| Question #1: |
Who is eligible to be covered by the school insurance plan? |
| Answer: |
The school insurance plan is available only to students enrolled in the Polk County School District in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade. The plan is also available for students attending the vocational technical schools and ‘Before and After-School’ programs that are sponsored and directly supervised by the Polk County School Board. No claims can be paid for ineligible students. Some Charter and private schools in Polk County may have registered to be eligible to participate in this program. Check with your principal’s office to determine if your Charter or private school has enrolled as a participating school.
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| Question #2: |
Does this mean that the school will pay for all medical expenses due to a school related injury? |
| Answer: |
NO! The insurance policy was purchased by the school as a public service to help families of injured students pay for some of the medical bills related to school injuries. Florida schools are not required by law to purchase medical insurance for students. Accidents that happen at school are generally not the fault of the school. The insurance plan purchased by the school pays limited benefits based on the policy schedule. Doctors and hospitals are free to set and charge their own fees. Medical service charges may be more than the insurance benefits available from the school policy. The school cannot accept responsibility for paying medical bills for students.
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| Question #3: |
What does the school insurance plan cover? |
| Answer: |
A detailed description of the benefits, limitations, exclusions, terms and 24 Hour Extended Coverage option is provided in a descriptive insurance brochure available through your school. Or, you can download the insurance brochure from this website.
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| Question #4: |
What is the difference between the Schooltime Plan and the 24 Hour Extended Coverage Accident Insurance Plan? |
| Answer: |
Polk County School Board purchases insurance protection for accidents occurring only during school related activities during the regular school term. The cost of the school time protection is paid for by the Polk County School Board.
The 24-Hour Extended Coverage Accident Insurance Plan provides additional protection for students seven days a week, while students are at home or anywhere in the USA, on the weekends, during holidays and vacation periods and the 2009 summer months, 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Parents have the option to purchase the 24 Hour Extended Coverage Plan for eligible students for a one time cost of $40.00 per student.
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| Question #5: |
Why should I buy the 24 Hour coverage? |
| Answer: |
Active children frequently are involved in accidents that can result in costly medical treatment expense. Purchasing the 24 Hour Extended Coverage insurance program is a cost effective way to help pay doctor, hospital and other medical bills due to accidental injuries that occur away from school. The 24-Hour Basic Accident Insurance Plan provides protection for students 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while students are at home, on the weekends, during holidays and vacation periods and the 2009 summer months, 24-hours a day, seven days a week. The cost is a one time charge of only $40.00.
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| Question #6: |
Does the school insurance plan or 24 Hour Extended Coverage option cover medical expenses due to illness or sickness? |
| Answer: |
No benefits are payable for any form of a sickness, illness or disease. The insurance is designed to cover accidental injuries. Please read the insurance brochure for complete details.
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| Question #7: |
Does the insurance provide coverage for routine dental care such as cleaning and treatment of tooth decay? |
| Answer: |
The insurance covers dental treatment expense due to a covered accidental injury to a sound, natural tooth. No benefits are payable for routine dental care, orthodontic treatment or other treatment expense not due to a covered accident.
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| Question #8: |
Can I receive an insurance identification card for my child? |
| Answer: |
A summary of insurance is available on this website under the “download a brochure” link. The policy number and claim information is located on the brochure. Please retain the top part of the form for your records. Individual Insurance Identification Cards are not available.
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| Question #9: |
Can I enroll my child in the 24 Hour Extended Coverage plan by phone or on-line? |
| Answer: |
School Insurance of Florida cannot accept enrollments over the telephone, fax or online. You must mail an enrollment form to School Insurance of Florida, along with the proper payment of $40.00. You can obtain an enrollment brochure from the school or download the enrollment brochure from this website and mail the enrollment brochure to School Insurance of Florida, along with your $40.00 payment for the 24 Hour Extended Coverage Option.
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| Question #10: |
When will the policy take effect and how long will coverage continue? |
| Answer: |
Coverage for school related injuries becomes effective on the first day of class in August, 2008. For interscholastic sports injuries, coverage becomes effective on the first day of school scheduled, school supervised practice sessions in August, 2008. The school time coverage for school related injuries terminates at 12:01 A.M. on the last day of classes for the regular school term in May or June of 2008. The 24-Hour Extended Coverage Accident Insurance Plan coverage terminates at 12:01 A.M. on August 18, 2009. Coverage under the School Time Accident Insurance Plan is effective only while students are participating in activities that are exclusively school sponsored, school scheduled, school supervised and school funded during the regular school term. Coverage under the 24-Hour Extended Coverage Accident Insurance Plan provides continuous protection 24/7 until the policy terminates on August 18, 2009.
