Hi there,
a couple of weeks ago I finished a HIM with lots of pain and cramping. The paramedics had to help me and took me in the ambulance where I had an IV. Now I feel much better but I am fearing a bill yet to come. Has this happened to anyone out there? are we covered by USAT insurance? What is going to happen from now on?
Thanks for your help!
DPC
I’ve had aid before and never received a bill. But, do you not have your own insurance just in case?
I thought on reason you pay for USAT at races is if you have medical bills over and above your coverage, they will cover.
Give USAT a call and let us know.
Dave
“I thought on reason you pay for USAT at races is if you have medical bills over and above your coverage, they will cover”
I think for once we agree! 
I think (and certainly could be wrong) that the USAT coverage is for on site…at least that’s the feeling I was given when I asked an RD a couple years back.
When I crashed at Vineman, took the ambulance to emergency, etc., there were lots of bills. My insurance covered
all so I did not have to go back to USAT and see if they would cover my out of pocket. But, still will
be interested to see if anyone did get money from USAT insurance.
Dave
It will be good to know at my current bike handling level racing XTERRA… 
I really hope I never need to know. Once was close enough.
Dave
If you have claims, you can submit them using the following form:
http://www.usatriathlon.org/upload/pdfs/rd_medical_claim_form.pdf
.
thanks! I also have health insurance but it is good to know that the money that we pay in sanctioned races is useful.
DPC
It pays once you reach your policy limit. As far as i know its a second level of coverage over your first insurance. Hence why it is realatively cheap. So once you use all your insurance it would kick it.
Grnat
What would it cover if a person had no health insurance coverage?
When I once needed medical assistance at an IM, my insurance kicked in after I left the med tent. All the medical treatment I received on site, including an ambulance trip from where I was on the course to the med tent was covered by the race. Once I was in an ambulance on my way to the hospital it was on me and my own insurance covered it.
I’ll be interested to know how this turns out.
Lots of times the race director pays for the assistance on site or it is otherwise provided gratis. This has nothing to do with the usat insurance.
I’m interested because I know of specific instances where the Race Director’s liability coverage and the coaches liability coverage have very large exclusions for things that seem like they should be covered. I have a feeling that somehow if you need medical treatment as a result of something that happened at a race you aren’t as covered as you think you are.
Interesting. Does USAT have something published on what the insurance does, and does not cover?
Dave
I always find insurance a big question mark when you ask questions. A lot of the time it seems the people that should know what the policy provides, don’t. I carry my own coverage that covers most everything; just in case.
If you don’t have your own policy, I would get one.
I’ll be interested to know how this turns out.
Lots of times the race director pays for the assistance on site or it is otherwise provided gratis. This has nothing to do with the usat insurance.
I’m interested because I know of specific instances where the Race Director’s liability coverage and the coaches liability coverage have very large exclusions for things that seem like they should be covered. I have a feeling that somehow if you need medical treatment as a result of something that happened at a race you aren’t as covered as you think you are.
The coaches received a summary this year that failed to mention a HUGE exclusion in the coverage and it was only when someone requested a copy of the actual policy that we were alerted to the problems.
As always the devil is in the details and the real inf is in the actual policy, if you want that you need to call the usat office to get a copy.
I thought the statement someone made here a while back about insurance companies’ job being to collect premiums and deny coverage is very telling, and true.
Will try to remember to ask about this in RD certification in Portland after nationals.
Dave
Hi there,
a couple of weeks ago I finished a HIM with lots of pain and cramping. The paramedics had to help me and took me in the ambulance where I had an IV. Now I feel much better but I am fearing a bill yet to come. Has this happened to anyone out there? are we covered by USAT insurance? What is going to happen from now on?
Thanks for your help!
DPC
I just got an email from the race director saying that since I was not transported to the hospital I will not receive a bill. I do not know if USAT is taking care of the in-the-ambulance-bill or what. I don’t know if this is the normal procedure but again, I hope I do not need to find out again.
DPC
Just made the request to USAT to get a copy of the policy, and assume it will be reviewed in
the RD class in portland.
Dave