How the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan Protects Former Players After Retirement
- dchoward32
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
By Darwain Frost
February 25, 2026
For many NFL players, the most significant health challenges do not begin during their careers—they emerge years after retirement. As professional football places extraordinary physical demands on the body, former players often face long-term medical issues that require ongoing treatment well beyond their time in the league. To address these realities, the NFL and NFL Players Association established the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) Plan, a program designed to help former players cover out-of-pocket medical expenses once their primary NFL insurance coverage ends.
Named in honor of the late Gene Upshaw, a Hall of Fame player and longtime advocate for player benefits, the HRA Plan provides a dedicated financial resource for retired players to manage healthcare costs. The plan covers expenses such as medical, dental, vision, and prescription costs, offering long-term financial support that acknowledges the lasting toll professional football can take on players’ health.
Funding and Purpose of the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan
The Gene Upshaw HRA Plan is funded entirely through mandatory contributions from NFL Clubs, calculated using actuarial assumptions to ensure the plan remains financially sustainable. Importantly, these contributions are held exclusively for the benefit of plan participants and their beneficiaries. By design, the funds can never revert back to the NFL, its individual clubs, or the NFL Players Association.
This structure reflects a critical policy principle: the plan exists solely to support former players and their families. Once funds are contributed, they are permanently dedicated to player healthcare reimbursement, reinforcing the NFL’s long-term responsibility to its workforce after their playing careers have concluded.
Account Credits and Accumulation
Eligible players accumulate healthcare funds in a “nominal account” based on the number of Credited Seasons they earn during their NFL careers. The amount credited per season increases throughout the duration of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement:
2020–2022 Plan Years: $35,000 per Credited Season
2023–2024 Plan Years: $40,000 per Credited Season
2025–2026 Plan Years: $45,000 per Credited Season
2027–2030 Plan Years: $50,000 per Credited Season
Over time, these credits can add up to a maximum lifetime accumulation of $450,000. Players whose accounts were capped under a prior agreement are now eligible to receive additional credits beginning in 2020, up to the new maximum limit. This change ensures that players with longer careers or those affected by previous caps can continue building healthcare support as benefit structures evolve.
Special Allocations for Former Players
In addition to standard account credits, the 2020 CBA introduced a one-time $50,000 allocation for certain former players who previously did not have access to an HRA account.
To qualify for this special allocation, a former player must:
Have been alive and under age 65 on April 1, 2020
Have earned at least three Credited Seasons
Never have previously held an HRA account
Eligible players may seek reimbursement for qualifying medical expenses incurred on or after the allocation date. This provision helps close historical gaps in coverage and extends healthcare support to players who might otherwise have been excluded from earlier benefit programs.
Reimbursement Rules and Plan Operations
The HRA Plan is designed to support players during the post-career phase of life, when healthcare costs often rise. For valuation purposes, it is generally assumed that players will begin using their accounts five years after their last Credited Season.
The plan also carefully coordinates with other NFL benefits. For example, in cases involving neurocognitive disorders, the NFL Disability Plan provides a separate $10,000 annual reimbursement. In these instances, the Disability Plan pays first, and the HRA account is excluded from secondary payor calculations for those specific expenses. This coordination prevents benefit duplication while maximizing available support.
Unlike traditional retirement accounts, nominal HRA accounts do not typically earn interest or investment returns, unless the plan’s total accumulated earnings exceed its expenses and required reserves. Even after the current CBA expires in 2030, the plan will continue operating until all accounts are fully paid out or forfeited, ensuring long-term protection for eligible players.
Impact of the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan on Former Players
The Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan represents a significant source of long-term healthcare security for retired players and their families. Key benefits include extended healthcare coverage, employer-funded and tax-advantaged reimbursements, support for dependents, and predictable accumulation of healthcare funds over time.
However, the plan also comes with important considerations. Eligibility requirements must be met, reimbursement claims require proper documentation, and timelines must be carefully followed. Like many large benefit programs, the plan may involve administrative complexity, and penalties exist for fraudulent claims. These factors highlight the importance of education and advocacy to ensure players fully understand and access their benefits.
Conclusion
The Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan stands as a critical pillar of post-career support for former NFL players. Funded by mandatory club contributions and structured exclusively for player benefit, the plan helps cover out-of-pocket medical expenses long after a player’s career has ended. Through annual account credits, special allocations, and coordinated reimbursement rules, the HRA Plan acknowledges the lasting health impacts of professional football and provides a meaningful safeguard for those who played the game.
Call to Action
Read and share this article to raise awareness about the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan. If you know a former NFL player who has benefited from this program, share their story and how it helped them manage post-career healthcare costs. Like, repost, and share this article with family members and retired players, and subscribe to Mr. Frost’s blog at www.sportsandtrains.com for more insights on NFL player benefits and policy.
Comments