I think I found what we get for USAT fee's

Triathlon Forum
1

I am putting this in a new thread because I think that this is important. I used to think, and many people think that if you have a USAT card, and or pay the one day license fee that you have “Insurance”. I would like to know if any of you have ever had the unfortunate need to use the USAT “Athlete Excess Medical Insurance”? This is what is stated on the USAT site.

If an athlete is injured while participating in a USA Triathlon sanctioned event the following steps must be followed: Race Director completes an incident report form. The race director is obligated to report the incident to USA Triathlon. No medical claim can be filed with insurance until this report is completed. You can find the incident report form on the sanction CD or by emailing sanction@usatriathlon.org for a copy of the form. The signed document should be returned to USAT immediately. Athletes must file with their primary healthcare provider (i.e. United Healthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, traveler’s insurance, etc.). Athlete completes a medical claim form. For serious incidents or for athletes requesting coverage, either the race director or USAT can provide them with a medical claim form. The medical claim form along with all explanation of benefit documents should be sent directly from the athlete to the insurance company as indicated on the claim form. Please email sanction@usatriathlon.org for a copy of the form. Athletes will pay a deductible. All athletes using USA Triathlon insurance will pay anywhere from $250 (two-hundred and fifty U.S. dollars) to $1,000 (one thousand U.S. dollars) out of pocket and possibly more for uncovered expenses. Coverage limitations. ** Be advised that coverage may not apply to each and every claim**. Additionally, coverage only extends to participants that have purchased an USA Triathlon annual license or one-day permit and were injured through participation in an USA Triathlon sanctioned event.

So, as would be obvious from #2…if you have your own policy, call them not USAT.

If you DONT have your own insurance (and I know many folks with out out) refer to #4

According to #4 you will have a deductable, it may be $250, it may be $1000…they I suppose will let you know. THEN, you are not even fully covered as they dont explain what the “uncovered expences” are.

AND, coverage may or may not apply to you…but it is not anywhere on the USAT site that I can find what would and would not be deemed as “covered”.

This now has me a bit more worked up as when I was talking to Tracy, who has done two triathlons…she thought that for her One Day Licenses she got full medical coverage in case of an accident. Seems she was wrong.

Is that what you thought?

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So, add to that this little number from their site

CLASS 1: Named Insured (no extra cost) – individuals already named on the policy (see above) who need proof of their coverage: Race Director Race Organizing Committee/Company/Club Sponsors
CLASS 2: Additional Insured (See fee structure below): Property Owner Facility Government Entity (excludes police and medical personnel) Venue Others as Required by Contract

We do have to insure some Police and Medical personnel. These are folks who are working in uniform and being paid by the event as “over time” or as an “Off Duty” job - though sanctioned and permitted by the Departments they work for. No less than 12 Boone County Sherrifs Deputies at Rockman in the past on race day fell into this category. It also made no mention of spectators and other park users.

The site does have this however…

Additional insureds beyond race directors, sponsors, volunteers, officials, and participants can be added sparingly and only if required by contract. Not all individuals/groups may qualify for additional insured status and an issuance of an insurance certificate does not guarantee coverage for the party requesting coverage. There is a fee for each of these outside groups that are added as additional insured.

Yeah…um, Loves Park legal had a TON of others that they wanted added. This is I am betting why the laywers told me that I need an additional rider to my USAT policy for all days of prep, marking, putting the race together, measuring the swim and run course in the State Park, training rides from the park, and the four days it takes to get the course up and ready for race day, and day to tear it all down.

The more I look into this and try to find answers, the more I feel that we as a collective just dont know what it is we are buying into.

2

That’s quality. Sounds like it’s time for a Slowman investigative report!

3

Unfortunately I’ve had to take advantage of this great member benefit. I made a stupid mistake at an early season triathlon last year and went over the handles bars and kissed the pavement face first. Managed to break a recently repaired crown, killed the other front tooth, and broke another in half. Two root canals and three crowns later to the tune of $5,900.00 and so far I’m out of pocket maybe $500.00. I did go through the process of filing dental claims and medical claims before I finalized the claim with the USAT provider so I was out of pocket just over $3,000.00. However, I had my check within a few weeks of sending in the claim. Must say I’m extremly satisfied.

