Insurance Coverage of Student-Athletes
Northern Kentucky University requires that student-athletes have individual health insurance coverage before participating in any practice, game, and competition. The student-athlete's insurance should cover intercollegiate athletic related injuries and illnesses at NKU, even if out-of-network, and will be considered the
PRIMARY insurance coverage for all athletic related injuries and illnesses. All student-athletes must complete a
Parent Information Form and supply a photocopy (front and back) of their health insurance card on a yearly basis. Northern Kentucky University Intercollegiate Athletics provides a medical and catastrophic insurance program for its student-athletes. This policy is
SECONDARY insurance to the
PRIMARY personal or family medical insurance coverage. This secondary insurance covers only injuries, illnesses, and 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.
HMO's
If a student-athlete's primary insurance coverage is through an HMO or managed care, the Northern Kentucky University Sports Medicine department strongly encourages the student-athlete and/or his or her parent or guardian to change the primary care physician (PCP) to a Northern Kentucky University team physician or a local physician in the Greater Cincinnati area. This will allow the student-athlete to have a network of physicians in the immediate area, as well as avoid likely delays or inability to receive medical care for athletic and non-athletic related injuries and illnesses while at NKU. A member of the Northern Kentucky University Sports Medicine department can assist in this process.
Medical Bills
All medical bills for an injury or illness in the intercollegiate athletic program will be sent directly to the athlete's or parent's home address. In some cases, the athletic department may get a copy of the bill, but in no case will the athletic department be the primary place for the incurred bills to be sent. Upon receiving statements indicating which expenses were covered and the remaining balance due under their primary policy, these statements should then be sent (or delivered) to:
Alexa Hill, ATC
218 AHC, Nunn Drive
Highland Heights, KY 41099
DO NOT send payment for outstanding balances to the provider until resolved with the Sports Medicine department and our secondary university policy.
We are unable to reimburse individuals for payments made to providers on expenses otherwise covered by the university insurance policy. Additionally, under
NO CIRCUMSTANCES should bills be sent directly to our secondary insurance policy carrier by anyone other than NKU's athletic insurance coordinator.
Exclusions and Limitations
Northern Kentucky University's athletic insurance policy will
NOT pay toward any of the following expenses:
- Pre-existing injuries or conditions, or aggravation due to athletic participation are not covered benefits.
- Any injuries incurred during voluntary activities
- Any/all charges for medical services resulting from termination/lapse/cancelation of the student-athlete's primary insurance will become the responsibility of the student-athlete.
- Refusal to pay by primary insurance due to lack of proper referral paperwork
- Prescription medicines
- Expenses not directly related to restoring pre-injury status
- Late fees or similar charges incurred
- Bills over one year old
