Hurts so good: New details emerge about the UFC health insurance plan

As was reported earlier today, Zuffa LLC announced that it will begin to provide customized accident insurance coverage for all 350 UFC and Strikeforce fighters on its roster.
The new policy, underwritten by the Houston Casualty Insurance Company, is an unprecedented move in combat sports history.
UFC executives Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White were made available today in a media conference call to discuss the finer details of -- and genesis for -- the groundbreaking deal. In addition, the dynamic duo discussed the recent changes to the UFC 130 card with Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard both dropping because of injuries.

• All contracted fighters are covered worldwide, no matter what country or continent in which they live.
• The fighters will pay nothing, Zuffa will take the burden of 100 percent of the premium. Fertitta did not comment on the exact amount it will cost Zuffa, but he did say it was a "substantial expense" and they are "stepping up in a major way like no other promotion has ever done."
• The policy will cover up to $50,000 per fighter, per year. This is on top of the already extensive fight night coverage, which is a separate policy. If a fighter is hurt while fighting at a UFC or Strikeforce event, it will not be deducted from their $50,000 policies.
• The plan will cover all fighters under contract, whether they are signed for a fight or not. Any accident, whether suffered during training, car accident or anything else for that matter, will be covered.
• This deal has been in the works for three years and Zuffa almost had it finalized early enough to announce it on the same day when Chuck Liddell officially retired.
• Zuffa is currently holding its UFC and Strikeforce fighter summit in Las Vegas and will be using this opportunity to sign each contracted fighter up to the plan.
• When the deal was announced to the Strikeforce fighters at the summit, it was received with a standing ovation.
• Small illnesses like the flu or common cold aren't covered, but they believe training-related illnesses like staph infections will be insured.
• On UFC 130, Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard's injuries were not serious and they are only scheduled to be sidelined "six to eight weeks" and Dana White stated he'd expect to have them back in "August or September."