Both hockey players and referees are seeing the value of extra dental coverage, especially in leagues where half visors are the standard.
“There was a demand coming from junior teams where most of the players are playing with half visors,” says Sacha Vaillancourt, a client executive at BFL Canada. “The risk exposure is higher for dental injury. We have quite a few junior leagues who have taken the lead and got the coverage.”
Right now the coverage is optional and can be added on top of the Hockey Canada accident policy, Vaillancourt told Insurance Business. It can go from $5,000 extra per player to $25,000 extra per player for a certain rate.
“It isn’t often we have big injuries. Maybe once or twice a year,” says Vaillancourt. “It is not common, but once in a while you will have a massive injury. We just started to promote it in 2014, and there are a lot of leagues who have jumped into the program; and it is my feeling that this year, even more leagues will jump in as well.”
Todd Jackson, senior manager of insurance and member services for Hockey Canada, says that the half visor rule does present a danger of dental damage to both players and referees.
“Half visor is a Hockey Canada rule. There is an understanding out there that with the half visor, there is a potential for dental injury,” Jackson told Insurance Business. “Having that awareness out there and leagues and parents and players knowing there is a risk has made the secondary coverage an easy sell.”
The knowledge of hockey injuries from the brokerage has gone a long way to making the program work, adds Jackson.
“We have great brokers in BF Lorenzetti and they help us to review not only dental injuries, but all types of injuries” he says. “And as the season comes to a close, we’ll review all of that again.”
The current limit for Hockey Canada coverage $1,250 per tooth and $2,500 per accident. The self-funded program costs Hockey Canada players about $1.25 per member, says Jackson. (continued.)
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“That includes more than just dental,” says Jackson. “That includes physio and those types of coverages.”
Having BFL offer the secondary coverage is crucial to keeping insurance costs low for Hockey Canada members, says Jackson.
“One thing that is important to understand is that it is a secondary coverage,” says Jackson, “and with the premium that is being paid, that is how we keep premiums to a manageable level, by making it a secondary coverage. “
For BFL, Hockey Canada’s large membership makes it easier to offer a product with a good premium point.
“Hockey Canada membership is big, so in terms of numbers we can make the rate very attractive for the league,” says Vaillancourt. “It is a really good product; not only for players, but for referees – because they officiate games with half visors.”
