Players in the National Basketball Association (NBA) have recently made headlines for raking it in, as a new TV contract has led to massive, eyebrow-raising deals for even average performers.

Now those players have made an unprecedented decision to share some of that fortune with their NBA predecessors by funding health care for many of them.

The NBA Players Association (NBAPA) recently made the announcement that its representatives voted unanimously in June to provide health insurance for retired players who spent at least three years in the league.

“This program is the ‘first of its kind’ among North American professional sports,” the Union said.

NBPA President Chris Paul, who plays guard for the Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul, said: “The game ‘has never before been more popular,’ and all the players in our league recognize that ‘we’re only in this position because of the hard work and dedication of the men who came before us.’  It’s ‘important’ we take care of our ‘entire, extended’ NBA family, and I’m ‘proud’ of my fellow players for taking this ‘unprecedented step to ensure’ the health and well-being of our predecessors.”

The proposed program would be administered through United Healthcare and would include these features, according to the NBPA: Retired players with between three and six years of NBA service time, but who are not yet eligible for Medicare, would be offered medical, hospital and prescription drug coverage with “modest” out-of-pocket costs for deductibles and co-pays; Those with between seven and nine years of service would be offered the same coverage with lower out-of-pocket costs; Retired players with at least 10 years of service would be offered the same coverage as the seven-to-nine-year players, and would also receive coverage for their families; Retired players with three to nine years of service who are eligible for Medicare would be offered a $0 deductible and $0 co-pay plan along with a low-cost prescription drug plan; and Those with 10-plus years of service would receive this coverage for their spouses, as well.

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