Helping cover clinical costs
Liberty offers new insurance policy to assist students in case of an accident
Liberty University residential students now have a $10,000 accidental injury insurance policy through the school, which took effect August 2015, according to Director of Risk Management for Liberty Robert Wells.
Only offered during the school year, the policy comes into effect when the student’s primary insurance does not cover the expenses, when there are copayments or when student bills are below their deductible, according to liberty.edu. Liberty is working with A-G Administrators Inc. and KSI Consulting, LLC. in order to provide the insurance, according to liberty.edu.
Wells said Liberty reviewed several insurance providers and received multiple quotes before deciding on KSI Consulting to provide the insurance.
“This company was highly touted by other colleges and universities,” Wells said. “We felt it was the right match for us.”
However, there are stipulations to the coverage. “It’s not for a sickness,” Wells said. “As long as it is an accidental injury, it’s going to be covered up to the $10,000.”
The policy costs the university $18 a student for this current school year, and is offered for all undergraduate and graduate residential students. The cost for next year will depend on the loss experienced this year. According to Wells, if it is a good year he hopes to not have to increase costs.
Serious consideration for the plan began in the summer of 2015. However, this was not the first time Wells spoke with Liberty administration about the plan.
“We started looking at it about two years ago,” Wells said. “This summer we presented it to President Falwell to get his support, and he approved moving forward with it for the fall semester.”
Several students have already benefited from the coverage this semester. Wells said that many had been club and intramural sports related injuries. However, some were simply everyday accidents.
Senior Jake Beerel was enthusiastic for the coverage in light of injuries he sustained in a Liberty bus accident the spring of 2013.
“This accident policy is the best idea,” Beerel said. “(If it was in place then) it would have sped up the process of paying my medical bills and … more quickly satisfied all parties involved.”
Wells hoped the coverage will alleviate financial worries for students in case of emergency and that students will takeadvantage of it.
“We want students to be aware of it,” Wells said. “We want students to utilize it because it’s here for them. If you have an accident, we want you to use it.”
STEPTOE is a news reporter.