Maybe not always the best results, but it's how the system works. I love football, but the players are just like you and I.

Hopefully the players union gets smart about taking care of future retirees in its next negotiations. I believe the reality of taking less money now in wages to protect their future will probably doom the possibility though.
JMO
mb

 

[bearze34]

Try this one; Let's say you hire on at a petro chemical plant and after 10 years you leave and shortly afterward you become sick with a condition long thought to be connected to chemicals present where you used to work. How do you get a previous employer to accept any responsibility? You hire an attorney and either convince a judge, a jury or the company,s attorney to cover you. If you lose you accept whatever help you can get.

That's how it works for you and I. Maybe not always the best results, but it's how the system works. I love football, but the players are just like you and I.

Hopefully the players union gets smart about taking care of future retirees in its next negotiations. I believe the reality of taking less money now in wages to protect their future will probably doom the possibility though.
JMO
mb

How funny you should post this scenario. This very thing happened to me. I started sweating fluorescent pink and this condition lasted about a month. I quit a few years later and it just happened to be after 10 years. The industrial hygienist took readings at the time and declared the area safe. Nobody else was afflicted as I was and now I have end stage liver disease of unknown origin (never been a drinker, no hepatitis, etc.) The records of my investigation no longer exist so they have no culpability though my hepatologist says that episode most likely led to my current condition though it cannot be proven.