'AFLPA HealthKICK' has been developed by the Australian Football League Players' Association (AFLPA) and proudly supported by Australia's largest private health insurer, Medibank Private.

The multi-tiered program, launched by Medibank Private Managing Director George Savvides (pictured), has been in development for 18 months and will support AFL players past and present, many of whom suffer long-term, poor health as a result of injuries and physical conditions incurred while playing Australian rules football.

AFLPA HealthKICK is a landmark initiative, representing a significant departure from previous health insurance arrangements for professional sportspeople. In a first for any Australian sporting code, AFL players both past and present, will benefit from a continuous health insurance scheme which features the following:

1. AFLPA will cover the cost of Medibank health insurance for every listed AFL player during the course of his AFL career;

2. AFLPA will continue to cover the cost of Medibank health insurance for every AFL player for a period of 12 months following the end of his AFL career;

3. The AFLPA has arranged a corporate health insurance plan to enable all its members, whether current or past players, to continue their cover with Medibank Private, with a choice of insurance options;

4. For any past player who participates in this health insurance scheme and who has played a minimum of one VFL/AFL game, AFLPA will pay the hospital excess costs incurred every time that player requires a hospital visit, representing a saving of approximately $500 per hospital visit (this applies regardless of whether the injury or ailment is football-related);

5. AFLPA will also introduce the "Geoff Pryor Benefits Scheme" which will provide $80,000 per annum in health & wellbeing grants ($5K per club per year) for past players experiencing particular health related financial hardship.

AFLPA HealthKICK is an all-encompassing health and wellbeing program; further initiatives are expected to include mental health support, & community-wide nutrition & exercise activities.

PICTURED

Medibank Private Managing Director George Savvides launches 'HealthKick'