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A MILESTONE HAS BEEN SET: UFC COVERS FIGHTERS' HEALTH INSURANCE

For all the stuff people can possibly complain about when it comes to the UFC, very few can complain about what the company has recently accomplished. It was announced prior to the UFC Fighters Summit that the company now has an insurance initiative that will cover all contracted fighters. Besides just fighters under the UFC umbrella, fighters from the newly acquired Strikeforce promotion will also be covered.

Here are a few of the basics of the new UFC insurance program…

• All UFC/Strikeforce contracted fighters are covered • Zuffa Inc. will cover 100% of the premiums • Each fighters yearly maximum benefit id $50,000 • Routine medical visits are not covered • Zuffa’s supplemental insurance policy remains in effect • A Zuffa employee will handle all claims

There has to be a huge weight lifted off of a lot of fighters when this news broke out, because the loss of money due to injury is no longer a huge concern. Even fighters who do not have a fight scheduled in the future are still covered, as long as they are still under contract to the promotion. A huge concern for any fighter training for a fight was getting injured during training and then having to pay very high medical bills, that is not a worry no more.

This could also potentially change the mindset of many fighters heading into training now because they don’t have that potential fear of medical bills hanging over their head. Also, there is plenty of added incentive for contracted fighter’s to win fights because if they keep winning and stay under that Zuffa banner, they keep that insurance.

The ball now falls into smaller promotions on the verge of moving into the big time, because there is no doubt unsigned fighters could be demanding this at those promotions as well. Promotions like Bellator, Shark Fights, Tachi Palace Fights and Shine Fights has a new hurdle to possibly overcome. I’m in no way stating these companies are going under without an insurance plan, but it is something each has to now look into.

Coincidentally, UFC 130 headliners Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard both had to pull out of the fighter due to training camp injuries. However, if these injuries occurred after June 1st (when the policy takes effect), they would’ve been covered and medical bills paid. If this exact scenario were to occur when the policy is in effect, both Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard would be covered.

Either way people look at it, a huge thumbs up must go to the Fertita Brothers and Dana White for providing to fighters what nobody else has ever provided before.

You can contact David Tees at bigteesps3@yahoo.com

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