Steven Marrocco of MMAJunkie writes that UFC lightweight Joe Stevenson recently went to Tijuana, Mexico in order to get an MRI done on his knee, because he doesn’t have health insurance and Mexico was the cheaper option.
The former lightweight contender once had health insurance through his wife, Maia, but lost it when she stopped working after giving birth to their second son. At one point, he applied for health insurance and listed his occupation as “Fighter.” He said the premium he was quoted was more than $500 a month.
And before that, an overconfident Stevenson thought he simply wouldn’t need coverage and could avoid injury.
“I’m going to have to take full blame for that,” Stevenson joked.
Stevenson now is working with a new accountant who’s going to help him set up a corporation. He can use it to gain easier access to health insurance. He’ll also consult with his manager on whether surgery is necessary.
Payout Perspective:
The issue of health insurance for UFC fighters probably needs to be settled at some point: covering the fighters will generate a substantial amount of goodwill throughout the ranks, and it’s a sound investment for the UFC from an asset protection standpoint. However, I look at this particular situation with Joe Stevenson and can’t help but think that he also deserves some criticism.
Joe fought three times in 2009: he won twice and lost once, but also collected two extra fight of the night bonuses (against Sanchez and Diaz) for a gross total of $264,000 in disclosed money. That figure doesn’t even take into account sponsorship money or possible discretionary bonuses (though, in fairness, nor does it take into account training expenses, agent fees or taxes).
How does Joe Stevenson not have health insurance? The blame can’t just fall on the UFC, here, folks. As much as the UFC might need to step towards the middle on the health insurance and pension contribution fronts, it can only do so much. The fighters have to take responsibility for themselves.
The blame for Joe Stevenson not having health insurance falls on Joe Stevenson. It would be one thing if this were a case of a fledgling UFC fighter who just couldn’t afford it (this issue does need to be seriously addressed by the UFC at some point), but Joe Stevenson certainly makes enough to afford health insurance (if he is managing his money correctly, which is also HIS responsibility). $500 a month is high, but that’s only $6,000 per year. If I were a fighter, I would pay it even if I made a quarter of what Stevenson makes. If he’s having money troubles it is likely because he has mismanaged his money (also he did recently have to drop out of an event where he would have made AT LEAST $47,000 gross after paying for a training camp, but still). However, if he “joked” about it maybe it’s not so bad.
EXCELLENT ANALYSIS KELSEY!! You put this situation in Perfect Perspective! But I’d like to know a little more about the growing “off shore medical services” field.
What’s much more disturbing is that Stevenson has the aforementioned wife and FOUR kids (2 with the current wife and two with the ex-wife). Do his wife and children also not have health insurance since she quit her job?? I sure hope they do.
The issue of medical insurance really needs to be handled at a level above the UFC. All fighters in the US and perhaps some other places need coverage. Fighters are moving in and out of organizations all the time. If you go from say Strikeforce to the UFC you shouldn’t have to change insurance companies.
Say your in SF and Manhoef kicks your leg into the upper deck. You manage to win the fight but you have issues with your leg. Your contract comes up and you make a move to the UFC. But the insurance company over there won’t cover you because of a preexisting condition (your leg). Then what?
I am surprised that some insurance company hasn’t stepped up and put together a package aimed specifically at fighters. The premiums are going to be steep but they would be for the UFC or any other organization as well.
The AC’s as representatives of their states should make contributions of some sort mandatory for promoters as a way to protect the financial interests of the state, as they often end up covering the costs of serious injuries when the promoters insurance won’t get the job done. They could then do away with the fight night coverage and roll it into an over all health insurance package that would also cover the fight.
Yes According to me every insurance company should provide a better coverage for the fighters as they serve their life for the people. Not only Better plans but with Good plans than to the normal individual
JV,
The insurance debate also gives rise to the union debate. I’m not convinced a union works right now, but there’s definitely an argument there that a union could do for fighters what it did for horse racing jockeys in terms of health insurance; give them the power to buy in bulk and receive coverage no matter the promotion (or race track).
KP
I thought Dana WHite said the ufc would be bigger than soccer, nba, nfl..then why cant he even give his fighter health insurance lol…dana hype is just a bubble and soon it would burst…
I believe the UFC’s argument here – just as in the case of the royalties for the video game and DVD sales – is that they pay these guys enough to compensate for not giving them insurance.
It would be interesting to get Dana or Lorenzo on the record regarding the topic, though.
I don’t think Zuffa can provide comprehensive insurance to their fighters without opening up the whole ’employee’ versus ‘independent contractor’ can of worms. If they start handing out benefits like insurance and retirement packages, the government is going to step in and blow up their business model.
I doubt we will ever see Zuffa deal with non-event medical insurance as long as their current employment/contract structure is in place … and I’m pretty sure they won’t change that structure voluntarily.