Dealing with Inadequate Student Health Insurance

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Jason Whitehead was practicing for the Ohio University football team in 2001 when he was injured during a workout. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital, and suffered temporary paralysis, according to a story in The New York Times.

The university’s insurance covered most of Whitehead’s surgery. But six years after the injury, he learned that he still owed $1,800 in medical bills, which he discovered only when he tried to buy a car and found that his credit rating was abysmally low.

“The coach says: ‘You’re on full scholarship. If you ever get hurt, we’ll make sure to take care of you,’ ” Whitehead told the Times. “There’s a lot of us out there that get used.”

A Growing Problem

Many student athletes find that after an injury, the medical insurance they rely on from their university is inadequate. This becomes a health issue if the student cannot get proper care. It also becomes a lingering credit issue, hurting young peoples’ financial futures for years after they leave the playing field.

Starting in 2005, the N.C.A.A. required all member schools to guarantee adequate health coverage for student athletes. But the association never defined “adequate.” Coverage can vary among schools even within the same state university system. At the University of Wisconsin’s main Madison campus, all varsity players are covered. But at smaller satellite campuses, students are entitled only to care that can be given inside athletic training rooms. Students insured under their parents’ plans may discover that sports injuries aren’t covered, or that insurance won’t pay out-of-state hospital fees.

How to Protect Yourself

Read up. If you’re a student athlete, the best way to protect your health and your financial future is to read all your health insurance documents carefully. Here are some things to keep in mind:

* Know your policy. Does your insurance cover only “medically necessary” procedures, which usually excludes treatment for injuries from overuse, like knee problems?
* Keep tabs on your school. Sometimes universities are late in paying medical bills, which hurts the student’s credit score, not the school’s. You can help by submitting all necessary paperwork as soon as possible.
* Look for loopholes. Do you get fewer benefits because you attend a satellite campus, or because your school is out of state? If so, you may need to buy additional insurance.


Students who need help paying medical bills can apply for assistance from the NCAA and other athletic conferences.

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