The NCAA has agreed to an extension of catastrophic athletics injury insurance coverage for all active member institutions through July 31, 2002.

The Association continues to pay 100 percent of the $7.4 million annual insurance premium.

The agreement provides a one-year extension of the three-year policy period that began August 1998 between the NCAA and Mutual of Omaha Insurance Co.

The new policy includes two important benefit enhancements, both effective August 1, 2000. In addition to the college education benefit, the policy provides a benefit for vocational training for totally disabled claimants.

Definitions also have been expanded to allow more flexibility to provide both skilled and custodial care as appropriate to meet individual needs.

The new policy incorporating these changes was filed and approved in the state of Indiana July 20.

Catastrophic athletics injury insurance provides up to $20 million in lifetime medical benefits to varsity student-athletes who are catastrophically injured during qualifying play or practice, or during travel related to those activities. The policy has a $50,000 deductible and provides benefits for medically necessary care and treatment in excess of all other available benefit plans.

For those catastrophically injured student-athletes who are considered permanently disabled under the terms of the plan, additional special and disability benefits are available. Among these are monthly disability, home modification and assimilation/rehabilitation benefits.

Provisional NCAA members approved for active status during the August 2000 Executive Committee meeting will be eligible for coverage under this policy on September 1. Officials of those schools will receive mailings at about that time.

American Specialty Insurance Services, Inc., of Roanoke, Indiana, continues to act as the NCAA's service and administration representative for this program.

To assist members in reporting claims, American Specialty offers a claims help line (800/245-2744), which is monitored 24 hours a day.

A complete policy brochure is available via NCAA Online (www. ncaa.org) under the "insurance" category.

Copies of the new policy also are available from Marla Gleason or Juanita Sheely at the national office (317/917-6222).