The NCAA and the Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company have reached an agreement that will extend Mutual of Omaha's coverage of the NCAA's Catastrophic-Injury Insurance Program. The NCAA initiated the program in 1992, and the Association began its relationship with Mutual of Omaha in 1998 with the establishment of a newly formulated catastrophic-injury insurance policy that enhances the financial protection for student-athletes who suffer catastrophic injuries, as well as serious non-catastrophic injuries.

The policy with Mutual of Omaha provides up to $20 million in lifetime benefits to varsity student-athletes (including student coaches, student managers, student athletic trainers and student cheerleaders) who are catastrophically injured during qualifying play or practice, or during travel related to those activities. The current policy has a $65,000 deductible. It provides benefits for medically necessary care and treatment in excess of all other available benefit plans. The program covers all 365,000 student-athletes at active member institutions, and the NCAA pays 100 percent of the $9.95 million premium.

Catastrophically injured student-athletes are eligible for full program benefits valued up to $20 million including:

Medical, dental and rehabilitation benefits.

Disability payments -- paid monthly and increased yearly.

Adjustment expense -- up to $50,000 to pay for family training, family travel to hospitals or rehabilitation centers, family counseling, etc.

Special expense -- up to $125,000 for the first 10 years, and $50,000 for each 10-year period after that to cover special items to accommodate a disability such as home or automobile modifications.

Ancillary illness -- covers medical and dental expenses from accidents or injuries unrelated to the original injury.

College education benefit -- up to $60,000 to cover all costs of attendance to complete an undergraduate degree.

Vocational rehab -- up to $60,000 for vocational rehabilitation to allow the student-athlete to learn skills necessary for employment.

Assimilation benefit -- up to $50,000 for intensive rehabilitation programs for spinal cord, nervous system and closed head injuries.

The program also includes an increased death benefit for any student-athlete who dies during a covered event or within 12 months of an injury during a covered event. The benefit has been elevated for the 2003-04 school year from $10,000 to $25,000.

American Specialty Insurance Services, Inc., of Roanoke, Indiana, acts as the NCAA's service and administration representative for the program. To assist in reporting claims, American Specialty offers a claim 24-hour help line at 800/245-2744.

Since 1998, the program has provided benefits for more than 125 student athletes, including 12 catastrophic injuries, 26 deaths, four spinal cord injuries, five severe head traumas and three amputations. As a complete package, the NCAA Catastrophic Insurance Program is one of the most, if not the most, comprehensive of its kind.