Parent Education Guide — Understanding Supplemental Health Protection for Student-Athletes
An Educational Resource Designed to Help Families Understand Injury Risks and Coverage Options

This is an educational resource only. Your school and coaches are not selling or recommending coverage. All decisions about supplemental protection are yours to make independently.
Many families simply review this information to better understand how injury-related expenses work — even if they never enroll in any coverage.
About This Resource
This educational resource was developed by Andrew McConnell - MBA, founder of NIL Wealth Strategies and former Division I athlete. After experiencing three significant sports-related injuries during his career, he gained firsthand insight into how injuries impact not only performance, but also a family's financial stability beyond what traditional coverage addresses.
That experience led him to pursue advanced education in risk management and insurance planning. Today, NIL Wealth Strategies provides educational resources to help families understand their options for protecting against the financial impact of sports injuries.
Professional Background
NIL Wealth Strategies is led by Andrew McConnell, a licensed insurance professional and federally authorized tax advisor who works with athletes and families to help them understand protection options, manage financial risk, and make informed decisions about their long-term financial well-being. His approach focuses on education first, helping families clearly understand coverage, responsibilities, and available resources before making any decisions.
Licenses & Designations
  • Life & Health Insurance License — #3798877
  • Property & Casualty Insurance License — #XXXXXXX
  • Enrolled Agent (EA), U.S. Department of the Treasury — #XXXXXXX
This document is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or insurance advice. Always consult with qualified professionals for specific financial or legal guidance.
Why This Guide Exists
Sports injuries can happen to any athlete at any level. When they do, the financial impact on families often extends far beyond what most people expect. This guide exists to help you understand the potential gaps in typical insurance coverage and explain how supplemental protection works alongside your existing health insurance.
This resource is designed to provide clear, straightforward information about supplemental health coverage options. Participation is completely optional, and the decision to explore or enroll in any coverage is entirely yours to make. Your school, coaches, and athletic staff are not selling or recommending any specific product — they're simply making you aware that these educational resources exist.
What This Guide Explains
  • Common injury risks in youth sports today
  • Financial gaps in typical health insurance
  • How supplemental coverage works
  • How families can learn more if interested
What This Guide Is NOT
  • A sales presentation or marketing material
  • A school-endorsed or required program
  • A replacement for health insurance
  • Financial or insurance advice
If you choose to explore supplemental coverage options, you'll review information independently and enroll directly with the insurance carrier. All coverage is subject to policy terms, conditions, and underwriting approval.
Understanding Today's Sports Injury Environment
Competetive sports have evolved significantly over the past two decades. Every season, millions of athletes experience injuries that interrupt training, competition, and everyday life — often when they least expect it. Injuries can result in emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, and months of recovery time — affecting not just the athlete but the entire family's schedule and finances.
Why Injury Rates Are Rising
Today’s athletes train harder and compete more often than ever before. Year-round conditioning, travel competition, and early sport specialization have increased the likelihood of injuries — many of which happen during routine practices, not just games.
