DWF Claims have been appointed as the new claims administrators for the GAA Injury Benefit Fund . The GAA Injury Scheme has limitations and is designed to provide ‘additional’ cover to GAA players own insurance plan therefore we strongly recommend that all our Senior (particulary any players that are self employed) & Minor players read the policy carefully and if they feel the scheme does not provide sufficent cover for their needs that they purchase their own Private Health Insurance policy.
Please be aware of your entitlements and responsibilities. All players/mentors should take the time to read the full document (see link at bottom of page) –
Here is a brief Summary of the main points:
AUSTIN STACKS GAA CLUB PLAYER INSURANCE & PHYSIOTHERAPY GUIDELINES 2020
- Player needs to be a fully paid up registered member of the Club to avail of the G.A.A. Injury Scheme. Closing date for membership is March 1st. Players who wish to pay their membership by direct debit over 12 months will be registered once they have completed and returned their mandate from to the Club Registrar. If for any reason the monthly payment is cancelled. The bank will contact the club and we will be advising team management that the member in question is not available for match selection until membership is paid in full.
2. DWF Insurance are the designated GAA Injury Scheme administrators
3. Team Managers: If a player gets injured at a match/training, team managers need to ensure that the referee is informed of the injury after the match and that the referee is advised to note this in his report. Team managers please report the injury to Club Secretary, Elma Nix, 086 1053300
4. Reporting Injury withing 60 days
- All claims are required to be reported to DWF Claims within 60 days of the injury by Club Secretary, Elma Nix, who must enter all the required details on the DWF online system in order to submit the claim.
- The onus is on the player to inform and log details of his injury with the Club Secretary within 60 days from the date of the injury. Failure to log the injury will result in the claim not being processed and therefore invalid and the club does not accept any responsibility for medical costs incurred.
• Once the claim has been submitted online, the Secretary will receive a claim number and acknowledgment in
relation to the claim
• Once the submitted claim is reviewed by DWF Claims, DWF Claims will acknowledge the claim and it will be forwarded on-line to the relevant County Board for approval.
• The Secretary will be able to download the relevant sections of the claim form that need to be submitted by the player.
• If a submitted claim is not fully documented, the necessary documents will be requested by DWF Claims to resolve the claim.
5. Players with private health cover i.e. VHI/Layla/Aviva have to claim their expenses back i.e. medical or physio from their private health insurer before the GAA will consider the balance of their claim. Statements from such private health insurers will be required.
Things to note:
- The maximum payment for a medical claim is €4,500 – sounds like a lot but players should note that a visit to Santry Clinic for an ACL injury costs in the region of €7,000 and need to ask themselves “in the case of such an injury would I have the means to pay”? It is very important to note that:
The GAA Injury Scheme pay out only on presentation of receipts – i.e. you pay the medical costs first and then are reimbursed. Ask yourself do you have the means to pay first and wait up to 8 weeks for reimbursement of those medical expense fees?
- First €100 expense is not covered by the GAA Player Injury insurance and will not be reimbursed by the club.
- Players are not covered for Physiotherapy under the scheme (only post-operative Physiotherapy is covered).
- Transport costs for hospital appointments are not covered by the club.
- Loss of wages? Applicable to Adults/Youths who are in full time employment at date of injury (‘employment’ means – permanent gainful employment of not less than 16 hours per week). Loss of Wages claims are only applicable to those who are in full time employment* at the date of injury. The claimant must be unable to work for a minimum of 14 consecutive days. Cover is limited and is outlined at (Page 7). Should a player obtain a serious injury which could lead to them being out of work for some time. As part of your DWF application a letter will be required from the Social Welfare Department regarding your payments entitlements .
Physiotherapy Treatment
- The Club’s designated Physiotherapist for 2020 is Fionnan Hallinan. You must book your Physio treatment session with Fionan via your Team manager. You cannot go to Fionnan directly.
- For Senior players without private medical insurance and who need physiotherapy. Physio sessions will be paid 50/50 by the player and the club.
- As you cannot claim for Physio treatment costs (only post op costs are covered) under the DWF insurance Scheme we are requesting players to please claim for physio expenses through their own health insurance as this would be a major cost saving for our Club at a time when it is badly needed.
- Fionnan will decide the duration of the physio treatment.
- Austin Stacks club players in other grades can contact Fionnan directly on 087 6332968 to book a private physio appointment at the discounted club price of €40 per session.
- If a player wishes to use the services of another physiotherapist he will have to pay the total treatment costs himself.
What hospitals are listed in “Preferred Medical Provider Initiative?
See list at (Page 8)
Fraudulent Claims – in the event of a fraudulent claim the GAA can penalise the claimant and the Club severely (see page 19).
PLEASE ENSURE THE GUIDELINES ARE FOLLOWED, IF NOT YOU MAY NOT BE REIMBURSED FOR YOUR INJURY
ALWAYS REMEMBER NO RECEIPTS – NO REFUND
2020 GAA Injury Benefit Fund Summary Document - Club and County Version
