AFL Drops Health Insurance Coverage

[HT Grand Rapids Press, Sports Business Daily]

The AFL has shut down for the year and that means for you players, no more health insurance. The league notified its players that it "plans to discontinue health insurance while preparing for a 2010 relaunch," according to two AFLPA reps cited by Brian VanOchten of the Grand Rapids Press.

The AFL Players Association informed the players as well last week that their health coverage would end May 31.

It was a total surprise and the AFLPA claims could stall the league's progress to return next season.

Grand Rapids Rampage placekicker Brian Gowins, the alternate union representative for the team, told the Grand Rapids Press "I am less optimistic than I have ever been. It's frustrating. I think a lot of players are coming to the point (waiting for AFL owners to finalize their plans) that they're going to have to wash their hands of the league and move on," he added. "A lot of them can't wait much longer."

According to the term sheet that outlines conditions for a new 4-year collective bargaining agreement between the AFL owners and players obtained by the Grand Rapids Press and clears the way for the AFL's return, it stipulates teams will pay 100 percent of the cost of (transition) insurance coverage for all players receiving insurance through at least June 30, 2009" or longer, depending on contract status, length of service time and other factors.

The AFL owners sent a memo to the AFLPA leaders that it was no longer the case.