Overuse injuries now account for more than half of all sports injuries, meaning even healthy, well-prepared athletes can face unexpected setbacks. When injuries happen, families are often left managing medical bills, time away from school or sports, and financial uncertainty at the same time.
Year-Round Training
Athletes train continuously with minimal off-seasons, increasing cumulative physical stress
Higher Intensity
Modern sports emphasize speed, power, and explosive movements at earlier ages
Early Specialization
Athletes focus on single sports, leading to repetitive stress on specific body areas
Travel & Competition
Regional and national competitions increase time spent in transit and unfamiliar environments
Understanding Coverage Gaps
Most families have health insurance through an employer, the marketplace, or school-provided athletic coverage. While these policies typically cover medical treatment costs, they often leave families responsible for significant out-of-pocket expenses during recovery.
What Your Health Insurance May NOT Cover
Medical Out-of-Pocket Costs
  • Annual deductibles that must be met before coverage begins (often $1,000–$5,000 or more)
  • Copayments required at each medical visit ($25–$100 per visit)
  • Coinsurance percentages for procedures and treatments (typically 10%–30% of costs)
  • Out-of-network provider charges
Non-Medical Family Expenses
  • Lost income when parents miss work to care for their athlete
  • Travel expenses to specialized treatment facilities
  • Ongoing household bills (rent, mortgage, car payments)
  • Groceries and daily necessities during recovery
  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation costs
School Athletic Coverage
If your school provides athletic accident insurance, it's important to understand its limitations:
Limited Application
Often applies only during official school events, practices, and competitions — not during offseason training or club play
Benefit Caps
May have maximum benefit limits that don't cover the full financial impact of serious injuries
Secondary Coverage
Typically acts as secondary insurance, paying only after your primary health insurance
Understanding these gaps helps families evaluate whether additional protection might provide valuable financial security during an athlete's recovery.
What Supplemental Health Coverage Is
Supplemental health coverage is optional, benefit-based insurance that works alongside your existing health insurance. It does not replace primary medical coverage. Instead, it provides an additional layer of financial protection designed to help with expenses that major medical insurance may not fully cover.
Following covered events such as accidents, fractures, emergency room visits, hospital stays, or certain treatments, policies may pay cash benefits directly to the policyholder according to a defined benefit schedule. These funds can be used at the family’s discretion to help manage out-of-pocket costs or financial needs during recovery.
Coverage and eligibility are subject to policy terms and underwriting approval by Aflac. All policies are issued and backed by the insurance carrier — not by the school and not by NIL Wealth Strategies.
Core Coverage for Athletes
Accident Insurance
Covers non-sports and sports-related injuries like fractures, dislocations, ER visits, X-rays, and therapy.
Benefits are paid directly to you in full, regardless of primary health insurance.
Hospital Indemnity Insurance
Provides fixed cash payments for hospital admissions, overnight stays, ICU time, and certain procedures.
Helps offset deductibles, lost income, and living expenses during treatment and rehabilitation.
How It Works in Practice
Supplemental coverage is designed to fill financial gaps during recovery. Here's a simple example:
1
The Injury Occurs
Your athlete suffers a covered injury (like a fracture or ligament tear) requiring emergency care and treatment.
2
Primary Insurance Pays
Your health insurance covers the medical bills, but you're responsible for deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
3
Supplemental Benefits Pay
The supplemental policy may pay you cash benefits according to the benefit schedule — money you can use for any purpose.
4
Financial Breathing Room
You use the cash benefits to cover out-of-pocket costs, replace lost income, or pay ongoing bills while your athlete recovers.

