The goal of the Athletic Department is to provide the best health care system for the student athlete. Communication and cooperation between the student athlete and the entire Sports Medicine Staff is essential in order to make necessary claims against insurance.  The information on this page is designed to help explain our insurance policy, referral procedures, and any questions you may have concerning our athletic injury coverage.

 

 

Requirements

An annual medical insurance questionnaire must be completed for each student athlete. This form can be downloaded from the athlete participation forms page and is also mailed to your home every summer. This information and a photocopy of the applicable ID card must be on file in the Sports Medicine Center prior to participation.

 

 

Insurance coverage carried by the University of Wyoming

Athletic Department

The Athletic Department has purchased a secondary insurance policy for its student athletes. The policy provides for secondary coverage on injuries that are a direct result of intercollegiate activity during a required practice or competition supervised by an Athletics Department Coach. This policy will be applied only to medical expenses for services rendered by a participant in our network and to those providers deemed necessary. The policy requires that as an injured student athlete, you first make a claim under your primary insurance.  Athletic injury expenses that occurs from participation in intercollegiate sports at the University of Wyoming and are not covered by primary insurance will be paid according to policies and procedures.

UW's policy is not all inclusive.

The Sports Medicine Staff must approve all referrals to specialists.  Failure to gain advance approval will result in nonpayment of incurred charges. The Athletic Department's secondary insurance is applicable only for injuries that are sustained during intercollegiate activity, a required practice or competition supervised by a coach.

 

Filing a Claim

Our insurance policy requires that as an injured student athlete you make an initial claim with your primary insurance. When you are seen by a provider within our network, we will provide this information to them.  If you see someone out of network it is your responsibility to supply your primary insurance information to that provider. The provider will submit a claim with your primary insurance company. While waiting for payment from your primary insurance, the provider will continue to send you bills.  Your company will evaluate and either pay or deny the claim.  Your insurance company will send you a statement called and EOB (explanation of benefits). The EOB from your primary insurance will explain the processing of the claim

It is very important that all bills and EOBs, for covered expenses, be brought to the University of Wyoming Rochelle Sports Medicine Center in a timely manner. Without this information, our secondary insurance cannot act. Once these are received, the Athletic Department will process and send the information to its secondary insurance company for consideration.

For Claims and Bill Processing

Send all requested information to:

University of Wyoming

Athletic Department

Athletic Trainer, Medical Claims

PO Box 3414

Laramie, WY 82071

 

When is a student athlete referred to a physician?

Whenever the team physicians or the certified athletic trainers determine that a medical consultation would enhance the health care of an injury, arrangements will be made for medical referral.

Coaches DO NOT have the authority to refer a student athlete to any physician except for emergency medical care when the Sports Medicine Staff is not available.

 

Which Physicians can a student athlete utilize under this plan?

AS a student athlete you are covered under the Athletic Department's secondary policy when you see a physician in the UW Sports Medicine Network. This network is comprised of a wide variety of medical specialists from the medical community.  The group is dedicated to providing the best possible health care to the UW student athlete. This network was formed to insure accurate and continuous communication between the physicians and the UW Sports Medicine Staff.

 

Can a student athlete see a physician outside of the UW network?

Yes, prior written authorization from one of the Sports Medicine Staff must be obtained if a student athlete wishes to seek medical attention outside of the network.  This authorization will be granted only if our consulting physicians cannot provide the required care.

The student athlete will be responsible for all costs incurred with out of network care without this authorization.

 

What if I belong to an HMO or a PPO?

If you belong to an HMO or PPO you are limited to the physicians and facilities that you may utilize. We request that you send the Sports Medicine Department specific instruction, requirements, and limitations that may be included in your policy. This information is necessary for claims to be processed and filed correctly.

 

What if my Insurance Information changes?

It is your responsibility to keep your insurance information up to date with the Sports Medicine Staff. They must be notified immediately of any changes. Failure to do so will result in an inability to process any claims for payment.

 

What is NOT covered under UW's secondary insurance policy?

• Injury sustained in an activity that is not associated with required intercollegiate practice or competition supervised by a coach

• Any pre-existing injury

• Conditions that result from non-compliance

• Any injury not reported within seven days of onset of symptoms

• Unauthorized consultations or treatments

• Injuries sustained after collegiate eligibility has been completed

• PE/Intramural/club sports, etc

• Care and removal of tonsils, appendix, etc

What about illness coverage?

1. Illnesses coverage will be provided by the Athletic Department with the      following limitations:

• All illness care must be provided by UW Team Physicians or the Student Health Service

• All lab tests for illness coverage must be performed at the Student Health Service and requested by the UW Team Physicians.

2.  All illness coverage provided by off-campus MD's, lab tests, x-rays and other off campus diagnostic testing will be the student athlete's responsibility.

 

3. The student athlete is responsible for off-campus illness care even when an on-campus MD makes a referral to an off-campus MD, or sets up an off-campus test or procedure related to his/her illness.

 

4.  The University of Wyoming Department of Athletic is not responsible for any health care related to any pre-existing illnesses.

 

Can a student athlete seek a second opinion?

If a student athlete seeks a second opinion or care from an out-of-network provider, he/she will be medically ineligible to participate or utilize the services of the Sports Medicine Department until medical records are obtained and reviewed by our Team Physicians. Additionally the university will not assume any financial responsibility for travel costs and services generated by the second opinion.