An NCAA-sponsored initiative that offers basic accident insurance to cover student-athlete medical expenses is inviting member institutions to request a proposal for coverage using an online form -- and to consider joining more than 80 schools that already are enrolled as group members as the program’s third year approaches.

Information about the initiative is now available through a 12 1/2-minute video (viewable here) that describes attributes of the program and features comments about its benefits and services by administrators at participating institutions.

“The feedback on the program has been so favorable that the Association felt it would be beneficial to have several representatives discuss their experiences within the NCAA program,” said Juanita Sheely, NCAA assistant director for travel and insurance. “We hope directors of athletics, head athletics trainers and others interested in basic accident coverage will take a few moments to view the video, to see what their counterparts are saying about the NCAA program.”

The video features Dwayne Beam, head athletic trainer at Coastal Carolina; Alice Buchanan, associate director of sports medicine and insurance coordinator at Richmond; Steve Bushee, assistant director of athletics/sports medicine at Boston College; Andy Massey, head athletic trainer at Tulane; and Jason Prather, director of athletic training at East Central (Oklahoma).

The NCAA Group Basic Accident Medical Program employs a best-practices approach to cutting costs of insuring student-athletes and strives to cut down on paperwork and pay claims quickly in covering student-athletes up to the $75,000 deductible of the Association’s catastrophic-injury insurance program.

The program works in cooperation with its participants to maximize discounts with medical-service providers, cap insurance company profits and better manage costs associated with athletics injuries, while providing such services as online claims management.

The program is a partnership involving the NCAA; American Specialty Insurance and Risk Management Services, the Association’s longtime insurance and risk management administrator; Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company, which provides claims management services; and Summit America Insurance Services, which specializes in providing basic accident insurance plans to fit institutions’ needs.

Using an online form, institutions can begin the process of obtaining a formal proposal for coverage. After the form is completed, an NCAA program consultant will contact the institution to assist further in developing the proposal (which will require institutions to submit loss reports generated by an insurance carrier for four years beginning in 2004-05) and to answer questions about the program.

There is no cost or obligation to request a formal proposal.

Further information about the program also can be obtained by calling 866/528-6222, or via email at ncaa@summitamerica-ins.com.