When I ask a parent what their athlete is covered for, the most common answer I get is some version of "the school handles it." That answer comes from a reasonable place. Schools present themselves as comprehensive institutions. The assumption is that coverage is part of the package. Here is what the package actually includes.

The University Policy

Most Division I universities carry a catastrophic injury and accidental death policy on their student athletes. The average benefit for accidental death at most institutions is ten thousand dollars. The policy typically covers injuries that occur during sanctioned athletic activities — practices, games, and official team events. It does not follow your athlete to activities outside official programming.

The NCAA Coverage

The NCAA Catastrophic Injury Insurance Program adds approximately twenty five thousand dollars on top of what the school provides. Coverage applies after the school's policy has been exhausted. Combined, the average total your family has available is thirty five thousand dollars.

What Thirty Five Thousand Dollars Actually Covers

I want to be direct. Thirty five thousand dollars will not replace a year of income for most families. It will not cover a year of tuition at most schools. For a family that has built their planning around their athlete's career and earning potential, thirty five thousand dollars is not a safety net. It is a gap — and discovering that gap after something happens is one of the hardest moments I have witnessed in this work.

What a Private Policy Changes

A private life insurance policy structured for a young, healthy college athlete can provide coverage that actually reflects what that life and career mean to your family. The premiums are lower than most families expect because of the athlete's age and health. And unlike the school's policy, it travels with your athlete on their own time and outside of sanctioned activities. Schedule a consultation and we will walk through what real coverage looks like for your athlete and what it costs to have it in place before next season.

"Your athlete protection is your responsibility — not theirs." — Marty McNair