NOTE TO PARENTS AND STUDENT-ATHLETES
In-Season Injuries/Illnesses (including non-traditional)
All injuries that occur should be reported to the athletic training staff as they occur. The Certified Athletic Trainer will evaluate the injury and take appropriate action in regard to treatment or referral. If there is a situation where a certified athletic trainer is not available then the athlete must notify them as soon as it is reasonably possible.
Alma College provides SECONDARY insurance coverage for athletic injuries resulting from accidents that occur during competition and supervised practice. Failure to notify the Athletic Training staff prior to seeking medical care will void the Alma College insurance coverage. The student-athlete is ultimately responsible for ALL medical bills. It is critical that any information requested by Alma College, the Student Insurance Company, or any provider of medical services, be provided immediately upon request. Incomplete information or failure to provide the requested information may cause delays in payment and could have a negative effect upon the student-athletes credit rating.
Out-of-Season Injuries/Illnesses
Student-athletes are not required to check with the athletic training staff prior to receiving treatment for an injury or illness, however the training room and its services are still available for use during the academic year. During out-of-season competition or practice the student-athlete is responsible for any and all costs incurred in the treatment of injuries and illnesses.
Emergency Treatment
In the event of an emergency or if the injury/illness is life-threatening, call 9-1-1 or go directly to the hospital. Notify the Certified Athletic Trainer or this injury/illness as soon as it is possible.
Information Regarding Physical Exams and Clearance for Participation
Alma College's policy for athletes to participate in an intercollegiate sport requires that each student-athlete have a completed and current physical, health history, insurance information and consent form on file in the athletic training office BEFORE you may begin practicing with your respective team. It is also REQUIRED that each student-athlete have a primary insurance policy. Alma College provides SECONDARY COVERAGE ONLY. If you do not have a primary insurance policy thru your parents, you must purchase a primary insurance policy individually. When doing this, PLEASE make sure it will cover intercollegiate athletics. If you need assistance in purchasing an insurance plan, please call the athletic training office at 989-463-7288 and we will send you additional information.
The current forms are available and downloadable below for your convenience. Please send them to: Alma College Athletic Training, 614 W. Superior St., Alma, MI 48801 once they are completely filled out.
Insurance
1. Coverage
Alma College provides secondary athletic accident coverage
for all student-athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics. An
accident is defined as an unexpected, sudden, and definable event,
which is the direct cause of bodily injury independent of any illness,
prior injury, or congenital disposition. Coverage is NOT provided for
medical expenses resulting from illness, disease, or conditions
unrelated to accidental bodily injury. Pre-existing conditions,
out-of-season injuries, injuries that occur in-season that are not
directly related to competition or supervised practice (intramurals,
conditioning class, etc) or routine medical care (illness, dental or
eye care, etc) are not covered.
For other policy exclusions, please contact Cheri Daniels at 989-463-7288 or daniels@alma.edu.
2. Procedures
- If a student-athlete is accidentally injured during competition or supervised practice and generates medical expenses associated with the accident, all claims must first be filed with the student's or parents' personal (primary) insurance company.
- If a balance remains after the personal insurance company has paid its maximum, that balance can be submitted to the school's insurance company.
- If the expense is covered, the school's insurance company will pay the balance of the eligible medical expenses up to the maximum of the policy.
- If the primary family coverage is through an HMO or PPO the proper
procedures required by that plan must be followed in order for the
school's insurance to satisfactorily complete its portion of the claim.
This is especially important if the plan requires pre-authorization to
have the student-athlete treated out of the plan's network or service
area.
3. Submitting Claims to Alma College
To pay the balance of the bill, the student-athlete must submit the bill to the Head Athletic Trainer along with a copy of the EOB (explanation of benefits) from their insurance company showing that the personal insurance has already paid its maximum.
Please submit bills to: Head Athletic Trainer, 614 W. Superior St., Alma, MI 48801.
For any questions, please call 989-463-7288 or email at daniels@alma.edu.
For additional information relating to insurance coverage and claim procedures, please download the following document:
