Polk County Board of Education members voted Monday, May 9 to expand the system’s insurance coverage of high school athletes.
Superintendent Bill Miller said the move stems from concern over many families now living without insurance.
“Given the number of people that have lost their job, the number of people that have lost insurance, we felt we should at least consider increasing the level of coverage we offer at the high school level,” said Miller.
School systems are required at a minimum to carry insurance to cover catastrophic injuries. This means offering coverage in the event of a student being paralyzed or dying from injuries received during school-related activities.
Currently the Polk County School System carries mid-level coverage for both middle and high school athletes through a plan underwritten by Nationwide Insurance.
Mid-level coverage provides, for example, $60 for an initial physician’s visit, up to $1,200 for outpatient surgery, up to $600 for X-rays and a maximum of $800 for ambulance services (see chart below).
Under the high option coverage, 80 percent of reasonable charges are covered for physician visits, 80 percent or up to $5,000 covered for outpatient surgery, 80 percent of X-ray costs and 80 percent of charges for ambulance services (see chart below).
Athletic Director Jeff Wilson said while the system doesn’t see an exorbitant number of high-dollar injuries each year, he believes the change will make a significant difference for those who do face surgery.
“These students carry the brunt for Polk County sports, and injury is going to happen, but we want to limit the burden on parents as much as we can,” Wilson said.
System Finance Officer Charlotte Sullivan said she’s seen several parents through her office who are concerned about the amount of money needed to pay for athletic-related injuries.
Sullivan said a particular instance this year of an injured football player comes to mind.  Sullivan said the player required a brace after a sports-related injury, but his single mother was without a job and therefore without insurance. The brace cost more than $300 and insurance  covered only $140, Sullivan said. She said this placed a significant burden on the family, and this was not the only case from the past year. Eighty percent or $240 of those costs would be covered under the new coverage option.
Miller said some families see even larger financial binds when students face needed operations.
“When you get into a surgery situation – an ACL injury, meniscus injury – which we’ve had many high school injuries that do include these, you could get into $30-40,000,” Miller said.
The current insurance plan costs the school $10 per middle school student insured and $20 per high school student insured. Changes for the 2011-2012 school year would increase coverage for high school students to the highest level.
Changing the level of coverage for high school athletes will cost the board an additional $5,000 next year or $30 per student athlete. Polk County Schools’ total insurance plan for students will therefore amount to $25,350.

High-level health insurance summary
General
Room and board    80 percent
Hospital misc.     80 percent
Registered nurse    80 percent
Physician’s visits     80 percent

Outpatient
Day surgery    80 percent/ $5,000 max
Physician’s visits     80 percent / $50 per day
Physiotherapy     80 percent/$50 per day
Medical emergency    80 percent
X-rays     80 percent
CAT Scan/MRI    80 percent / $1,200 max
Laboratory    80 percent/ $600 max
Prescription drugs    80 percent
Orthopedic braces    80 percent

Inpatient/Outpatient
Surgeon’s fees    80 percent/$5,000 max
Anesthetist    30 percent of surgery allowance
Ambulance    80 percent
Consultant    80 percent
Dental     80 percent

Middle-level health insurance summary
General
Room and board    80 percent
Hospital misc.     $1,200 per day
Registered nurse    80 percent
Physician’s visits     $60 first day/$40 subseq.days

Outpatient
Day surgery    $1,200 max
Physician’s visits    $60 first day/$40 subseq.days
Physiotherapy    $60 first day/$40 subseq.days
Medical emergency    $300 max
X-rays    $600 max
CAT Scan/MRI    $600 max
Laboratory    $300 max
Prescription drugs    $200 max
Orthopedic braces     $140 max

Inpatient/Outpatient
Surgeon’s fees    $1,200 per day
Anesthetist     25 percent of surgery
allowance
Ambulance    $800 max
Consultant    $400 max
Dental     $500 per tooth