WWE Requiring Talents to Purchase Own Medical Insurance

[Xero]

From PWInsider:

WWE is now requiring all of of their signed talents to personally purchase and maintain medical insurance for themselves. WWE will not be picking up the costs of the insurance I am told but are requiring the talents to have the insurance for their own benefit.

I heard rumblings of this a few months back, but confirmed Monday that the company went through with the decision to require talents to maintain their own insurance.

For those wondering, the amendment was presented to talents prior to the announcement that UFC was going to provide all of their fighters with medical insurance, so this is not a reaction to that. The decision was in the works well before the UFC announcement.

Now, as to why the company doesn't cover talents themselves with medical insurance, it should be pointed out that as independent contractors, the talents would be able to write off the cost of the medical insurance as a business expense.

It should also be pointed out that WWE does cover the costs of any surgeries and physical rehabilitation needed based off injuries suffered while performing, as well as any costs for substance abuse treatment needed by talents, past or present, who have worked for the company.

[Mr. JL]

I wonder how much money insurance for being a WWE entertainer would cost. I bet it is seriously expensive.

[Hanso Amore]

Probably no more so than a Steelworker, Police Officer Etc.

[Emperor Smeat]

The article on the TPWW homepage didn't have the last line about the WWE still covering costs for surgeries and rehabilitation which would have been bad for the wrestlers who don't make the big bucks and get a serious injury.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

That's because you went to the TPWW homepage expecting the full scoop. That's just silly.

[Emperor Smeat]

Well it was a Ryan Clark article so it did have a last line but replaced the big part of WWE still paying for medical costs with his usual random Click Here link that just goes to his homepage.

[MoFo]

If they are covering the costs of surgeries and rehab, why do the wrestlers need insurance on top of that?

[PorkSoda]

Haha.

If I were the WWE (Vince McMahon) I would specifically write down that each WWE Superstar can only enter the locker room with 1. A pocketful of Pez. 2. Brown M@M's. 3. Own Medical Insurance.

[CSL]

If they are covering the costs of surgeries and rehab, why do the wrestlers need insurance on top of that?

It's a Yank thing, no NHS. The equivalent of your boss paying for a new car or major damage should you need it or an MOT but still needing car insurance in case some monkey leaves you needing a new tail light or some brake pads changing.

[CSL]

ugh 'tail light', Americans of the Internet infecting my beautiful English vocabulary

[Droford]

It can be written off as a business expense just like those fucking huge buses they all got. Brilliant gaming of the system!

[Wishbone]

This is bullshit WWE makes billions they can afford to pay for their workers health care. It's good they'll still pay for surgeries etc. but I honestly don't think it's fair for them to do this.

[Juan]

This is bullshit WWE makes billions they can afford to pay for their workers health care. It's good they'll still pay for surgeries etc. but I honestly don't think it's fair for them to do this.

They need that money to pay for Justin Bieber's appearance at WM28

[Funky Fly]

ugh 'tail light', Americans of the Internet infecting my beautiful English vocabulary

Why, what do you call it?

[Juan]

Probably something queer, like phosphorus.

[Juan]

I dunno

[Wishbone]

Why, what do you call it?

lol :lol:

[Droford]

This is bullshit WWE makes billions they can afford to pay for their workers health care. It's good they'll still pay for surgeries etc. but I honestly don't think it's fair for them to do this.

The WWE probably can't because they're independent contractors.
Also, Independent Contractors cant file for Workman's comp claims so WWE almost has to cover for injuries sustained at events or else they'd look like huge asses.

[Xero]

It's not like they couldn't build reimbursement for medical into their contracts.

I do wonder if WWE paying for injuries is in the contracts. I'd like to see a typical talent contract in general, really.

[Wishbone]

The WWE probably can't because they're independent contractors.

don't even get me started on that.... :nono:

[Wishbone]

It's not like they couldn't build reimbursement for medical into their contracts.

I do wonder if WWE paying for injuries is in the contracts. I'd like to see a typical talent contract in general, really.

I agree that'd be an 'interesting' read

[CSL]

please get started on it, I wanna see you offer to buy Droford a ticket to New Mexico for Showdown in Albuquerque II

[Droford]

I think they probably have it better as independent contractors now that they realized they can write a bunch of crap off as business expenses for tax purposes.

[CSL]

Why, what do you call it?

rear/back lights maybe? not sure :o

I do wonder if WWE paying for injuries is in the contracts. I'd like to see a typical talent contract in general, really.

I have 2 or 3 printed ones knocking around only with the company and directors names changed so they have to be online somewhere

[Xero]

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[DLVH84]

I wouldn't be surprised, if a union for wrestlers formed. Hell, Jesse Ventura came up the idea a long time ago.

[CSL]

This would have been a post about why I feel there will never be a union at the highest level of professional wrestling if I didn't think the only reason you made that post was an attempt to get over the fact you know about the little Jesse Ventura tidbit. Because surely a person with any kind of interest in the history of professional wrestling, attempted unions and so forth would be very surprised if a union for wrestlers was formed.

[Brigstocke]

I dunno, I wouldn't be surprised at all if Fuliwara Akinyewfa (Masked Black Tiger Dragon III) successfully started a union.

[Fignuts]

He's right. Fuliwara Akinyewfa is a renowned go-getter.