COLUMBUS – The start of a new school year means new seasons for student-athletes and a fresh crop of sports-related injuries and health-insurance claims for thousands of families across Ohio.
Each year more than 2.6 million children ages 19 and under across the nation visit emergency rooms for sport and recreation injuries, according to the Ohio Department of Insurance, citing data from Safe Kids Worldwide.
Ohio Insurance Director and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor recommends parents know what their insurance plan covers when it comes to injuries suffered on the athletic field or court.
Steps to take to minimize health coverage surprises:
Parents with employer-provided health insurance request human resources assistance to learn policy benefits and what could be added.
Follow similar steps if you secured insurance elsewhere, such as through an agent.
Contact your child’s school athletic department or sports association to understand their coverage and how it may interplay with your child’s health insurance.
-Source: Ohio Dept. of Insurance
They may be able to submit claims through the school or organization where their child is enrolled. The Ohio High School Athletic Association’s catastrophic accident insurance covers approximately 350,000 eligible student athletes in grades 7-12, Taylor said.