SPORTS MEDICINE UNIT
MEDICAL CARE & INSURANCE PROCEDURES
Insurance Coverage of Student-Athletes:
THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS (ICA) STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT STUDENT-ATHLETES HAVE INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE BEFORE PARTICIPATING IN ANY PRACTICE, GAME, AND/OR COMPETITION. The student-athlete's insurance should cover athletics related injuries and/or illnesses, and will be considered the PRIMARY insurance coverage for all athletic related injuries. All student-athletes must complete a Health Insurance Information / Authorization Form and supply a photocopy (front & back) of their health insurance card and prescription benefits card on a yearly basis.
The University of Maryland Department of Intercollegiate Athletics provides a medical and catastrophic insurance program for its student-athletes. THIS POLICY, HOWEVER, IS SECONDARY TO, OR IN EXCESS OF, PERSONAL FAMILY MEDICAL INSURANCE COVERAGE, and covers only injuries / illnesses / accidents resulting from the direct participation in the intercollegiate athletics program during the dates of the primary competitive season and designated off-seasons as approved by the Director of Athletics according to NCAA regulations.
104 Week Limitation on Secondary Insurance Coverage-
The University of Maryland Department of Intercollegiate Athletics' medical and catastrophic insurance program will pay for the excess of the "Necessary" medical treatment up to the "Usual" and "Customary" charges for such expense incurred within 104 weeks (2 years) from the initial date of the injury / illness / accident. The first expense must be incurred within sixty calendar days of the date of the injury / accident.
Compliance with Insurance Company Requests:
It is the student-athlete's and his/her parent(s) / guardian(s) responsibility to understand the conditions that apply to their policy and comply with any requests for information, etc. from the primary insurance company. Any delinquent bills resulting in bad credit due to non-compliance with insurance company requests may be the responsibility of the student-athlete and/or his/her parent(s) / guardian(s).
In the event that a student-athlete and/or his/her parent(s) / guardian(s) receives payment / reimbursement directly from their insurance company for athletic related injury / illness claims, the full account balance becomes the responsibility of the student-athlete and/or his/her parent(s) / guardian(s), until payment is turned over to the provider.
HMOs:
If a student-athlete's primary insurance coverage is through an HMO or managed care, the University of Maryland Sports Medicine Unit strongly encourages the student-athlete and/or his/her parent(s) / guardian(s) to change the primary care physician (PCP) to a University of Maryland Team Physician or local physician in the Washington, DC or Baltimore, MD metropolitan area. This will allow the student-athlete to have a network of physicians in the immediate area, as well as avoid likely delays and/or an inability to receive medical care for athletic and non-athletic related injuries / illnesses. A member of the University of Maryland Sports Medicine Unit can assist in this process.
Insurance Policy Changes:
The University of Maryland Sports Medicine Unit must receive any changes to a health insurance policy as soon as they occur. If proper notification is not received, the University of Maryland Department of Intercollegiate Athletics may not be responsible for any delays in payment, collections notices, credit reports, etc. that occur.
Medical Bills:
In the event that a student-athlete should receive a bill / statement for an injury / illness that occurred as a direct result of participation in intercollegiate athletics at the University of Maryland, the student-athlete must submit the bill / statement to a University of Maryland certified athletic trainer in a timely manner. Bills not received in a timely manner may be the responsibility of the student-athlete and/or the student athlete's parent(s)/ guardian(s). The University of Maryland Department of Intercollegiate Athletics WILL NOT be responsible for any delays in payment, collections notices, credit reports, etc. that occur due to bills not being submitted in a timely manner. Submit all correspondence to:
Deanna Bennett, Athletic Insurance Coordinator
University of Maryland Sports Medicine
Comcast Center
Terrapin Trail
College Park, MD 20742
(301) 314-7137
Fax- (301) 314- 8323 or (301) 314-6549
Email- dbennett@umd.edu
Exclusions and Limitations:
The University of Maryland Athletics Department's secondary medical insurance policy WILL NOT apply to the situations indicated below. This list is not all-inclusive.
Injuries / illnesses that are not the direct result of intercollegiate athletics participation during the dates of the primary competitive season and designated off-seasons as approved by the Director of Athletics according to NCAA regulations.
Experimental procedures.
Cosmetic surgery or procedures unless directly related to an athletics related injury.
Hospital room and board charges in excess of the semi-private room rate unless hospitalized in an intensive care unit.
Injuries / illnesses that are a result of intramural, club sports, and recreational activities (non-intercollegiate activities), as well as training / conditioning activities that occur outside of the primary competitive season and designated off-season periods.
Injuries / illnesses that are recurrences of old injuries/ illnesses which were sustained before participation in the intercollegiate sports program.
Expenses for athletic injuries incurred after completion of the student-athlete's intercollegiate athletic eligibility.
Medical expenses beyond the limitations and exclusions of, or not covered by the University of Maryland Department of Athletics insurance policy.
The importance of having some form of personal health insurance coverage cannot be overemphasized. Medical bills resulting from the aforementioned activities will be submitted to the student-athlete's primary medical insurance. Any unpaid balances are the responsibility of the student-athlete and/or the student-athlete's parent(s)/guardian(s).
The Master Policy on file at the University contains all of the provisions, limitations, exclusions, and qualifications of the University of Maryland Department of Intercollegiate Athletics' insurance policy, some of which may not be included in this brochure. If any discrepancy exists between this brochure and the Policy, the Master Policy will govern and control the payment of benefits.
