GAA Injury Benefit Fund & The Preferred Medical Providers Initiative

Cumann Lúthchleas Gael have entered into Preferred Medical Provider Agreements with a network of hospitals and clinics countrywide with effect from the 1st October 2017, the key aims of which are to help reduce medical costs and to deliver quality healthcare to our registered members through the GAA Injury Benefit Fund.

What is the Preferred Medical Provider Initiative?
Through the operation of the GAA Injury Benefit Fund which costs Cumann Lúthchleas Gael €9,000,000 to fund per year, medical expenses make up over 70% of the claims payments issued. Given this significant cost, Cumann Lúthchleas Gael approached hospitals and clinics countrywide with a view to agreeing preferred prices for our registered members who present at these hospitals \ clinics following anaccidental bodily injury sustained while playing in an official competitive match \ sanctioned challenge match or taking part in an official supervised training session on a team registered under the Fundand for which full payment of registration fees has been received in Croke Park.Furthermore, Cumann Lúthchleas Gael have also obtained service commitments from the Preferred Medical Providers which will help in delivering quality healthcare to our registered members and enhance our commitment to Player Medical Welfare.

Who are the Preferred Medical Providers?

How will an Injured player avail of the Preferred Pricing?
Once a player presents at one of the above named medical facilities, the player will be requested to confirm their Club or County Panel together with their membership number which the hospital will record. Checks will be made with Croke Park to confirm that the Players’ seeking to avail of the Preferred
Pricing arrangements are registered members of the Association. 

Do I have to attend a Preferred Medical Provider to avail of benefit under the GAA Injury Benefit Fund?
No, a player is not required to attend one of the Preferred Medical Providers listed to avail of benefit under the GAA Injury Benefit Fund. A player can continue to attend medical facilities not noted. However, as above preferred prices have been agreed with the listed Medical facilities only.

Will Croke Park be publishing the prices agreed with the Preferred Medical Providers?
No,due to privacy and commercial sensitivity, we are unable to publish the prices agreed with the Preferred Medical Providers. However, we can confirm that the agreed prices reflect a 5 – 10% saving against prices charged to players’ prior to the introduction of this initiative.  Players and club officers can contact the relevant medical providers as regards obtaining the agreed price for a surgery that a player may require.

Is the Medical Expenses benefit available under the GAA Injury Benefit Fund changing as a result of this initiative?
No, €4,500 is the maximum amount available for unrecoverable medical expenses as per the terms of the Fund.

Will details of the Preferred Medical Providers initiative be included with the GAA Injury Benefit Fund Summary Document?
Yes, the 2018 GAA Injury Benefit Fund Summary document will be issued later this year and details will be included within it of the Preferred Medical Providers Initiative.

Important Note
We would also remind all, that the playing of Gaelic Football, Hurling, Handball and Rounders’ involves the risk of Injury and it is each individualregistered player’s responsibility to familiarise themselves with the terms and benefits of the GAA Injury Benefit Fund. Each player needs to ensure that they have adequate cover in place to meet their own individual needs and personal circumstances. The GAA Injury Benefit Fund is only in place to cover benefits which cannot be claimed elsewhereand is a benefit cover only. Members should not use the fund as their only recourse or be dependent on the fund to compensate them fully for any losses associated with the injury sustained.