Overview

• After a 16-month break, Williams returned at the DC Open and joked she had to play to secure COBRA coverage once her WTA eligibility lapsed
• Top-500 singles or top-175 doubles WTA players who meet tournament requirements get subsidized insurance, but those who drop off can only extend it under COBRA for up to 18 months
• COBRA enrollees must cover the full employer-paid premium plus a 2 percent fee, a cost hurdle for retired athletes and many Americans alike
• Postcareer health benefits vary by league: the NBA offers fully funded plans for three-year veterans and lifetime family coverage for 10-year players, MLB and NHL retirees can buy coverage indefinitely, the NFL provides five years of post-retirement insurance and the WNBA is negotiating its first guaranteed retirement plan
• KFF polling finds nearly half of U.S. adults struggle to afford health-care costs and many skip or delay care due to expense, underscoring the broader financial strain of COBRA premiums