4

So it seems that for the vast majority of us who responsibly maintain health insurance at significant cost to ourselves … we are just subsidizing those less responsible with USAT non-insurance (to us). It would seem that those who FAIL to provide coverage for themselves should be required to provide FULL coverage at their own cost before entering an event. Looks like there is a free meal afterall …
Dave

5

Who is the USAT’s insurance provider? Are they self insured or do they purchase insurance from someone?

Also, for Rockman, did you have to buy workman’s comp insurance? I would imagine that you did.

6

I have been one of those that had to use the medical insurance after crashing at PowerMan Tenn. Never saw a bill and USAT handled it all for me (I may have got some extra help as I was racing pro at the time)

And to the poster that calls all uninsured irresponsible, sorry that I was young and in a low paying job that offered zero benefits. I was trying to pay off my college loans (which I funded by myself) and trying to lay the ground work for my future.

Now that I am self employed, I have my own insurance as well as provide full coverage for all of my full time employees. Not easy to do as a small company paying out that much but I never want my employees to have to take the risk like I did, sorry I’m so irresponsible.

And Chip the NY State park that I produce a Tri at will only allow a race if it is USAT Sanctioned as that is the coverage they trust. Strange but true

7

I thought you were going to say “a sticker.”
.

8

These stories are good to know, and I think that the USAT needs to promote that a bit more, to both RD’s and to participants.

I wonder how New York is as compared to the state of Illinois. In Illinois you can sue anyone for anything, and no matter what waiver you sign - it is not worth yesterdays toilet paper. Illinois also has crazy high, or no limits to the dollar figure someone can try to claim in a suit.

Maybe the USAT can come up with some sort of thing like that we see with them lawyers who always send junk mail with stories*…“Rider X was JRA and suddenly a flat tire caused him to crash. Breaking his jaw and teeth Rider X was taken to the Emergency Room. Rider X paid for his USAT card and never got a medical bill”. *

The main point that I got from the city and state was that the USAT policy did not cover every one from everything. So, we paid all the fee’s to USAT (yes, this was the culmination of the $10 licenses + the paper work time)…and also paid for our own policy, more than doubling the total cost to insure the event.

But alas, it still seems that all we really get is insurance - and I can do that for less moeny from other companies.

9

Unfortunately I’ve had to take advantage of this great member benefit. I made a stupid mistake at an early season triathlon last year and went over the handles bars and kissed the pavement face first. Managed to break a recently repaired crown, killed the other front tooth, and broke another in half. Two root canals and three crowns later to the tune of $5,900.00 and so far I’m out of pocket maybe $500.00. I did go through the process of filing dental claims and medical claims before I finalized the claim with the USAT provider so I was out of pocket just over $3,000.00. However, I had my check within a few weeks of sending in the claim. Must say I’m extremly satisfied.
Can I ask how this accident happend? Was this something that could have been prevented by the RD or with a more through safety check of the location of the accident? I mean, if it was an obvious liability of the RD (such as a hose crossing the transition) I can see why they would pay the claim. But, if you were JRA and had an accident of your own accord and they paid it…I will appy for USAT today.

10

Unfortunately I’ve had to take advantage of this great member benefit. I made a stupid mistake at an early season triathlon last year and went over the handles bars and kissed the pavement face first. Managed to break a recently repaired crown, killed the other front tooth, and broke another in half. Two root canals and three crowns later to the tune of $5,900.00 and so far I’m out of pocket maybe $500.00. I did go through the process of filing dental claims and medical claims before I finalized the claim with the USAT provider so I was out of pocket just over $3,000.00. However, I had my check within a few weeks of sending in the claim. Must say I’m extremly satisfied.

Wait…I re-read. You paid for your USAT insurance…had $5900 in bills and the USAT covered about 48% of them? You still had out of pocket costs of $2900? I know for a fact that I can get you a one day total life policy for FAR less than that.

