A new COVID-19 insurance policy directed at college athletic departments could cover "some 450,000 athletes at more than 1,200 NCAA schools," although it is "unknown how many will purchase the policy," according to Fainaru & Fainaru-Wada of ESPN.com. ADs and conference commissioners "expressed interest in the coverage," which many had "thought to be unobtainable because of the potential risks." Fairly Group CEO Alex Fairly, the broker who put together the deal, said that schools "will have two insurance options." For $65 per athlete, they can "purchase coverage for individual COVID-19-related medical expenses up to $150,000," and for $85 per athlete, the coverage "increases to $250,000." The policy "carries a $5,000 deductible" and "includes a death benefit of $10,000." For D-I schools, which on average support about 500 athletes over several sports, the total cost of the COVID-19 insurance "would be at least $32,500." Schools have "until Nov. 20 to enroll." The policy is available "only to NCAA-member schools." The insurance is with Berkley Accident & Health, part of commercial insurance giant W.R. Berkley Corp. (ESPN.com, 10/23).
