Leader Staff
Beginning Aug. 1, every high school and junior high school student-athlete in Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association member schools will be covered by concussion insurance.
The WIAA board of control this week approved a policy for all of its student-athletes, approximately 80,000 annually, providing them with zero out-of-pocket costs should they suffer a concussion. Wisconsin is the fourth state to provide the coverage for all student-athletes.
“We don’t want a single student-athlete to not be evaluated or treated for a concussion because of the cost,” said Mike Beighley, former WIAA board of control president. “This coverage provides one more level of support for member schools and student-athletes in making school sports as safe an experience as they can be.”
Shawano Community High School athletic trainer Sally Egan estimated from 20-30 athletes get concussions each school year. At the middle school level, trainer Elle Kosciuk said that there are around another 10 to 15 diagnosed concussions each year.
The insurance covers every student-athlete in grades 6-12 while participating in any practice or game sanctioned by the WIAA.
For any claim, the participant’s insurance would first be billed, and then the HeadStrong Concussion Insurance Program would act as secondary insurer and assist with unpaid deductibles or co-pays. The maximum benefit is $25,000 per injury, and there is no deductible.