Jump to content

Football insurers continue to get out of the market...


row_33

Recommended Posts

11 minutes ago, row_33 said:

Something to watch for in the background.

 

http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/25776964

 

 

I have been beating this drum for a while. Football will drastically diminish or go away entirely because it becomes too expensive to insure for schools and municipalities. Sure there will be some drop because more parents won't want their kids to play given the CTE issue. But eventually there will be hugely won court cases, and insurance companies will make it so expensive for middle america and below, that football won't even be an option for a lot of kids. Not without a hefty price tag at least. Even so, those white collar areas will have to heavily compete with sports like row/crew, hockey, lacrosse, etc. 

 

People won't stop playing the sport in large numbers because people are running from the head injury risk. Insurance companies will make that decision for them in a lot of places. I am fairly confident in saying that my grand kids most likely won't grow up playing football or even with the NFL. I am in my early 30's and no kids. Probably 40 years at least from being a grandpa. 

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Football played today is very different from that played in the '50s through the '90s. I foresee, in the very near future, the next major change will be the outlawing of the three-point stance. Unless by some miracle technology can overcome CTE.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 minutes ago, Mango said:

 

 

I have been beating this drum for a while. Football will drastically diminish or go away entirely because it becomes too expensive to insure for schools and municipalities. Sure there will be some drop because more parents won't want their kids to play given the CTE issue. But eventually there will be hugely won court cases, and insurance companies will make it so expensive for middle america and below, that football won't even be an option for a lot of kids. Not without a hefty price tag at least. Even so, those white collar areas will have to heavily compete with sports like row/crew, hockey, lacrosse, etc. 

 

People won't stop playing the sport in large numbers because people are running from the head injury risk. Insurance companies will make that decision for them in a lot of places. I am fairly confident in saying that my grand kids most likely won't grow up playing football or even with the NFL. I am in my early 30's and no kids. Probably 40 years at least from being a grandpa. 

This topic has been discussed, from Day 1, by everyone's favorite radio host: Mike Schopp.  He brought it up again a few days ago for the first time in a while. 

 

He and you are right.  This is not going to happen overnight.  It will be a slow, cultural shift.

 

Like the slow shift going from "colored drinking fountains" to the average American thinking that policy is insane, stupid, and disgusting.  That didn't happen overnight.

 

And the thing is, the segment of society that will be able to afford the high costs of football is not the segment playing football anyway, for the most part.  They are doing other things.

 

So the long term future of football, as we know it, is definitely uncertain.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

33 minutes ago, Mango said:

 

 

I have been beating this drum for a while. Football will drastically diminish or go away entirely because it becomes too expensive to insure for schools and municipalities. Sure there will be some drop because more parents won't want their kids to play given the CTE issue. But eventually there will be hugely won court cases, and insurance companies will make it so expensive for middle america and below, that football won't even be an option for a lot of kids. Not without a hefty price tag at least. Even so, those white collar areas will have to heavily compete with sports like row/crew, hockey, lacrosse, etc. 

 

People won't stop playing the sport in large numbers because people are running from the head injury risk. Insurance companies will make that decision for them in a lot of places. I am fairly confident in saying that my grand kids most likely won't grow up playing football or even with the NFL. I am in my early 30's and no kids. Probably 40 years at least from being a grandpa. 

 

in the late 70s high schools in Ontario were put in the grind over helmet insurance, the concern was for spinal cord injuries back then, how little we knew what was coming.

 

in addition the school bus insurance skyrocketed, remember a beat up old bus for high school sports (and driving the elderly to church on Sunday)

 

A good read, something to file away as it looms larger.

 

A pro athlete is an employee and if they played one game in the state of California they are entitled to a lot of workers comp options....

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is overblown. Even if tons of schools stop having a football program, do you think any of those southern schools will stop? In many of those areas high school football is bigger than any other sport, including college and NFL football. They'll pay what it takes to keep the programs going, and have plenty of boosters and doners to ensure it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, MJS said:

This is overblown. Even if tons of schools stop having a football program, do you think any of those southern schools will stop? In many of those areas high school football is bigger than any other sport, including college and NFL football. They'll pay what it takes to keep the programs going, and have plenty of boosters and doners to ensure it.

 

there will be nobody to insure players for brain injuries

 

especially for 30 years down the road

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, MJS said:

This is overblown. Even if tons of schools stop having a football program, do you think any of those southern schools will stop? In many of those areas high school football is bigger than any other sport, including college and NFL football. They'll pay what it takes to keep the programs going, and have plenty of boosters and doners to ensure it.

Why southern schools? Do you know of a difference that people in the south have about their children vs other parts of the country?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 minutes ago, Buffalo Barbarian said:

Thats because insurance agency's are nothing but crooks. All they want is to take your money and then not cover what they are supposed to . Nothing but legalized extortion forced on us by our worthless government.

