can't take the risk for lack of health insurance?
Last summer I wanted to try Masters races (haven't raced in 10 yrs now)but don't have insurance. I've struggled for years with low-wage jobs and unemployment so I'm back in school, but their health ins plan is worthless, it has a low ceiling and high deductibles and isn't affordable anyway.
with all due respect to USAC, and the awareness that some insurance is better than none, that coverage is really not that good. I had a similar policy 7 years back, and a broken finger (granted, more like smashed, but still, it was just a finger!) meant I owed just about 5,000. That said, there are numerous other insurance entities out there that might be worth exploring. As I remember, there was a pretty good insurance co-op type thing for climbers years back. I wonder who underwrote that?
You still drive a car around? Still cross public streets? Life is full of risks, most higher than the risks associated with bike racing.
Your health is your responsibility....don't expect others to pay for it. If you want to race, race. Thousands of people race every weekend and don't get hurt (let alone seriously).
I am with CK. I have been commuting and racing for...jeez into my third decade (25 years). I have yet to go to the ER for a injury and have used a sports medicine doctor once.
My trips to the ER/ urgent care centers made necessary from Sudden Cycling Deceleration Syndrome (SCDS) are evenly split between racing and riding.
In neither case did the total bill hit what would be the USAC threshold of $5,000 (although only the racing incident would have been eligible).
Race accident... probably a grand will cover it
Riding accident... might hit $3,500 but homeowners liability covered it
I've had one bad bike accident - broken tib/fib. Happened on a group ride. Guy lost control, took me into the curb and my leg hit a sign post. Sh!t happens.
Total cost including physical therapy was about $35,000. My out of pocket was about $400, most of which was the unreimbursable portion of the ambulance fee. That got paid through my flex spending.
If you're uninsured you are better off crashing in a race than in training. But you're best off not crashing uninsured.
If there is any doubt in your head, then do not race! First, I think if you are timid you might be more likely to crash. Second, why spend the whole race worrying.
I know others are trying to help, but almost every crit I have been to there was at least one crash. Now I realize with 400-1000 racers across all the different categories that may seem like pretty good odds. Plus I will say masters racing is typically among the safest category.
Not to be a jerk or anything, but if you have enough cash to pay for entry fees, then you have enough to pay for an individual health insurance plan. If YOU crash in a race or group ride, I pay for your medical bills through increased taxes. Way not cool.
If entry fees cost as much as insurance there'd be no way I could race.
Can you say "Time Trial"?
I thought you could.
Seriosuly, racing masters is relatively safe though around here someone eats it every weekend at a crit. usually for going into a corner too hot or not paying attention to wheel overlap. Still, even then they typically have more bike and ego damage than anything else. Well expect for copious amounts of road rash and ripped team kit.
Start out with TTs, RRs, and CRs. Do check out the circuit race profile as some are nothing more than 1.1 mile crits with too many turns thrown in to create a chicane section, aka body bag zone.
Cross racing had more wrecks but at a much lower speed so less chance for a major medical bill.
The other option, which I usually take, is to get shelled early to prevent having many people around to get tangled up with.
;)
Watermoc - thanks, now I need to wipe the coffee off my screen!
Been away for a couple of days...
Don't get me wrong. As a rock/ice climber and having raced for 15 years, I have control of fear. I agree with the comment that being timid and fearful will affect your bike handling in a negative way. In all of my racing I never crashed more than a handful of times, and none even required stitches. However, in unrelated injuries since I had 2 injuries that each ran over $30k when all was said and done. I had insurance and it cost me very little indeed. I've been continuing to do aggressive group rides and high-level climbing without insurance for the last 1.5 years. Not smart, I know. But I need to have a life too, and hope to be working and insured again a year from now (when done with school). I'd still like to race this year, but as someone pointed out - shit happens. Right? I have $5k to my name and am walking a fine line between making it and homelessness, so any kind of accident could wipe me out.
Just wondered what some other might do in the same situation.
Cheers!
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