Google Docs

Aflac Accident Advantage Coverage

Option 3 Example

For an official breakdown of how Aflac's accident coverage pays benefits
Real-World Financial Impact
To help illustrate the value of supplemental protection, consider what families typically face when a serious sports injury occurs.
Typical Family Out-of-Pocket Costs
  • Emergency room visit: $500–$3,000 in copays/deductibles
  • Surgery: $2,000–$10,000+ depending on deductible and coinsurance
  • Hospital stays: $500–$1,500 per day in out-of-pocket costs
  • Follow-up visits: $50–$150 per visit over weeks or months
  • Physical therapy: $75–$150 per session, often 2–3 times weekly
  • Lost income: Days or weeks of missed work for caregiving
How Families Use Supplemental Benefits
Supplemental coverage provides flexible cash benefits that families can use for:
  • Covering deductibles and copayments
  • Paying rent or mortgage during recovery
  • Covering car payments and transportation costs
  • Buying groceries and daily necessities
  • Replacing income when missing work
  • Supporting rehabilitation and recovery needs
Affordability for Families
Supplemental accident and hospital plans are designed to be accessible. Most coverage options range from approximately $20–$65 per month per policy, depending on your athlete's age, number of family members insured, sport risk level, state, and selected benefits. Higher-end plans typically include enhanced benefits and broader protection.
For many families, this means securing meaningful financial protection for less than the cost of a monthly streaming subscription — providing peace of mind that if an injury occurs, you'll have help managing the financial impact.
The goal is to provide financial breathing room during recovery so you can focus on your athlete's health and healing rather than worry about making ends meet.
About the Insurance Carrier
Supplemental coverage options referenced in this guide are provided by Aflac, a well-established insurance carrier with decades of experience. Aflac steps in where major medical insurance leaves off, paying cash benefits directly to policyholders for covered injuries.
Financial Strength
A+ (Superior) rating from AM Best for claims-paying ability, ensuring reliability and trustworthiness.
Direct Cash Benefits
Benefits paid directly to policyholders, offering flexibility for any recovery needs you choose.
Trusted Carrier
Decades of experience as a publicly traded company (NYSE: AFL) serving millions of policyholders.
All enrollment, underwriting, policy administration, and claims processing are handled directly by Aflac. NIL Wealth Strategies provides educational resources only and does not process applications, hold funds, or make coverage decisions.
Learn More
If you'd like to learn more about supplemental health coverage options for your athlete, the process is straightforward, voluntary, and entirely family-driven. There's no pressure, no deadlines, no sales presentations, and no obligation to participate.
Visit the Supplemental Health Page
Review detailed information about supplemental health protection options here: www.mynilwealthstrategies.com/supplemental-health
Submit an Interest Form (Optional)
If interested, complete a short form indicating you'd like to learn more about enrollment
Access Aflac's Enrollment Portal
Receive secure access to Aflac's electronic enrollment system to review options and pricing
Complete Application Directly
If you choose to proceed, complete the application directly through Aflac's system at your convenience
Important Reminders
Schools & Coaches Are Not Selling
Your school, coaches, and athletic staff are not recommending or selling coverage. They're simply making you aware that this educational resource exists.
Participation Is Optional
There is no requirement or expectation to participate. Your athlete's standing, playing time, and opportunities are not affected by your decision.
You Review and Decide Independently
All decisions about whether supplemental protection is right for your family are yours to make. Take your time, review the information, and decide what's best for you.
Direct Carrier Relationship
If you choose to enroll, you'll work directly with Aflac. Underwriting, policy issuance, billing, and claims are handled entirely by the carrier.
Where to Learn More
To learn more about NIL Wealth Strategies and how we help athletes and families protect income, manage risk, and understand financial responsibilities, please visit:
Official NIL Wealth Strategies Website:
www.mynilwealthstrategies.com
Supplemental Health Education Page:
www.mynilwealthstrategies.com/supplemental-health
Athlete Strategy Guides (Risk Awareness & Tax Education):
https://www.mynilwealthstrategies.com/guides
This guide is provided for educational purposes only. Any participation is completely voluntary and subject to policy terms, conditions, exclusions, and underwriting approval by Aflac.
Important Disclosures
To ensure transparency and help you make informed decisions, please review the following important information about this educational resource and any supplemental coverage options:
Educational Purpose Only
This guide is provided strictly for educational purposes. It helps you understand supplemental health coverage options and potential financial impacts of sports-related injuries. It does not constitute financial, insurance, or legal advice.
Voluntary Participation
Participation in any supplemental health coverage program is entirely voluntary. There is no requirement or expectation for families to enroll, and non-participation will not affect your athlete's standing or opportunities.
Policy Terms Apply
All coverage is subject to specific policy terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and underwriting approval by Aflac. It's crucial to review all policy documents thoroughly before making any decisions.
No School Endorsement
Unless formally and explicitly approved by school administration, this resource does not constitute an endorsement by any educational institution. NIL Wealth Strategies operates independently of schools and athletic programs.
Independent Support Only
NIL Wealth Strategies provides educational resources and information access. All enrollment, policy administration, and claims processing are handled directly by Aflac, the insurance carrier.
If you have questions about coverage details, pricing, or policy terms, please visit the supplemental health education page or contact Aflac directly through their enrollment portal.
Always consult with qualified insurance, financial, and legal professionals for guidance specific to your family's situation.