 

 

 

the fear is another asbestos fallout situation

 

can't blame the insurance companies if they are going to be held responsible for every illness a former football player gets and blames it on playing the game

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Interesting. 

 

Every once in a while ESPN still does some actual journalistic reporting, this is one of those occasions.

 

I think there has to be some inherent risk here on the parts of the athletes.  The level of their extreme compensation in comparison to the rest of the normal population should inherently cover some of those risk IMO. 

Edited by Mark80
  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, Buffalo Barbarian said:

Thats because insurance agency's are nothing but crooks. All they want is to take your money and then not cover what they are supposed to . Nothing but legalized extortion forced on us by our worthless government.

 

 

 

That’s a reasonable opinion. 

  • Haha (+1) 2
  • Thank you (+1) 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 minutes ago, Mark80 said:

Interesting. 

 

Every once in a while ESPN still does some actual journalistic reporting, this is one of those occasions.

 

I think there has to be some inherent risk here on the parts of the athletes.  The level of their extreme compensation in comparison to the rest of the normal population should inherently cover some of those risk IMO. 

 

 

 

We all say that, and everyone has known smoking is hazardous to one's health (officially announced in the early 1960s), but when people get sick they sue everyone they can shake a stick at.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, papazoid said:

self insure

 

hold harmless clauses

Yeah, that'll work and keep everyone playing. Ask a parent to a) buy their own insurance and b) hold leagues and schools that organize it harmless will drive out players. Very GOP solution. Any other great ideas, like maybe roofers paying for their own insurance and hold their employers harmless?

 

 

 

 

 

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 minutes ago, row_33 said:

 

the fear is another asbestos fallout situation

 

can't blame the insurance companies if they are going to be held responsible for every illness a former football player gets and blames it on playing the game

 

 

 

 

 

too bad, that's there job. They have no problem screwing us.

 

 

Edited by Buffalo Barbarian
  • Awesome! (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 minutes ago, Buffalo Barbarian said:

 

too bad, that's there job. They have no problem screwing us.

 

 

 

not sure if you have a RIGHT to health insurance for playing football

 

the fear is 30 years down the road, now that ex-players with Parkinsons are blaming it all on football and suing

 

you have a RIGHT to be offered auto insurance up here, but your premium may be $100,000 a year

 

 

 

a friend was into $40,000 for his insurance due to his lead-foot, he got that deal because his father was a biggie in the industry

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, row_33 said:

 

not sure if you have a RIGHT to health insurance for playing football

 

the fear is 30 years down the road, now that ex-players with Parkinsons are blaming it all on football and suing

 

you have a RIGHT to be offered auto insurance up here, but your premium may be $100,000 a year

 

 

 

its not a right , its paid for. I also shouldn't be forced to buy it - that is extortion.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 minutes ago, Buffalo Barbarian said:

 

its not a right , its paid for. I also shouldn't be forced to buy it - that is extortion.

 

 

 

a pro athlete is an employee, as opposed to Pop Warner and NCAA players

 

it adds another dimension to workers comp and coverage for employees

 

give it a five minute skim if you have any interest, i was reminded of a few things since my last work on insurance investigations...

Edited by row_33
Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, TAinLA said:

Madden Football

 

is that where you learn to fake-work the clock down to 13 seconds and then blame the pros for leaving 80 on the clock when scoring a go-ahead TD?

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

 

I’m sure no one will figure out how to sustain this $20 billion industry.  ?

 

that's kind of blase about $20billion, it's all leveraged to the hilt....

 

 

nobody will insure it down the road

 

it will wipe out football below the pro level without insurance

 

Edited by row_33
  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We write 9 of the teams through our agency. We have the Saints in our office and meeting with the Chiefs next week.

 

This article is a little overblown. There aren’t many players but there are still some and that’s where they all end up (Berkeley still covers head injuries). That’s the umbrella market to use. The league encourages teams to carry a $100M umbrella. Most carry somewhere between $50M & $200M (Saints carry $75m). 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

We write 9 of the teams through our agency. We have the Saints in our office and meeting with the Chiefs next week.

 

This article is a little overblown. There aren’t many players but there are still some and that’s where they all end up (Berkeley still covers head injuries). That’s the umbrella market to use. The league encourages teams to carry a $100M umbrella. Most carry somewhere between $50M & $200M (Saints carry $75m). 

 

thanks!!!

 

and below the NFL ?

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 minutes ago, row_33 said:

 

is that where you learn to fake-work the clock down to 13 seconds and then blame the pros for leaving 80 on the clock when scoring a go-ahead TD?

 

 

oddly yes, but no one gets hurt, except the TV - when someone throws the remote at it after losing.

  • Haha (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, TAinLA said:

oddly yes, but no one gets hurt, except the TV - when someone throws the remote at it after losing.

 

i see...

 

i guess with perfect hindsight a team could have shaved 30 seconds off the clock before giving it back to Tom, but there are a ton of real factors involved and lots of really improbable disasters can suddenly arise...

