Parent's Letter

To the Parents of Spartanburg Methodist College Intercollegiate Athletes:


(Download this letter)

We are extremely pleased to have your son/daughter as a student-athlete at Spartanburg Methodist College and hope he/she will achieve academic, social, and athletic success.  Here are a few reminders regarding injuries, medical bills, insurance coverage, and claim procedures.

While the Sports Medicine Department attempts to provide your son/daughter with the very best possible care, injuries may happen where it is necessary for the student-athlete to be seen by an outside source.  Medical bills may accrue when the athlete is treated by an outside source for bodily injury due to an accident, whether he/she is on campus, at an away sporting contest, or seen by a medical care provider in his/her home area.

ONE FIRM STATEMENT: The NJCAA discourages any college from providing coverage or paying bills incurred for expenses related to illnesses or conditions which are not sustained as the direct result of an accident in our intercollegiate sports program.  (This includes pre-existing conditions and non-athletic injuries).


INSURANCE COVERAGE: Spartanburg Methodist College athletic accident insurance policy is meant to cover deductibles and co-pays that is typically a requirement of primary insurance.  It is not a substitute for primary insurance.  The excess policy will assist in covering accidents, which occur during games, organized practices, and travel.  Any student without a primary health insurance policy will be ineligible to participate in the sports program at SMC.


CLAIM PROCEDURE:    

All medical bills for your son/daughter incurred as the result of an accident in the intercollegiate sports program will be sent directly to your home address, or to the source of primary insurance coverage.  In some cases, the Sports Medicine Department may get a copy of the bill, but in no case will the Sports Medicine Department serve as the primary billing address.

  1. First, submit the bills incurred to your personal, family or employer group coverage or plan.
  2. If there remains a balance after personal, family or employer group insurance or plan has contributed towards the claim, send a copy of Explanation of Benefits form from the personal insurance company and an itemized bill from the physician to the College’s Sports Medicine Department.
  3. Finally, if the bills incurred are not completely paid by personal, family, or employer group insurance or plan, the claim will be sent from the Sports Medicine Department to our insurance carrier.


Please retain this letter for future reference.  While we all want our student-athletes to have a rewarding and injury-free season, accidents and injuries will occur. Review and complete the attached forms in their entirety.  Please return the completed forms along with a current photocopy of the student-athlete’s insurance card to the Sports Medicine Department to be kept on file.  Receipt of all forms and/or copies is required prior to athletic participation in any organized practice or contest.  Your prompt cooperation is greatly appreciated and will help make this program successful in minimizing delays and accomplishing the purpose for which it is intended.


Thank you for your cooperation.