NFL Saves Millions by Denying Dementia Claims from Former Players

Despite a 2015 settlement, the NFL's unique definition of dementia and stringent approval process have led to the denial of nearly 1,100 claims, potentially saving the league over $700 million.

Despite a landmark 2015 settlement promising compensation for former NFL players who developed dementia and other brain diseases linked to concussions, the NFL has saved hundreds of millions of dollars by denying payouts.
The NFL settlement has a unique way to define dementia, which is more exacting than the standard medical definition in the United States, leading to many players being denied compensation despite displaying symptoms of dementia.
Of 1,241 former players who filed dementia claims based on diagnoses from their doctors, only about 15 percent were approved.
The NFL has denied nearly 1,100 dementia claims in the seven years since the settlement has been open, potentially saving the league over $700 million.
The NFL has been accused of setting up a process for former players that is more difficult to navigate than a football field, with many players and their families discovering that the promised compensation isn’t actually within reach.