Insurance

What about the team he is playing for ? do they not have insurance for the players?

We are just a travel team and we have insurance that picks up where the family insurance ends

I'll admit it would have been a great question before he went. Didn't think to ask.

T-S

I do believe that we are talking college players in a summer collegiate league , not HS

My bad... I did not see the word "collegiate" in there...

No Problem---incidently our HS had insurance coverage for it students

quote:

Originally posted by spizzlepop:
A couple of questions I need help with.

It hasn't happened, but what if son were to be injured during summer collegiate league play, out of state and not at school? School covers all baseball related issues, but do they cover this?

Which plan do you use, and how well is it working for you?
Anybody have feelings or thoughts about BC/BS? Other plans?

I'm sure there are some nightmarish scenarios experienced. Please share so that others may benefit. Thoughts and input appreciated!

Justbaseball would might want to share with us on this.

When you have to fill out the papers for summer leagues (they sometimes send all the info home, I think parents have to sign)you will be required to give that information. I am sure the leagues have insurance (secondary) as well.

All schools have different types of policies about how they handle paying for injuries, although they may fully cover injuries, the doctor may not be to your liking, in which case your insurance may become primary and theirs secondary. Maybe someone can elaborate on that. At Clemson we had to pay for medical fees on his semester bill, this covers trips to the health center at no charge, all meds and team doctor. No waivers.

We took out a seperate policy for son after second year for BC/BS hospitalization only and limited office visits if he was away from school. It was used once. We did this since my husband gets his insurance paid for and the family plan was very expensive. You might want to check into see if there might be a savings. A great site to visit is einsurance.com.
We also dropped his part of the dental plan which was very expensive, as the school does not require you to carry and will pay for dental injuries.
Hope this helps.

Thanks TPM. I never saw any papers, the deal was set up in early fall and son signed the contract at school. Makes me wonder if the school has it covered.

I have pretty good coverage, but out of network costs are 30%. Like TPM mentions, Son's health care costs are covered at school, unless incurred in a MVA or something non-baseball related. I'm concerned that 30% is covered if the injury occurs while playing baseball outside of school.
This is purely hypothetical, and more of a learning opportunity for myself and others. I'd love to hear from someone who's been through it.

JB you out there?

I can't speak for your particular insurance spizzle, but our PPO covers out-of-network treatment as if it were in-network if it is impossible to see an in-network provider, i.e., while the kids are at school or while traveling on vacation, etc. You should be able to find that information in your handbook, if you have one.

The teams our sons have played on have all carried accident/medical insurance as secondary only - parent's is still primary, even in college. That's only DIII though - I don't know if other's are different. (Like TPM, one of the kid's schools added a medical fee to the tuition bill for routine trips to health services - typical doctor office visit type stuff.) One son currently plays at a school where they have a team doctor for all athletes - they can see him free of charge for any injuries, etc.

We always hope they won't need it, but it's good to acquaint first time college students with their insurance card and talk to them about getting prescriptions filled, etc. Even the smart ones can be dense about day to day life!

quote:

I have pretty good coverage, but out of network costs are 30%.

pop - That is for routine care that you choose a non-network provider for. You should find your COC (Certificate of Coverage) which should state (probably in the benefits section) that emergency medical care is covered at your in-network level. Now, the trouble can come with follow up care. Your insurance company may feel that he could travel home depending on injury, distance, etc. for the follow up in six weeks for example. Also, if your son is injured in a motor vehicle accident, his auto would be primary... not his health insurance.

Each insurance company handles things a little differently depending on several factors. If you want to talk particulars of a case with the insurance company, the best thing to do is to call and ask to be routed to a "case manager". Benefits or customer service is only going to be able to explain benefits.... not really help you do anything or review a particular case.

SP,
Don't worry about it, I would assume that summer team leagues carry insurance. If I remember now what I signed was about summer team/league rules and regulations.

As far as summer ball, I would not make any assumption, in regards to health insurance. Check with the team/league. There are too many cracks in the system to blindly think if a player gets hurt they will be cared for beyond immediate ER care.

As far as while in school, Like TPM there is a Health Center that students have access to which there is a fee for on the tuition bill, it is for typical DR visits (cold flu etc...) Hospitalization/ ER care is not part of it at my Son's school UNLESS you sign up for an optional Health Insurance Plan for an additional cost which would (not speaking about athletic injuries) pay like a traditional Health Insurance Plan.