 

:D

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, row_33 said:

 

thanks!!!

 

and below the NFL ?

 

 

The NFL handles the work comp (I think for all teams). So the umbrella is sitting over the employers liability portion of the comp (as well as the GL and auto). 

 

We write the GL, cyber, crime, $75m umbrella, employment practices (tough placement for that too), auto and some property for the Saints. It’s about $1.1M in premium which really is quite cheap. 

  • Like (+1) 1
  • Thank you (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

25 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

We write 9 of the teams through our agency. We have the Saints in our office and meeting with the Chiefs next week.

 

This article is a little overblown. There aren’t many players but there are still some and that’s where they all end up (Berkeley still covers head injuries). That’s the umbrella market to use. The league encourages teams to carry a $100M umbrella. Most carry somewhere between $50M & $200M (Saints carry $75m). 

 

Good to know.

 

Seems the sports media is intent on taking down tackle football, which is odd considering it's such a huge source of income.  I don't understand where the self-righteousness comes from.

 

Safety is paramount and this isn't the first time the game has received so much attention for injuries.  

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/05/29/teddy-roosevelt-helped-save-football-with-a-white-house-meeting-in-1905/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.45d6427d5e76

 

 

Edited by BillsVet
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, row_33 said:

 

 

 

We all say that, and everyone has known smoking is hazardous to one's health (officially announced in the early 1960s), but when people get sick they sue everyone they can shake a stick at.

 

 

People can sue all they want, doesn't mean they are going to win.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, papazoid said:

self insure

 

hold harmless clauses

Exactly; become an ERISA compliant "pool" type plan funded by the proceeds of the TV packages and potentially additional fees assessed as part of each player's contract, and cut out the middleman so to speak. As for the college/high school/youth leagues, that's another matter however. 

1 hour ago, Mark Vader said:

People can sue all they want, doesn't mean they are going to win.

Sometimes the "win" comes from entering into a settlement where the deep pocket(s) cough up enough to cut off their liability exposure risk and costs of litigation--merits of the case itself may or may not have as much to do with it, sad to say. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 minutes ago, NoHuddleKelly12 said:

Exactly; become an ERISA compliant "pool" type plan funded by the proceeds of the TV packages and potentially additional fees assessed as part of each player's contract, and cut out the middleman so to speak. As for the college/high school/youth leagues, that's another matter however. 

Sometimes the "win" comes from entering into a settlement where the deep pocket(s) cough up enough to cut off their liability exposure risk and costs of litigation--merits of the case itself may or may not have as much to do with it, sad to say. 

 

so just snap your fingers and BAM it is solved

 

 

 

what about the NFL creatively denying liability

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, row_33 said:

 

so just snap your fingers and BAM it is solved

 

 

 

what about the NFL creatively denying liability

 

 

Oh don't get me wrong--many attorneys will make a boatload of cash over many years along the way to iron out the contractual niceties this would take, and as for denial of liability, well, that's usually the first insurance defense mechanism to pursue regardless of which insurer you want to reference--how would it be that much different?  

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, NoHuddleKelly12 said:

Oh don't get me wrong--many attorneys will make a boatload of cash over many years along the way to iron out the contractual niceties this would take, and as for denial of liability, well, that's usually the first insurance defense mechanism to pursue regardless of which insurer you want to reference--how would it be that much different?  

 

thanks for your input, much appreciated, bears keeping an eye on over the next few years

 

friends think football will go the way of boxing and horse racing over the next decade

 

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, row_33 said:

 

thanks for your input, much appreciated, bears keeping an eye on over the next few years

 

friends think football will go the way of boxing and horse racing over the next decade

 

What do you think is, or are, the most likely candidates to replace it as the top of the proverbial mountain in the sports landscape? Some might say soccer, with growing demographic shifts inclined to push that along, along with player safety concerns (here in Atlanta, it's been quite something to witness the growth/crowds present for the brand new Atlanta United franchise that just won the MLS cup to boot). Could baseball mount a serious comeback? 

 

The people must always have "bread and circuses" to keep them full and entertained.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 minutes ago, NoHuddleKelly12 said:

What do you think is, or are, the most likely candidates to replace it as the top of the proverbial mountain in the sports landscape? Some might say soccer, with growing demographic shifts inclined to push that along, along with player safety concerns (here in Atlanta, it's been quite something to witness the growth/crowds present for the brand new Atlanta United franchise that just won the MLS cup to boot). Could baseball mount a serious comeback? 

 

The people must always have "bread and circuses" to keep them full and entertained.

 

 

hmmmm... maybe a disappearance of actually watching sporting events for 3-4 hours at a clip?

 

just put robots out there so people can play with their iPhones non-stop at the game and make a bet every 10 seconds?

 

soccer is a drag mostly, you can't force a superior team to care out there is they don't feel like it for 75 minutes

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...