Student Accident Insurance: Protecting Students and Schools

Student accident insurance is a specialized form of coverage designed to protect students and their families from the financial burden of accidental injuries that occur at school or during school-sponsored activities. It is typically purchased by educational institutions to provide a safety net for students and alleviate potential financial strain on families.

The Need for Student Accident Insurance

Accidents happen, and schools are no exception. While schools prioritize student safety, injuries can still occur during various activities, from physical education classes and sports to playground mishaps and field trips. These injuries can lead to significant medical expenses, including copays, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs that can strain family budgets. Public schools are not responsible for accidents on public school grounds and not responsible for insurance for students. It is the responsibility of the parents to have insurance coverage for their families.

Student accident insurance addresses this need by providing coverage for medical expenses incurred due to school-related injuries. It helps save families potentially tens of thousands of dollars they would otherwise pay out in medical expenses and may protect a school from lawsuits when students are injured at a school-sponsored activity or on campus.

Who Benefits from Student Accident Insurance?

Students and Parents: Student accident insurance protects students and their parents from having to pay out of pocket for accidents that happen at school events. It provides financial security and peace of mind, knowing that medical expenses resulting from school-related injuries will be covered.
Schools and Educational Institutions: For one, it helps prevent simple injuries from evolving into contentious liability claims. It’s also great for public relations for the insured organization. Student accident insurance can also protect schools from lawsuits when students are injured at a school-sponsored activity or on campus.

Types of Student Accident Insurance Coverage

Depending on the insurer, several student accident insurance options may be available to educational institutions. These options can be tailored to the specific needs and risks of the school and its student population. Depending on your risks and how much you want covered, you can choose any of the three coverages. Here is a brief summary of the insurance plans you can elect to purchase for your public school students. These premiums are one time per school year. (EST.) on the date the premium is paid or received by KidGuard Insurance's agency office.

School Time Accident Plan

Provides protection only during school sponsored, school supervised, school scheduled classes and activities during the regular school term. Cost is $15.00 per school year. The School Time Plan will terminate on the last day of school.

24-Hour Accident Insurance Plan

Provides protection during school sponsored, school supervised, school scheduled classes and activities during the regular school term. PLUS coverage during the summer and while at home, on the weekends, holidays, during vacation periods, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Cost is $65.00. The 24 Hour Plans terminate on the last day of summer in August 2026 or the first day of school for the new 2026 fall school term, whichever is first.

Short-Term Emergency Sickness Benefit Plan

Covers Expenses incurred for treatment of an Emergency Sickness that occurs during a Covered Activity. Requires care and treatment rendered in a hospital, urgent care or other appropriately licensed medical facility as certified by the local authorities where the Emergency Sickness first manifested itself during the period of coverage or by a Physician.

Additional Benefits

Accident Medical Benefit: The first is an accident medical benefit with limits as high as $6,000,000 per injury.
Catastrophic Cash Benefit: The second benefit is a catastrophic cash benefit which can provide up to $1,000,000 of cash payments, typically with one lump sum, and then annual payments for a period of 10 years post injury. Then, you will decide if you want catastrophic event coverage, which can add a few million more onto your policy limits. Additional catastrophic insurance coverage protects students and schools from rare major accidents that can lead to financial calamity for families.

What is Typically Covered?

Student accident insurance policies typically cover a wide range of accidental injuries that occur during school-related activities. These may include:

Injuries sustained during school hours
Injuries occurring on school property
Injuries sustained during school-sponsored events, such as field trips, sports games, and extracurricular activities

What is Typically Not Covered?

While student accident insurance provides comprehensive coverage, it's important to be aware of common exclusions. For example, injuries resulting from student fights, riots, self-harm, intoxication, asphyxiation, illegal activity, or acts of war are not covered. FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) Sports coverage is provided as sanctioned by the FHSAA and scheduled by the FHSAA. Off season practices, summer camps, club sports or outside leagues are not covered. When a teams season is officially over, the coverage terminates for that team. This program does not provide coverage for interscholastic sports injuries. The school district purchases a separate sports policy to cover students during school sports practices and games.

Important Considerations

Benefit Period: For covered injuries, there is a benefit period (usually two years) that expenses are covered within. That means, if a student is receiving long-term treatment for an injury, the insurance does not cover any expenses extending beyond two years after the injury.
Claim Process: In an ideal situation, the school and family would then work together to complete the accident claim form which needs to get submitted to the student accident insurance administrator.
Policy Details: The Summary of Insurance provides the coverage effective dates, policy terms, provisions, maximum benefits and exclusions. Please be sure to read the summary of insurance and print one for your records. If you enroll online you will be able to print an ID card after your payment is processed.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer All descriptions, summaries or highlights of coverage are for general informational purposes only and do not amend, alter or modify the actual terms or conditions of any insurance policy.

Enrolling in Student Accident Insurance

Not sure how to apply? Our online application process makes it simple for you to apply and buy student accident insurance. Enrolling online is easy and should take only a few minutes: Start by telling us the name of the school district and state where your child attends school. We’ll request each student’s name and grade level. You’ll see the available plans and their rates.

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Conclusion

Student accident insurance provides valuable protection for students, parents, and schools. By covering medical expenses resulting from school-related injuries, it alleviates financial burdens and promotes a safe and secure learning environment. Public Schools are not liable for accidental injuries during sports or while on school grounds. As a public service for your community, your school has negotiated a low cost student accident insurance plan for your consideration.

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