XSI ACCIDENT INSURANCE IS NOW AVAILABLE
XSI ACCIDENT INSURANCE IS NOW AVAILABLE
New Accident Insurance for Skiers Costs Only $17.30/Month
Words: Sam Pelletier
The word extreme gets tossed around a little too liberally these days. It’s been overused to the point where it’s meaning is totally lost. You really want me to believe that this soda is extreme? And this pizza too? Anybody remember the band Extreme?
Probably the least extreme thing in the world is insurance. But, Robert Scott is changing that. In May of 2009, Scott launched XSI—Xtreme Sports Insurance, a supplementary accident and injury plan targeted at skiers and other action-sports athletes. And, with plans starting at only $17.30 a month, every park rat or ski bum can be fully protected from accidents for the cost of a 30-case of Keystone Light.
The Draper, Utah,-based company was formed after Scott, a 14-year veteran of the insurance business with a background in combat sports, broke his hand. Dismayed by how much he had to pay out pocket for medical bills, he realized that action sports athletes require unique accident coverage that traditional health insurance couldn’t provide.
XSI provides coverage for the costs that accumulate from an injury that major health insurance plans don’t cover. Benefits are paid directly to the client according to their specific needs. That means that when you break your leg dropping a cliff or crashing in the park, XSI sends you a check to cover the fracture, and you’re also reimbursed for transportation, emergency room visits, physical therapy and various other expenses that accrue.
“Insurance is not cool” Scott readily admits. “We don’t want to be stuffy insurance salesmen pushing our product. We want to be community driven. We’re using sponsorships and events to market the product to people in these sports.”
It acts as a great solution to a problem that far too many skiers overlook, and Scott knows that one of his biggest challenges is marketing such a product to image conscious young people living off ski shop wages.
“We’ve priced it right, so they can really look at it as a valuable addition, not a financial burden,” he adds.
Since it started six months ago, XSI has already attracted over 4,000 clients. One of it’s newest is Park City local McRae Williams. The 19-year-old was scrambling to get approved for a new insurance plan in time for the upcoming Winter Dew Tour stop at Breckenridge when he saw an ad for XSI.
“I can’t afford to pay $120 a month, but $26 is very doable,” says Williams, who recently signed on as Amplid Skis’ newest team member. “There’s always fear, but it feels a lot better knowing I’m covered. It really helps with the mental side of the sport.”
Check out xsinow.com to learn more about Xtreme Sports Insurance
Reader Comments
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| Posted Mon Dec21, 2009, 2:15 PM — By Ike Faust |
| Accident plans are a great supplement insurance choice for outdoor minded people but there are many options out there and this is nothing new. This is a Conseco backed product who filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy about 5 years ago. Just remember that if you don't have health insurance and do have only an accident plan and have a major accident it will help but not that much as you will be paying out a lot more than what it pays you. ACL surgury in normally aroiund 14k. Accident plans will pay normally about 3k on average for an ACL... so health insurance is a must. If you are a skier get an accident plan to supplement your health plan. There are great plans out there from AFLAC, Colonial and ALLSTATE. For pros and competitors AFLAC covers you in competitions with no addition costs and it seems if you want that coverage with this plan it will cost more. Just don't interpret an accident plan as taking care of everything if you get banged up becuause that is not the case. Health Insurance is a pr |
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| Posted Mon Dec28, 2009, 5:06 PM — By Adventure Advocates |
| If you are searching for accident coverage you will want to consider joining Adventure Advocates at www.adventureadvocates.com. The cost of membership is very low and includes accident insurance and many other benefits designed to promote responsible outdoor recreation and environmental conservation. Unlike the plans mentioned above, the AA member accident benefit will cover you up to the maximum benefit minus a small deductible (certain exclusions and limitations do apply). Most of the above accident plans will pay a different amount based on the type of injury (scheduled benefit policies). AA benefit works differently. Learn more or join at www.AdventureAdvocates.com. |
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| Posted Tue Dec29, 2009, 9:32 PM — By rocMALONEY photography |
| PHOTO CREDIT: ©ROCMALONEY PHOTOGRAPHY http://flickr.com/photos/rocmaloney |
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| Posted Fri Jan 8, 2010, 6:39 PM — By AY |
| the www.AdventureAdvocates.com does not look like a good deal: for the plan that includes skiing, you get a maximum of $10,000 in coverage (w/ a $500 ded.), and for that you need to pay $1200/year. $10,000 is peanuts. What you want is a plan that covers serious injuries -- the ones that can cost $100K+ --and that could thus bankrupt you. |
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