TO: PARENTS OF BENEDICTINE UNIVERSITY INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

 

We are extremely pleased to have your son/daughter as a student athlete at Benedictine University and hope that he/she will achieve academic, social, and athletic success. Each student athlete is required to have a physical examination prior to any participation in any intercollegiate sport. Should an athlete not be cleared to participate, the team physician and athletic trainers will work with the primary care physician to sort through the issues. The team physician and athletic training staff also make the decisions on when an athlete may return to competition after a previous injury.

 

The following forms must also be completed in entirety and returned to the athletic trainers, Attn: Laura Gorski, via fax, mail, or hand delivery by the student-athlete. Any athlete, who has not returned these forms prior to the first day of practice, will not be allowed to participate until all forms are returned.

 

INJURIES~~MEDICAL BILLS~~INSURANCE COVERAGE~~CLAIM PROCEDURE

Accidents do occur and we attempt to provide our athletes with the very best possible care. Medical bills may be incurred when the athlete is treated for bodily injury due to an accident, whether it is locally, during a road trip, or by a medical vendor in his/her own home area.

 

ONE FIRM STATEMENT:

NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA discourages any college or university from providing coverage or paying the bills incurred for expenses related to illnesses or conditions which are not sustained as the direct result of an accident in our intercollegiate sports program. (This includes pre-existing conditions and non-athletic injuries)

 The                                                                       

INSURANCE COVERAGE:

The athletic accident insurance at Benedictine University provides coverage for your son/daughter for accidents while participating in the play or official team practice of intercollegiate sports, including sponsored and authorized team travel.

 

CLAIM PROCEDURE:

All medical bills for your son/daughter incurred as the result of an accident in the intercollegiate sports program will be sent directly to your son/daughter or to your home address, unless the college or university has instructed the medical vendors otherwise. In some cases, the athletic department may get a copy of the bill, but in no case will the athletic department be the primary place for the bill to be sent.

 

A. Submit the bills incurred to your family primary insurance plan first. They will do one of two things:

1. Honor the claim and pay all or a portion of the bills incurred.

2. Not honor the claim and send you a letter of denial. An example might be that your son/daughter is no longer part of your policy after attaining the age of twenty-three.

 

B. If there remains a balance after your family primary insurance plan has contributed towards the claim, send the claim sheet from the insurance company and a copy of the itemized bill bills incurred to the First Agency claim agent listed at the end of this letter.

 

If you receive a letter of denial from your family primary insurance plan administrator, then send the letter of denial and a copy of the bills incurred to the First Agency claim agent listed at the end of this letter. If no coverage is available, a letter from your employer with verification will be necessary.

 

C. If the bills incurred and not paid by the family primary insurance plan, exceed the deductible, the claim must be sent to the First Agency claim agent for processing. If they need additional information, please cooperate with them and they will process the claim in the least possible amount of time. It is in your best interest to have the claim settled promptly since all the bills incurred are in your name.

 

PLEASE NOTE:  If the primary family coverage is through an HMO or PPO, you must follow the proper procedures required by your plan in order for the college’s insurance to satisfactorily complete its portion of the claim. This is especially important if your plan requires pre-authorization to have your son/daughter treated if out of your plan’s service area.

 

Parents should retain this letter for future references. In addition, we ask that you complete the attached form in DETAIL and return to us prior to any athletic participation. Your cooperation in this is important area will help make this program successful in minimizing delays and accomplishing the purpose for which it is intended. 

 

Benedictine University’s claim agent:

Dawn Witz                                                            (269) 381-6630 (phone)

First Agency, Inc.                                                (269) 381-3055 (fax)

5071 W.  H Avenue

Kalamazoo, MI 49009-8501

 

Thank you for your cooperation!

The Benedictine University Athletic Training Staff