Proactive Plan Adjustments & Improved Coverage for University Athletic Department

Issue

A private university with 20 athletic programs was facing rising costs and diminishing benefits with its previous insurance provider. Key challenges included:

• Annual increases in secondary athletic insurance premiums
• Escalating costs for the international student insurance plan, which failed to deliver on benefits
• Lack of rate agreements with healthcare providers, leading to higher expenses
• Unnecessary fees paid to brokers and sub-brokers without receiving any added service
• Inefficient claims processing, causing delays and administrative burdens

Rising costs and inefficiencies were straining the department’s budget, limiting resources for student-athletes and creating administrative challenges. These challenges highlighted the need for a strategic and innovative approach to enhance service while reducing costs for the department.

Solution

To address the issues, we initiated a hands-on, collaborative approach, focusing on optimizing coverage, improving support and maximizing cost savings.

Our key strategies included:

• Identifying inefficiencies and providing clear communication and education to the department
• Eliminating the local broker to work directly with our team, creating a more streamlined and efficient process
• Transitioning the secondary accident insurance model from a fully insured plan to a self-insured (aggregate) plan for greater cost control
• Replacing the international student insurance with a new carrier that offered better coverage and value
• Established rate agreements for physical therapy, setting clear limits on payment amounts per CPT code to manage expenses effectively

Outcome

Over a 36-month period, the department achieved significant improvements, including:

• Annual savings of 20-25%
• A more efficient and streamlined plan structure
• Improved claims handling and faster payment processing
• Enhanced care and benefits for student-athletes

With faster claims processing and improved provider agreements, student-athletes received quicker, high-quality care, reducing time away from training and competition.

Through hands-on service, strategic plan adjustments, and negotiated rate agreements, we helped the university lower costs while ensuring long-term financial sustainability. The department has reported high satisfaction with the improved service, transparent reporting, and effective communication.

With a sustainable cost structure and improved support, the department is now well-positioned to continue providing top-tier care for its athletes while maintaining financial stability.