2004-05
Athletes and Officials
Catastrophic Accident Medical Insurance
Since the 1970-71 school year, the Michigan High School Athletic
Association has provided participants at each member school and all registered
officials with insurance that is intended to help pay catastrophic excess
accident medical bills to administer to injuries sustained in athletic activities
under MHSAA jurisdiction. Here are the traditional features:
Coverage is provided for grades 7-12 for all students accidentally injured
while students are engaged in interscholastic athletic activities under the
jurisdiction of the Michigan High School Athletic Association; namely: baseball,
basketball (boys and girls), bowling (boys and girls), cross country (boys
and girls), football, golf (boys and girls), gymnastics (girls), competitive
cheer (girls), ice hockey, lacrosse (boys and girls), soccer (boys and girls),
softball (girls), alpine skiing (boys and girls), swimming and diving (boys
and girls), tennis (boys and girls), track and field (boys and girls), volleyball
(girls), and wrestling.
All students who participate in interscholastic athletic activities are covered
provided their names are listed on the Master Eligibility List of the school
for that sport season. Ineligible student athletes are not covered even if
listed. Student athletes are covered while traveling directly to and from
a scheduled event as a representative of the school in a school vehicle or
private vehicle designated by the school as school transportation and while
participating in an activity under the direct supervision of a full-time
school employee or coach designated by the school acting within the scope
of his/her coaching duties in those sports regulated by the MHSAA.
Officials must be on the premises of the contest to be covered under the
policy.
Sideline cheerleaders are covered while traveling directly to and from interscholastic
athletic events as a representative of the school in a school vehicle or
private vehicle designated by the school as school transportation, and while
cheering at interscholastic athletic events under the direct supervision
of a full-time school employee or coach designated by the school.
Sideline
cheerleaders are not covered during practice or while traveling to and from
or participating in cheerleading jamborees, festivals, camps, or competitions.
MHSAA Catastrophic Accident Medical Insurance does NOT cover ANY
out-of-season activities or any activities occurring beyond the mileage limits
of Regulation II, Section 6, Interpretation 169, even if those activities
are not expressly prohibited by the MHSAA.
This coverage is provided at no cost to the eligible athletes of MHSAA member
schools and to registered officials. The MHSAA is the policyholder and pays
the premium for this layer of catastrophic accident medical coverage. It
will pay for $250,000 in medical expenses after a deductible of $25,000
in paid medical expenses per claim has been met. The MHSAA arranged program
will then pay medical expenses above the $25,000 deductible left unpaid by
the parents' or official's insurance or any other sources such as school
purchased insurance.
A payment of a catastrophic cash benefit of $50,000 will be made if a covered
person is paralyzed or in a coma within 180 days after the accident. Payment
will not be made until a physician certifies that, after a 12-month waiting
period, the injury is permanent and irreversible. This payment is in addition
to those payments already covered for medical expenses.
The first medical expense must be incurred within 26 weeks after the date
of the accident. The $25,000 deductible must be met within 2 years of the
date of the accident. An accidental death or dismemberment benefit of $10,000
is paid if either event occurs within 2 years of the injury. After 2 years,
the amount of the benefit decreases to $7,500.
The Claims Administrators' names, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses
are:
Courtney Mantone, 800-350-8005 x 8314, courtney@bollingerinsurance.com
or
Alice Negron, 800.350.8005 x 1041, alice@bollingerinsurance.com
Sport Claims, BOLLINGER INSURANCE, P.O. Box 390, Short Hills,
NJ 07078
MAKE SURE ALL HIGH SCHOOLS AND JUNIOR HIGH/MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN YOUR DISTRICT
ARE DESIGNATED BY YOUR BOARD OF EDUCATION AS MHSAA MEMBER SCHOOLS SO ATHLETES
ON BOTH LEVELS ARE COVERED BY THIS MHSAA-PURCHASED PLAN