Western New Mexico University Athletics (WNMU) provides secondary accident medical coverage for its student-athletes thru the NCAA Group Insurance Programs. All student-athletes, student athletic trainers, student-coaches, student-managers, and practice players must provide evidence of insurance that includes coverage for athletically-related injuries. No student will be allowed to participate in any way until such evidence of current insurance coverage is on file with the WNMU Athletic Training staff.
This policy is offered on an “excess” basis; therefore, the student-athlete needs primary insurance that covers them as a student-athlete in the State of New Mexico. Under the terms of our policy, WNMU is billed secondary to other valid and collectible medical insurance policies the student-athlete is affiliated with.
As of 7/1/2017, the following Insurance Plans will NOT be accepted at WNMU:
1. NM Medicaid/Medicare
2. Out-of-state Medicare/Medicaid
3. TriCare
4. Accident/Policies
5. Any other discount health plan from other states or hospitals
6. The Sliding Fee Discount Program offered by Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS)
The following Health Insurances cover emergencies only and it is RECOMMENDED by WNMU that all student-athletes get a secondary insurance policy if they have:
*Kaiser Permanente
*Aetna
*BCBS of California
If you choose not to get a secondary insurance policy, WNMU will not be held liable for any injury that may occur and our secondary insurance will not cover the cost of bills accrued due to said injury. With Kaiser Permanente & Aetna, the student-athlete will have to go back to their coverage areas for treatment outside of emergencies and follow-up physician appointments.
Student-athletes that are members of tribes, please include a copy of your tribal identification cards.
All policies must be purchased through the entire playing season and must cover athletic-related injuries. It is highly recommended to purchase 12 month plans. Short-term plans DO NOT cover pre-existing injuries. If you are on a short-term plan and get injured, chances are that when you renew your plan, your previous injury won’t be covered and you will have to pay out-of-pocket for any further treatments for that injury. This tends to happen when any surgery or physical therapy is required.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING YOUR OWN PRIMARY HEALTH AND INJURY INSURANCE.
WNMU does not endorse any specific plan or company. You may check with the following to find the best option for you:
The NCAA Group Insurance that we use for secondary coverage also offers primary insurance coverage. It only covers athletically related injuries and cost varies by sport. Call head athletic trainer, Terra Dunlap, if you want to know more about this option. You may sign up for this plan when you meet with the AT staff in August.
-- Football $1,297/per policy year.
-- Basketball, Softball, Volleyball $775/per policy year.
-- Tennis, Golf, Cross Country $475/per policy year.
This plan is purchased and paid for in the fall semester. Arrangements to pay for the plan can be made in the Business office. Failure to make arrangements to pay for primary plan will result in the student-athletes sitting out of all team activities until a payment plan is established.
If you have questions regarding the terms of your current insurance coverage, you should contact your insurer immediately. Please be sure to note if there are any exclusions in your policy regarding athletic-related injuries. Also check to be sure your policy covers the student-athlete in the state of New Mexico. Some insurance companies provide guest passes that may be used when the student-athlete is attending college out-of-state. The student-athlete is responsible for knowing how to obtain medical service when outside of the insured area (i.e. HMO’s Kaiser Permanente). It is important that the student-athlete understand that in some instances follow-up medical treatment must be obtained in the coverage area. WNMU will not be responsible for travel or other expenses related to these services.
The parameters we require you and your insurance provider to have are:
1. The health insurance must be valid in New Mexico for collegiate athletics.
2. It must have a deductible at, or below, $1,000.00.
3. It must cover at least August 1 – May 31 (10 months).
4. You must have a primary policy that covers student-athletes up to the NCAA's catastrophic injury insurance program of $90,000 before participation.
5. Policy must cover intercollegiate athletic injuries.
Note: If you are not a New Mexico resident and chose an insurance policy that limits your access to medical services, such as surgery, physical therapy, physician’s visits, etc., you must go to your home state to get that assistance. We encourage you to look at your options arefully. Please check with guest pass policies if insurance will not cover the student-athlete in New Mexico.
WNMU will cover…
Injury costs related to athletic participation, as long as:
*The injury occurred during a WNMU practice, game, training session, or team travel.
*The physician visits, diagnostic tests, etc., are arranged by the WNMU Athletic Training staff.
*The primary insurance company has been billed.
*The paperwork for the injury has been received by the Athletic Training staff within 60 days of the billing date.
And WNMU will not cover…
*Sickness-related costs (doctors visits, prescriptions, lab work, etc.).
* Injury costs occurring outside of the sport participation requirements (accidents, pick-up games, intramurals, etc.).
*Any physician visits or diagnostic tests not arranged by the WNMU Athletic Training staff regardless of athletic-related status.
* Prior Injuries or illnesses
*Injuries sustained while substance abuse or misuse is occurring
*Charges that are declined by any and all insurances
*Late charges or charges associated with noncompliance or falsification of information
Should insurance coverage lapse or be terminated the athlete or policy holder will be responsible for all medical bills. If the student-athlete gets injured and it is found that the student-athlete’s insurance has been dropped or there is no coverage for any reason, that student-athlete will be responsible for total payment of all medical expenses and will not resume activities with the WNMU athletic team until insurance is reinstated. If the student-athlete has any outstanding bills to medical providers and has not made payment arrangements with those providers, he/she may not participate in WNMU athletics until they are resolved.
In some instances, the insurance carrier may contact the student-athlete for further information in order to process a claim. Please help them so that they can process the claim and pay any bills as quickly as possible. If a student-athlete fails to provide requested information they will be responsible for the bill. If any bill goes unpaid, the student-athlete will be suspended from all sport activity until the claim is resolved.
Coverage for General Protection
Dental Care—The WNMU secondary insurance policy is only responsible for injury to sound natural teeth incurred while wearing a protective devise (mouth guard) in those sports which it is required.
Eyeglasses/Contact Lenses—There are no provisions for responsibility of payment of contact lenses or glasses which are lost or broken during an authorized practice or intercollegiate contest.
Splints, Braces, Orthotics—Chronic injury management and or recommended bracing for previous injuries is not the athletic department’s financial obligation, this includes orthotics.
General Medical—There will be no provisions made for any prescription medication related to any injury or illness. Any charges for medications will be the sole responsibility of the student-athlete and parent/guardian.
Foreign Student-Athletes
Foreign student-athletes must have international insurance (insurance carrier has an office in the USA) that covers them for both primary and organized sports injuries. The insurance must also cover routine care.
A copy of passport with entry and exit date stamps and I-20 or DS-2019 Visa or form must be provided.
In an effort to keep medical expenses to a minimum, WNMU offers Athletic Training services which include evaluation of acute and chronic injuries, prevention of injuries, treatment of acute injuries and rehabilitation to all student-athletes at no expense.
