Player Health Initiatives

The NFL addresses the health and wellness needs of retired players and helps former players get the care and treatment they need.

In recent years, the NFL and the NFLPA have established a number of innovative programs and initiatives to address key health issues facing NFL alumni. The focus of these efforts are guided by ongoing discussions and input from the NFL Alumni Association and other retired player groups, and encompass a range of actions including charitable grants, research studies and partnership with leading medical, advocacy, and rehabilitative institutions.

Specific initiatives include:

88 Plan

Through a joint effort of the NFL and the NFLPA the 88 Plan, named for Pro Football Hall of Famer and legend John Mackey, provides retired players with as much as $100,000 per year for individual care, up to $88,000 for home custodial care in addition to costs pertaining to certain physician services, durable medical equipment and prescription medications resulting from dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Since the program’s inception in February 2007, more than $10 million has been distributed to qualifying retired players and their families.

NFL Player Care Foundation

The NFL Player Care Foundation is an independent organization aimed at improving the quality of life for retired players by providing charitable grants that support research that will improve the health and safety of players past and present. The Foundation, which is administered by a board of six directors, including four appointed by the NFL, NFLPA, Pro Football Hall of Fame and the NFL Alumni Association, as well as two board members with expertise in foundation management and social welfare issues, is funded through financial grants.

Since its inception in 2007, the Foundation has used a portion of its $17 million endowment to underwrite medical research and national health screenings. In addition, the Foundation has provided fiscal grants to qualified players in need of financial and medical assistance, some of which are used to pay for the costs associated with Player Care Plan programs. These programs include screening retirees for cardiovascular risk and prostate cancer, and initiatives that provide joint replacement surgery and rehabilitation services, spinal care, assisted living arrangements and neurological care.

Neurological Care Program

The NFL Neurological Care Program provides retired players with access to comprehensive evaluations and treatment when appropriate at seven top-tier medical centers recognized for their expertise, high-quality service and reputation. Each center has a team of specialties, led by a neurologist who serves as the program director and point of contact available to retired players. Each medical team includes, at a minimum, the lead neurologist or neurosurgeon, a neuropsychologist, a neuroradiologist, psychiatrist, social worker, contact administrator, and, if the player elects, a physiatrist.

The seven participating medical centers are:

Specialists evaluate and treat possible neurological conditions among retired players. Eligible players who need assistance in paying for treatment may apply for a grant from the NFL Player Care Foundation.

Cardiovascular Screening

Since the inception of the Player Care Foundation in 2007, Drs. Archie Roberts and Jeffrey Boone have conducted more than 1,000 extensive cardiovascular screenings in addition to obesity screening and nutritional counseling as part of their ongoing research. These screenings, held at 10 medical centers throughout the country each year, allow players who participate in their studies to receive cardiovascular assessments at no cost. Players found to be in need of cardiovascular care receive assistance in finding medical, nutritional and other treatment.

Prostate Screening

The American Urological Association Foundation (AUAF) has begun a comprehensive research project on prostate cancer in NFL athletes. As part of their research, which is funded by the Player Care Foundation, the AUAF offers free prostate screenings and education to former NFL players. Additional program details and a calendar of upcoming screenings can be found by visiting www.auafoundation.org/NFL/.

Spine Treatment Program

Created in June 2009, the NFL spine treatment program makes available spine specialists at five hospitals across the country to evaluate and treat spine-related conditions among retired players. The program will assist players with coordinated care at excellent healthcare facilities nationwide. Each hospital provides an orthopedic spine surgeon who serves as point of contact for the player, and program director, coordinating the services of a team of healthcare professionals and specialists in the evaluation and, if warranted, treatment of eligible former players. The team includes a neurosurgeon and a physiatrist. Eligible players who cannot afford treatment may apply to the NFL Player Care Foundation for a grant to cover some or all of the costs of treatment.

The five participating medical centers are:

Joint Replacement Program

Under the NFL Player Care Foundation, the Joint Replacement Program assists former players in need of knee, hip or shoulder replacements. As part of the benefit, if a player is not covered by insurance and does not have the means to pay for this surgery, he may qualify for financial assistance from the NFL Player Care Foundation. In that case, they will not bear any of the costs associated with the surgery as long as the surgery is at one of several specially designated facilities. In addition, most normal complications arising from surgery are covered in full, up to a maximum of $250,000. The Program was amended in 2010 to double the reimbursement available to players who undergo bilateral joint replacement surgery.

