Insurance - NASO vs. ABUA vs. ???

[sdix00]

I bought ABUA insurance last year for $45.

My HS Association as well as a couple other local youth orgs wants us to get NASO insurance for a final price of $75 after discounts and rebates (if 70% of the HS Association joins). They actually want $100, but say that I will get money back after all rebates and discounts are applied. I am not confident I would ever see this money.

NASO comes with Referee magazine, but my HS Association membership on Arbiter gives me access to all the articles electronically, which is what I prefer anyway.

I just don't see what the love affair is with NASO.

What am I missing?

[celt62]

I would check into your state's association instead of the local chapter. I know in NY part of our association dues (1 varsity game fee locally) took care of our insurance which also covered us all year including summer/fall ball. Who knows? It could be the same in CA. I don't do HS anymore just college and summer leagues but I used to have NASO insurance and I switched to an ABUA premium membership ($75) which gives you a whole lot more including discounts, liability and game replacement.

[UmpTTS43]

For $75 you can get the ABUA premium membership/insurance. That is what I carry.

[grayhawk]

I also have the ABUA $45 insurance.

[johnnyg08]

I think insurance is insurance. IMO, NASO is over priced. ABUA gets you the same insurance.

[JaxRolo]

I have never heard of anyone ever having to use the insurance.

I am sure somebody must have! Have you?

[johnnyg08]

Me neither...so get whatever is the cheapest. If you already have referee you don't need the magazine. If you don't buy a lot of gear from Honigs or Referee, you don't need the discount, so then you're overpaying for NASO.

[BT_Blue]

ABUA also gives you 10% at Honigs as well as (I think) 5% at Gerry Davis. Not sure if that is still the case but who knows. I was a member of NASO for 10 years. Then 3-4 with ABUA. Last year part of our state dues were for our liability through the state. However, I am considering getting the extra insurance. It could never hurt.

[johnnyg08]

It could never hurt.

If you like wasting money, then yes, it could never hurt...waste your money on gear we don't need like many of us! :-)

[Kevin Finnerty]

I think insurance is insurance...

All insurance is based on the same principles. In fact it is the leading form of legal, licensed theft in our society.

[LMSANS]

I think insurance is insurance...

All insurance is based on the same principles. In fact it is the leading form of legal, licensed theft in our society.

I found something that KFin & I agree on! :wave:

[Triguy29]

Newbie question here. If I have health insurance through work do I need other insurance for umpiring. If yes, why?

[ukce1861]

Newbie question here. If I have health insurance through work do I need other insurance for umpiring. If yes, why?

Liability - in case some nut job decides to sue you.

[Umpire in Chief]

Newbie question here. If I have health insurance through work do I need other insurance for umpiring. If yes, why?

Liability - in case some nut job decides to sue you.

Absolutely. There are too many mommies and daddies who think our job is to protect their kids while were out there. While that is not the case 12 people who are not even smart enough to get out of jury duty may think the same.

[cyclonehokiece]

Newbie question here. If I have health insurance through work do I need other insurance for umpiring. If yes, why?

Liability - in case some nut job decides to sue you.

Absolutely. There are too many mommies and daddies who think our job is to protect their kids while were out there. While that is not the case 12 people who are not even smart enough to get out of jury duty may think the same.

This is the key here. It is not my injury, but the liability issue. I buy the mandetory insurance required to umpire for the VHSL, and then suppliment it with USSSA, which covers all the stuff a do. I believe the total bill for both of those is $50.

[midmoump]

I recently updated the Midwest Ump site with a 2012 Umpire Insurance Review. Nothing has changed for ABUA or NASO from 2011, but NFHS went to a different carrier. The NFHS insurance is automatic for most officials, but only covers NFHS events for registered officials.

Between NASO and ABUA, the NASO offers better coverage, but at a steeper price. For instance, if you are sued for a bad call during a game (it happens!), NASO covers you with its errors and omissions benefit, ABUA does not. Also, ABUA only covers baseball and softball events, NASO covers any sport. That is a big benefit for multi-sport officials.

Pete

[Pops]

In Illinois the member benefit for licensed officials covers HS games and also extends to officiating youth leagues. They have a $1,000,000 liability limit.

[sdix00]

I recently updated the Midwest Ump site with a 2012 Umpire Insurance Review. Nothing has changed for ABUA or NASO from 2011, but NFHS went to a different carrier. The NFHS insurance is automatic for most officials, but only covers NFHS events for registered officials.

