Don't assume your favorite fighter(MMA) has health insurance

[RamboLiberal]

After Jessica Bednark and Zach Kirk were hurt in MMA this past week, news came out that both fighters were uninsured. Their medical bills will be steep, and calls for help came nearly immediately after their injuries. Comments came in asking, "Why weren't they insured?" It does seem irresponsible for someone engaged in a sport as dangerous as mixed martial arts to not carry medical insurance.

Unfortunately, it's not that simple.

According to the most recent census, 43 million Americans don't have health insurance. You would be surprised at how many of your favorite fighters are in this group. I spoke with fighters who are under contract with the UFC, Strikeforce and Sengoku, and not one of them is insured. Their promotions have the decency of covering expenses from their injuries, but things like a flu shot, a routine annual exam and prescriptions are not covered. "If I get the flu, I suck it up," one fighter said.

Because MMA is so dangerous, health insurance companies are not quick to underwrite fighters. Dana White has said in the past that the UFC covers fighters' medical expenses, but that they are unable to get insurance for fighters because of MMA's high injury rate.

Even if they are to apply for private insurance, just try to get a company to cover you when your medical records are full of broken bones and stretched ligaments, or your profession is "mixed martial artist." Either the premiums are so high that a fighter can't afford them, or the insurance companies won't cover them at all.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Don-t-assume-your-favorite-fighter-has-health-in?urn=mma,166923

Iowa Fighter Zach Kirk Suffers Broken Neck, Paralyzed During Fight

Iowa mixed martial artist Zach Kirk was badly injured during a fight last Saturday night, suffering a broken neck and paralysis after landing head-first on the mat during a takedown attempt.

"I knew I couldn't feel nothing," Kirk told KETV from his hospital bed. "I was just scared -- scared from right there."

According to local news reports, the 20-year-old Kirk has some use of his arms after doctors replaced his fifth vertebrae with bone from his hip during a recent surgery. Doctors are unsure if he'll ever be able to walk again.

Kirk was 2-0 heading into a matchup at the Mayhem Martial Arts show in Shenandoah, Iowa, but the injury happened in the opening seconds of the bout as Kirk went for a takedown. His opponent tied up Kirk's arm in an attempt to stop it, but instead they crashed to the canvas with Kirk's head taking the brunt of the blow. His body immediately went limp, and the fight was stopped seconds later.

http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/05/28/iowa-fighter-zach-kirk-paralyzed-during-fight/

Fighter Jessica Bednark in coma after training session

Frightening news came out of Minnesota this weekend, as fighter Jessica Bednark fell into a coma after a training session.

When Bednark took her gloves and head gear off, she told gym owner Scott Kelm that her legs felt like jelly. She lay down and shut her eyes. When Kelm noticed that her breathing was shallow, he called 911. Bednark’s boyfriend, Jay Gould, said that the ambulance then noticed that one pupil was larger than the other, an indication of brain trauma. A catscan indicated a ruptured artery in Jessica’s brain. ”Whether it came from a vital blow or swelling on the brain, we don’t know,” Kelm said.

As originally reported on WFighter.com, Bednark went in for emergency surgery at 3:30 on Saturday afternoon and had part of her skull removed. She remains in ICU in a medically induced coma.

Bednark is 5-2, and was training for a June 12 fight against Adrienna Jenkins. Her family and friends are reporting that Bednark doesn't have health insurance, and they are accepting donations to help with her care.

With Bednark still in a coma, I hope that MMA's opponents don't use this as an opportunity to rail against the sport. Her injury is serious and scary, but rare. Bednark isn't the only other athlete who suffered a serious injury due to sports this weekend. Jockey Rene Douglas was likely paralyzed when he was knocked off his horse in a race at Arlington Park Racetrack in suburban Chicago this weekend. At this point, the last thing Bednark needs is condemnation of her or her sport. She needs prayers and support.

http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/05/28/iowa-fighter-zach-kirk-paralyzed-during-fight/

The Jessica case is tragic but something that can happen, however IMHO the promoters of fights ought to be required to carry insurance that would pay for the care of any serious injuries to the fighters.

[Oregone]

1. I bet Georges St. Pierre has great medical coverage!

[d_b]

5. He's gonna need it when Alves smashes him

[Oregone]

10. Canada won't mind

And he will win regardless

[d_b]

11. I think GSP wins if he can bully Alves to the ground and keep him

there. If not, he'll be tko or ko

[provis99]

2. well single-payer insurance would solve much of the problem

Athletes without health insurance are reluctant to get help even if injured if they don't have insurance, and will let things slide until they're wheeled into emergency. If we had single-payer, they'd get medical help as soon as any problem presented itself.

[democracy1st]

3. I feel as though the agencies involved should pay for their insurance

at least she's doing better now

[RamboLiberal]

4. Update on Jessica

As previously reported, MMA fighter Jessica Bednark collapsed at the tail end of an open sparring session in St. Cloud, Minnesota on Saturday, May 23rd. Bednark had emergency surgery that afternoon. She has since woken up from a medically-induced coma, and has been removed from ICU.

Although Bednark’s memory is a bit foggy at times, and her balance is a little off, everyone is impressed with her progress and talking about full recovery. She is receiving physical therapy and was told she should be able to walk without assistance within 2-3 weeks.

Jessica had surgery to replace the part of her skull that was previously removed as a precaution. She had two seizures during the surgery. Although this is not uncommon, she will be recieving anti-seizure medication and placed on a ventilator in case she reacts to the medication.

Jessica does not have health insurance.

http://mmaopinion.com/2009/06/03/update-on-jessica-bednark/

[democracy1st]

12. thats great news hopefully something good will come out of this,but

I'm surprised how few people have heard about it. Once again corp media and their lack of investigative reporting

[dysfunctional press]

6. mma..?

:shrug:

[RamboLiberal]

7. Mixed Martial Arts

Only one 3 or 4 TV channels at least almost every night.

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full contact combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques, from a mixture of martial arts traditions and non-traditions, to be used in competitions. The rules allow the use of striking and grappling techniques, both while standing and on the ground. Such competitions allow martial artists of different backgrounds to compete.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_martial_arts

[dysfunctional press]

8. aah...

[Hutzpa]

9. In England or Canada

this would not have been a problem, this is how important

single payer or public option is......