In addition to financial assistance, this program gives players priority access to a number of hospitals nationwide, each selected by the NFL as a top-tier provider of this type of surgery.

To learn more, please visit the NFL Player Care website.

Assisted Living Benefits

As part of the NFL Player Care Plan, the league has established special discount rates and priority access to eligible former players in need of assisted living support at more than 500 facilities across the U.S. These facilities include various arrangements to suit different needs, including Independent Living, Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing. Negotiated discounted rates and special services are available.

Medicare Subsidy

The NFL Player Care Plan provides a monthly subsidy of $100 to each former player who elects coverage under selected Medicare Supplement insurance plans.

Prescription Drug Discount Card

Under the NFL Player Care Plan, former players and their dependants are supplied with a Prescription Drug Discount Card. This card, provided free-of-charge, is accepted at more than 57,000 pharmacies nationwide and provides discounts on most prescription medications.

NFL Player Insurance Plan

In addition to benefiting active players, this plan provides continued health care coverage to retired players and their families for five years after leaving football. Recent benefit enhancements include:

  • Elimination of lifetime limit on benefits payable
  • Coverage of treatment, medical items, and supplies recommended under the Neurological Benefit and Spinal Treatment Programs
  • WellAware Program added to assist players with chronic conditions obtain coordinated care
  • First four visits to professional counselor covered at 100%

The Gay Culverhouse Players’ Outreach Program

The Gay Culverhouse Players’ Outreach Program was established to help former NFL players evaluate health care and disability benefits. In partnership with the NFL and the NFL Alumni Association, the scope of the program will be expanded to include additional services including caseworkers, a toll-free hotline and personal outreach to retired players and their families. In addition, NFL Alumni and the Gay Culverhouse Players’ Outreach Program sponsor events to identify players who are in need of comprehensive medical evaluation and assistance in applying for expanded benefits and services that have been created in recent years.

Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle NFL Player Retirement Plan

The Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle Retirement Plan provides both pension and disability benefits to former players. Recent benefit enhancements include:

  • Dramatically Increased Line of Duty Benefits Eligibility: As of April 2008, the current window of 48 months to apply for this benefit was expanded to allow players a Line of Duty eligibility window equivalent to the number of credited seasons played. For example, a player who played for 10 years in the league will have up to 10 years to apply for Line of Duty benefits.
  • Inactive T&P Benefit Doubled: The Inactive Total & Permanent disability benefit was increased from $20,000 per year to $40,000 per year (Effective April 1, 2008). This benefit is paid to former Players who become disabled for other than football-related reasons or become totally and permanently disabled more than fifteen years after leaving football.
  • Identification of Neutral Physicians in Close Geographic Proximity to Ease Travel Burden and Facilitate Disability Application Processing: Physicians of different specialties in close geographic proximity (preferably the same practice group) are being identified to provide neutral physician exams for players seeking disability benefits. This clustering of these neutral physicians will reduce the amount of travel for players with claims for multiple disabilities and reduce the processing time for applications.
  • Addition of a Medical Director for Initial Claims: The Plan retained a Medical Director to monitor and improve the procedures and reports of neutral physicians who examine players filing for disability benefits; advise the Disability Initial Claims Committee and the Retirement Board on medical issues, including discrepancies in neutral physician reports; and devise programs and procedures designed to expedite the processing of claims and reduce the number of “deemed denials”.
  • Widow and Surviving Children Benefits Tripled: For a player who dies before his retirement benefits commence, the minimum death benefit paid to his widow and any surviving minor children has been tripled. Minimum monthly death benefits now range from $3,600 to $9,000.
  • Toll-Free Telephone Intake to facilitate Disability Application: An additional toll-free number has been established at the Benefit Plan Office to allow applicants to speak with an intake specialist to help them prepare their disability applications and advise them on the process. The application processing review period begins only after the completed, signed application is received.
  • Increased Frequency of Meetings and E-Ballots Used to Reduce Processing Time for Disability Applications: The Disability Initial Claims Committee is meeting on a weekly basis and whenever possible, both the Disability Initial Claims Committee and the Retirement Board are using e-ballots between meetings to accelerate the decision time for disability applications.
  • Reduced Continuation Reviews of T&P Benefits: Under most circumstances, players receiving T&P benefits now only have to go through a medical evaluation and review every five years (as opposed to the previous three) to confirm continued eligibility for T&P benefits.
  • Retroactive Payments: For applications received on or after April 1, 2008, an award of a Total & Permanent Disability benefit under the Plan is paid retroactive to the first day of the month that is two months prior to the date of application.