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| Question #11: |
Can students enroll in the $40.00 24 Hour Extended Coverage Plan at any time during the school year? |
| Answer: |
Yes, students can enroll for the 24 Hour Extended Coverage Plan at any time during the year. However, coverage does not take effect until 11:59 PM on the day School Insurance of Florida receives your application and payment. The termination dates of coverage stay the same as stated in the answer to Question # 11 above. No discounts are available for late enrollees.
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| Question #12: |
Are injuries occurring during football practice and games covered? |
| Answer: |
Football injuries that occur while a student is practicing for or competing in sports that are scheduled, fully funded, sponsored and supervised by the Polk County School Board and under the jurisdiction of the Florida High School Athletic Association are covered by the policy. Club sports, summer camp sports, sports leagues and sports that are not exclusively sponsored and funded by the school are not covered.
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| Question #13: |
Are other school sports injuries covered by the policy? |
| Answer: |
Injuries that occur while a student is practicing for or competing in sports that are scheduled, fully funded, sponsored and supervised by the school and under the jurisdiction of the Florida High School Athletic Association are covered by the policy. Club sports or sports that are not exclusively sponsored and funded by the school are not covered. All policy benefits, terms, limitations and exclusions regarding sports coverage are listed in the school insurance enrollment brochure.
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| Question #14: |
If a student is injured during a school activity, will the school insurance plan cover all medical expenses, including visits to the doctor and hospital? |
| Answer: |
The school insurance policy will not pay for 100% of all medical expenses due to the limits of the policy as described in the student brochure. The insurance company does not have control over the amounts charged by doctors, hospitals and other medical service providers. The payment of benefits that you will receive from the school insurance policy will be based on the policy limits that are stated in the school insurance brochure. Specific benefits, policy limits, terms and provisions that effect your payment levels are explained in the school insurance brochure. For a more complete description of coverage, please obtain a brochure from the school or download a brochure from this website.
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| Question #15: |
If my son or daughter is injured, do I have to take them to a specific hospital or doctor to receive benefits under the school insurance policy? |
| Answer: |
No, you may seek medical treatment from any licensed hospital or licensed physician to be eligible to receive medical benefits that are covered by the school insurance policy.
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| Question #16: |
How do I file a claim? |
| Answer: |
Contact the school principal’s office immediately and advise them that you want to file a claim report due to a school related accident. The principal’s office will fill out a claim report and forward the report to the School Insurance of Florida claim office.
Upon receipt of the claim report from the school, School Insurance of Florida will mail to you details concerning the policy benefits, instructions on how to file a claim and a claim form to complete. Follow the claim filing instructions and mail the completed form and copies of medical bills to School Insurance of Florida. The address will be printed on the claim form. Please forward the completed claim form to School Insurance of Florida no later than 90 days after the date of accident to receive benefits.
If you purchased the 24 Hour Extended Coverage Option and the accident was not related to a school injury, contact School Insurance of Florida for a claim form.
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| Question #17: |
Who do we contact for answers regarding claims or coverage? |
| Answer: |
DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOL OFFICE ABOUT THE STATUS OF A CLAIM PAYMENT OR TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT COVERAGE! The school does not process claims or keep records regarding claims.
All claims are processed by School Insurance of Florida's claim office.
Therefore, contact SCHOOL INSURANCE OF FLORIDA to obtain prompt answers to claim or coverage questions.
School Insurance of Florida
P. O. Box 784268, Winter Garden, Florida 34778-4268.
Phone: 1-800-432-6915 Fax: 407-798-0296.
Email: Jennifers@lesmith.net
The questions and answers stated above are intended to provide a general, brief explanation of the school insurance plan. The student brochure contains a more detailed summary of provisions and terms. The Polk County School District will receive a master policy that contains all terms and provisions from which all claims benefits will be determined. The insurance policy contains specific definitions and terms that may not be included in this website and are not fully explained in the brochure. For answers to more specific questions, please contact School Insurance of Florida, P.O. Box 784268, Winter Garden, Florida 34778-4268. Phone 800-432-6915.
FLORIDA LAW requires us to inform you that: "Any person who knowingly and with intent to injure, defraud or deceive any insurance company, files a statement of claim containing any false, incomplete or misleading information is guilty of a felony of third degree."
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