The NFLPA’s executive director, DeMaurice Smith, was on CBS’ Face The Nation on Sunday morning, and explained that NFL players are worried about the Affordable Care Act being repealed.
NFL players are worried about possibility of Obamacare repeal
It would make getting insurance tougher after retirement.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Smith said that the main concern was that there is a “100 percent injury rate” in the NFL. This leaves all players exiting their careers with pre-existing conditions. Without Obamacare, it would make it impossible in some circumstances to get insurance.
In late January, Smith told CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Major Garrett that, “When it comes to legislation that can affect the health care of NFL players, that’s a big issue.”
Smith added, “A lot of people that played this game benefited from the Affordable Care Act because they were able to buy insurance, even though all of them had pre-existing conditions.”
Smith also told Garrett that the NFLPA will be involved in pushback against the Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare.
“Be aware of the legislation that has an outsized impact on your and your family’s life,” Smith said.
In 2013, the NFL announced that it was going to stay out of the Obamacare debate, and would not promote it.
“We have responded to the letters we received from members of Congress to inform them we currently have no plans to engage in this area and have had no substantive contact with the administration about [the health-care law’s] implementation,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in an email.
The Senate took its first steps in an attempt to repeal Obamacare at the beginning of January.
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