In regards to athletic injuries the University Health Insurance (for athletics) is secondary behind my personal health insurance. If my SOn did not have Health Insurance then the schools becomes primary.

Thanks all for your responses. The value of a plan like mine is decreased as the possibility of out of network services increases. For instance, if TJ surgery were needed, my son would have to go out of network to find a highly qualified orthopod. That's a very expensive procedure (up to 50K I've heard) and 30% would really have a big impact. That's where the secondary coverage becomes so crucial. I'm wondering if the school would still provide that secondary coverage if the injury happens outside of school sponsored activities, and if anyone has had a similar experience. I understand that BC/BS, while somewhat more expensive, has less out of network costs and would cover this scenario better.
Can anybody confirm that?

SP,
I don't know the answer for camps but for schools most coverage is secondary taking the financial responsibilty off of the student.
Secondary coverage only covers athletic injuries. Any injuries off campus is your dime. That is why you pay a medical fee so son can receive services at the school health center (if they have one) and not go looking for a doctor. Mine always saw the team doctor even for unrelated things (cold, allergies, asthma, food poisoning, skin rashes, pimples as well as bumps and bruises). They like to see the athletes because they like to dispense their own medication, this way there is never an issue. Some team doctors will travel on the road for a weekend away with the team.
In three years, he used his own plan once.

quote:

by szlpp: I'm wondering if the school would still provide that secondary coverage if the injury happens outside of school sponsored activities

most schools do offer a yr around coverage policy ... if you accept it & pay for it, you're covered

summer baseball is NOT in any way connected with the school or their "athletic insurance"

quote:

I understand that BC/BS, while somewhat more expensive, has less out of network costs and would cover this scenario better.

Pop - No one can make a blanket statement about any insurance company. Each and every insurance company offer a selection of policies that have different level of deductibles, copays, out of pocket limits, etc. For many people, they don't have a choice because it's whatever their employer chooses. Also, many employers are "self funded" and that pretty much determines the level of the benefits - the employers does, not the insurance company.

I applaud you for being so involved in choosing health care. I recently changed jobs but was a case manager for an insurance company for four years and can tell you that often people don't have a clue as to what they or their employer have purchased. It's up to the buyer to choose the level of benefits.... but of course the rates will correspond and that's the challenge for all of us as consumers.

So, whatever company you're interested in... you just need to talk with them and ask about the different options and for detailed explanation about the level of benefits with each plan.

quote:

Originally posted by Bee>:

quote:

by szlpp: I'm wondering if the school would still provide that secondary coverage if the injury happens outside of school sponsored activities

most schools do offer a yr around coverage policy ... if you accept it & pay for it, you're covere

Bee is correct, there are schools that will hook you up with insurance (making you think they provide it) but beware, they USUALLY do not cover athletics.

Lafmom gives good advice.

quote:

Originally posted by Bee>:
summer baseball is NOT in any way connected with the school or their "athletic insurance"

Three years ago during a summer league game, one of my sons got hit in the mouth which required relatively extensive dental work and the school's insurance took care of it. BUT! Good luck filing a claim (getting paid, really) for an injury now at the school's athletic events. It doesn't happen.

I think insurance coverage at school is just like your personal insurance--it varies from policy to policy with way too many exclusions just when you need it.

Oh, I am talking about HIGH SCHOOL summer ball.



Spizzle--Again, I think the coverage varies from policy to policy, but I believe that the school's insurance (secondary) would kick in only if the injury occurred during a school event. I hope you NEED to find out what the policy is !!!!

Lafmom,
Thanks, good remeinder colleges cover all dental accidents, you do not need a policy!

If I am missing something, you do not need to take out a special policy when your child goes off to school, your persoanl policy is fine and schools cover secondary, deductibles, etc. Mine went to a larger program so basically his needs were covered by teh team doctor. We dropped him from our family policy as it was expensive and set him up with his own BC/BS in South Carolina which because of his age was relatively inexpensive for his age and teh coverage needed. All schools are different and you can call the athletic department to get an idea of what they reguire. Ther are forms that need to be filled before a student enters and they are pretty much self explanatory.
I found all of this out this by accident (getting his owen policy) and given this info by the head trainer.

BTW, some schools will not accept HMO's for non scholarship athletes.