Please tell me my math is wrong.

In addition, if this was not at all, in any way, even slightly something that an RD could have had a measure to protect against…if not, I dont think you should have to pay a dime.

11

Dave should be glad to learn that I actually had full medical coverage and a dental plan. The dental plan covered $1,500.00 and Cigna wouldn’t pick up a dime, some BS about cosmetic. At the time of the accident I wasn’t aware of the coverage available but about a month later it was time to renew the license. While online I actually took the time to read the member benefits out of curiosity and much to my bewilderment there it was. So I contacted USAT and they initiated the claim and put me in touch with American Specialty. Oh BTW, I informed the nice young lady that it was for the most part my fault and she said it didn’t really matter.

The dentist and endodontist each filed the various claims with my dental provider first and then Cigna. After the claims were paid, the dentist wrote off the difference between the 50% I prepaid and what the dental insurance paid. All in all about $1400 as written off. So in summary, the total charges were $5,900 of which $1,400 was written off, $1,500 was paid by my dental provider, $2,700 was covered by USAT’s provider, and that left me $300 out of pocket.

It was the first race of the season and I grabbed to much front brake riding carbon wheels that I hadn’t ridden since the last season while trying to slow down to make a turn around that was maybe 35 yards past a blind corner. I was north of 25mph when I saw the turn around. I grabbed the brakes and the front wheel locked up sending me face first into the pavement. The only damage to the bike was scratches on top of the barend shifts. I should have pre-ridden the course and been familiar with where the turn around was.

12

More questions than answers but…
I would make a guess that in the local “homegrown” tri’s, the vast majority of the participants are from nearby and probably don’t care if it is sanctioned or not. The success of the tri, in their minds, will be by how well it was run and possibly the schwag provided.
However tri’s such as Rockman draw from a wider area (nationwide, possibly international). The question then, assuming that there is room for growth, does the USAT sanction give credibility to the race such that it will draw participants that otherwise would ignore that race.
This may be less and less of an issue as each year that a specific race is around, the reputation will speak for the credibility of the race.
If the insurance aspect is the only consideration, then you already have your answer. If, however there are other factors (measurable or not) then getting the input of this forum audience is a good thing.
But…assuming that you can order better weather this year, speaking as a spectator and helper both previous years, it was a very well organized and successful race that will grow due to that not whether or not you have the USAT sanctioning.

13

And what about: qualifying athletes for the Olympics? developing junior athletes? a voice in the sport? organized rules? training for referees, coaches & race directors? discounts on products, merchandise & services?
It’s not just about USAT providing medical insurance for athletes & liability insurance for race directors. If I fault USAT for anything is that the organization has not done a good enough job in dispelling the belief that it is an insurance agent.

14

And what about: qualifying athletes for the Olympics? developing junior athletes? a voice in the sport? organized rules? training for referees, coaches & race directors? discounts on products, merchandise & services?
It’s not just about USAT providing medical insurance for athletes & liability insurance for race directors. If I fault USAT for anything is that the organization has not done a good enough job in dispelling the belief that it is an insurance agent.
You could not make my point better…all I want to know is what we get, both as an RD and as a participant. I can say that for the one year my race was USAT, the answer was no help, no support, no discounts, no inspections, no marketing…but, I didnt know what to expect either.

15

sorry I’m so irresponsible

I’m glad you’re providing insurance for your employees … like most of us with businesses have for many years now. But the point is that we’re not REQUIRED to do so…and then we get into that problem of personal responsibility where its not your employers responsibility to provide you something you can buy for yourself …and should.
To the point of USAT “insurance” … the fair way would be to let those who are uninsured pay for their own insurance pool and let those who are insured just check a box or sign a form. Then the uninsured could decide to pay like $100 for event insurance for themselves rather than the $10 assessed by USAT to those of us who don’t want or need it to socialize those who aren’t responsible. I don’t feel the responsibility to pay someone elses entry costs … simple as that;-)
Dave