Retired National Football League players and the league office have been far apart in their negotiations regarding proper medical care for former players, but the sides came a little closer Tuesday afternoon in Baltimore.
The NFL and NFL Players Association launched the NFL Joint Replacement Benefit Plan, as 14 hospitals across the country ? including Union Memorial in Baltimore and Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. ? will offer free or reduced operations to all qualified former players upon completion of a screening process.
“It?s still sort of a hopeful thing and at least [NFL Commissioner] Roger Goodell is doing something that is positive,” Former Baltimore Colt great Tom Matte said. “A step in the right direction ? no question about it.”
Joint replacement is one of three points of emphasis by retired players, along with long-term health care and cardiovascular surgery for those who suffered debilitating injuries during their professional playing careers.
Vested players ? those who have four or more seasons accrued toward the NFL pension plan ? are eligible for the service, which provides knee, hip and shoulder joint replacements.
One of the points of emphasis of the plan, which was negotiated over the past nine months, is how much financial assistance will be available for former players who apply. The plan stipulates the NFL Player Care Foundation will assist in providing partial to full coverage of medical costs. The foundation has about $10 million in funding from NFL owners and about $7 million in its general funds.
But that surplus is important.
The costs of these operations, not including rehabilitation, can range from $20,000 to $30,000, said Dr. Frank Ebert, associate chief of orthopedic surgery at Union Memorial.
“The program is designed to serve as access to care and assets,” Dr. Andrew Tucker, head physician for the Baltimore Ravens, said. “Many players have [health] issues that started from the playgrounds, high school and college. This program does notdiscriminate when the injury began, just that there is a need.”