Between NASO and ABUA, the NASO offers better coverage, but at a steeper price. For instance, if you are sued for a bad call during a game (it happens!), NASO covers you with its errors and omissions benefit, ABUA does not. Also, ABUA only covers baseball and softball events, NASO covers any sport. That is a big benefit for multi-sport officials.

Pete

I swear I just got a pamphlet from ABUA that says it covers any sport.

I will double check tonight.

[JaxRolo]

I recently updated the Midwest Ump site with a 2012 Umpire Insurance Review. Nothing has changed for ABUA or NASO from 2011, but NFHS went to a different carrier. The NFHS insurance is automatic for most officials, but only covers NFHS events for registered officials.

Between NASO and ABUA, the NASO offers better coverage, but at a steeper price. For instance, if you are sued for a bad call during a game (it happens!), NASO covers you with its errors and omissions benefit, ABUA does not. Also, ABUA only covers baseball and softball events, NASO covers any sport. That is a big benefit for multi-sport officials.

Pete

I just read this on the NFHS Site. Can you Interpret what they mean by the bolded portion below?

Coverage for officials extends, not only to high school activities, but also to college, independent youth, adult and recreational leagues. However, coverage is still limited only to sports recognized by the state high school association.

Baseball is a recognized sport so does it mean you are covered if you work lets say Babe Ruth Baseball?

[SAB_UIC_TX]

Newbie question here. If I have health insurance through work do I need other insurance for umpiring. If yes, why?

Yes, liability as already stated is a big reason. Secondly I believe the amounts paid by NFHS, NASO, and ABUA will pay any deductable you might have with your corporate health insurance, thus the out of pocket amount you pay they will cover the portion equal to their limit.

I know our insurance from TASO here in Texas only covers up for UIL (the state high school governing body) contests and does not cover us if we are working any other baseball, i.e. Babe Ruth Baseball.

[slo8140]

I believe that ABUA insurance does cover any sport that is called. I had it the past two years for that very reason. I chose the premium option.

I switched to NASO this year because it seems like a better deal since it came with the referee magazine subscription. Referee magazine is not cheap to subscribe to.

[Umpire in Chief]

sports recognized by the state high school association.

I've looked into insurance too much as I was considering having an Umpire-Empire officials insurance. This basically means that they will not cover you for Jousting, MMA, skydiving and the like.

[noumpere]

sports recognized by the state high school association.

I've looked into insurance too much as I was considering having an Umpire-Empire officials insurance. This basically means that they will not cover you for Jousting, MMA, skydiving and the like.

Right and some states might not recognize hockey or lacrosse while other states do so youd be covered in the later but not in the former.

[BT_Blue]

sports recognized by the state high school association.

I've looked into insurance too much as I was considering having an Umpire-Empire officials insurance. This basically means that they will not cover you for Jousting, MMA, skydiving and the like.

I run into this same problem here in WA. Our state provides a liability insurance as part of the membership. However, it only covers state sanctioned HIGH SCHOOL games. This is not a problem during the spring. However, once spring is over and the WOA is done for the year, we have a bunch of summer ball which is not state sanctioned. Football is even worse because the middle schools, pop warner, etc. are not covered by state insurance.

Make sure to check with your association and the state you officiate in to see what you are covered for and what you arent. I am considering returning to NASO just to cover the gaps that I am not covered for. Oh, and Referee Magazine is always a nice bonus.

[grayhawk]

I recently updated the Midwest Ump site with a 2012 Umpire Insurance Review. Nothing has changed for ABUA or NASO from 2011, but <acronym title='High school rules'>NFHS</acronym> went to a different carrier. The <acronym title='High school rules'>NFHS</acronym> insurance is automatic for most officials, but only covers <acronym title='High school rules'>NFHS</acronym> events for registered officials.

Between NASO and ABUA, the NASO offers better coverage, but at a steeper price. For instance, if you are sued for a bad call during a game (it happens!), NASO covers you with its errors and omissions benefit, ABUA does not. Also, ABUA only covers baseball and softball events, NASO covers any sport. That is a big benefit for multi-sport officials.

Pete

I swear I just got a pamphlet from ABUA that says it covers any sport.

I will double check tonight.

It covers all levels of amateur baseball and softball, but not other sports.