National Football League

NFL writes to players' agents about insurance

Published Feb. 3, 2011 7:14 p.m. ET

foxsports

The NFL has sent a letter to agents to explain what players will need to do to make sure their health insurance coverage continues if there is a lockout.

Dennis Curran, NFL senior vice president of labor litigation and policy, wrote to agents Thursday, saying that under the federal law known as COBRA, players can continue existing medical coverage for themselves and their families for up to 18 months.

''The insurance can be paid for by the player or the NFLPA,'' Curran said in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press.

The letter was sent a day after an arbitrator denied a grievance by the NFL Players Association that sought to make teams pay health insurance premiums for active players after the current labor deal expires next month.