Injury / Illness Reporting Procedures:
Any certified intercollegiate athletics participant who is injured / becomes ill must IMMEDIATELY report the injury / illness to a member of the University of Maryland Sports Medicine Unit. Costs pertaining to an injury and/or illness not reported in a timely manner may be the responsibility of the student-athlete and/or his/her parent(s) / guardian(s).
Missed Doctor's Appointment Policy:
Student-athletes who are late and/or fail to show-up for scheduled appointments with the team physician, medical consultants, and/or diagnostic tests / procedures will be financially responsible for any and all charges resulting from the missed appointment. In addition, the student-athlete will be responsible for rescheduling the appointment and providing his / her own transportation.
Contact Lens Policy:
Student-athletes in need of an eye exam and/or contact lenses during the student-athlete's competitive in-season will be referred to Chapel Opticians by a member of the University of Maryland Sports Medicine Unit. If applicable, student-athletes will receive an applicable supply of contact lenses. One (1) pair of lenses will be kept by the student-athlete's certified athletic trainer in case of an emergency. Student-athletes may not:
Schedule an appointment without prior authorization and the proper referral from a member of the University of Maryland Sports Medicine Unit;
Receive colored and/or novelty contact lenses;
Receive glasses / sunglasses in lieu of contact lenses; and/or
Receive more than a six-month supply of contact lenses at any one time.
"Out-of-town" Physical Therapy / Rehabilitation Procedures:
At times, it may be necessary for a student-athlete to utilize an "out-of-town" physical therapy facility. In such situations, permission must be granted from the Assistant Athletic Director- Sports Medicine and/or his designee. Such referrals must come from a member of the University of Maryland Sports Medicine Unit. If a student-athlete decides to utilize physical therapy / rehabilitation services without the authorization of a member of the University of Maryland Sports Medicine Unit, the student-athlete and/or the student athlete's parent(s) / guardian(s) will be financially responsible for any and all medical bills incurred.
Physician Referrals / Consultations:
The University of Maryland Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Sports Medicine Unit have fostered positive relationships with many medical providers in the Washington, DC and Baltimore metropolitan areas who have consistently provided high quality service to University of Maryland student-athletes. Members of the University of Maryland Sports Medicine Unit will refer student-athletes to these providers, unless extenuating circumstances necessitate a different provider. Student-athletes with HMO policies are strongly encouraged to have a local primary care physician (PCP), so that timely care can be given.
All student-athletes must be seen and evaluated by a member of the University of Maryland certified athletic trainer before a referral to a physician will be made. A member of the University of Maryland Sports Medicine Unit must authorize and properly refer all student-athletes to see a physician or medical consultant, and/or for diagnostic tests. If a student-athlete decides to see a physician / medical consultant, and/or undergo a diagnostic test WITHOUT prior authorization / referral from a member of the University of Maryland Sports Medicine Unit, the student-athlete and/or the student athlete's parent(s) / guardian(s) will be financially responsible for any and all medical bills incurred.
Orthopedic and/or Medical Second Opinions:
If a student-athlete and/or his/her parent(s) / guardian(s) desire another physician's opinion on an orthopedic and/or medical injury / illness, a University of Maryland certified athletic trainer will make arrangements for the second opinion with a qualified local physician. If a student-athlete decides to see an orthopedic and/or medical physician without the authorization of a member of the University of Maryland Sports Medicine Unit, the student-athlete and/or the student athlete's parent(s) / guardian(s) will be financially responsible for any and all medical bills incurred.
Dental Care:
Custom molded mouthpieces will be fitted for student-athletes participating in high-risk sports (e.g. football, basketball, lacrosse, field hockey, etc.) and other student-athletes who express a desire for them.
The University of University of Maryland Athletics Department's medical insurance program will assume financial responsibility for dental care resulting from the direct participation in the intercollegiate athletics program as approved by the Director of Athletics according to NCAA regulations. As with other injuries, this insurance is SECONDARY to, or in excess of, personal family medical insurance coverage.
The University of Maryland Athletics Department and its medical and catastrophic insurance program WILL NOT assume financial responsibility for dental injuries, head and facial injuries, and/or mild traumatic brain injuries (concussions) if the student-athlete is not properly wearing his/her required mouthpiece at the time of injury. Medical bills associated with such injuries will be the sole responsibility of the student-athlete and/or his/her parent(s) / guardian(s).
CVS Pharmacy:
The University of Maryland Sports Medicine Unit will utilize CVS- College Park Pharmacy for ALL student-athlete prescriptions.
CVS- College Park Pharmacy
7300 Washington - Baltimore Blvd.
College Park, MD 20740
(301) 277-6114
(301) 699-8442 store
Fax- (301) 277-2281
Monday - Friday- 8:00am - 10:00pm
Saturday - Sunday- 8:00am - 6:00pm
All student-athlete prescriptions that will be paid by the University of Maryland Department of Intercollegiate Athletics must be filled at the CVS- College Park Pharmacy.
Student-Athlete prescriptions obtained from the University Health Center Pharmacy and/or other pharmacy without prior authorization from the Assistant Athletic Director- Sports Medicine WILL NOT be paid for by the University of Maryland Sports Medicine Unit.
All prescription requests must be authorized by a member of the University of Maryland Sports Medicine Unit. Unauthorized prescriptions will not be paid for by the University of Maryland Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
