OnlyBucs

I just read on Twitter that Gage Hinz needed open heart surgery. He’s a minor league pitcher in the Pirates farm system for those who may not know. Apparently, it isn’t covered by the Pirates' insurance policy, or whoever covers MiLB players. I think a lot of the “Nutting is Cheap” talk is unfounded. But, he needs to do the right thing and cover this. Beyond the fact that it’s terrible PR for the organization, I just can’t fathom a professional baseball player in an MLB organization needing a GoFundMe page to pay for surgery. I have no idea what this surgery costs, but even if it’s $3 million, that’s pocket change to Nutting, all kidding aside. Do the right thing Bob...get out your checkbook and take care of your employee.

I think Bob Nutting should feel a responsibility here for the failings of the quality of the health plan provided his employees, but Mr. Hinz also has a responsibility to understand his own health insurance coverage. If he expected this procedure to be covered then shame on him for not reading his policy and asking questions if it wasn't clear what is or is not covered. If he did know that the policy had more holes in coverage than a slice of Swiss cheese then shame on him for not purchasing an insurance supplement that would protect himself in case an unexpected (and costly) medical situation should arise.



Still, it's unconscionable to me that health insurance coverage provided for professional athletes such as minor league baseball players whose activities naturally put them at greater risk for injury and health issues should be so deficient.

Nutting is cheap, but this is not on him.

No team in MLB would cover this.

The Player's Union doesn't discuss benefits?



This just seems biased Nutting/Pirates bashing. I work for a Fortune 5 company and wouldn't expect my CEO, who makes $120+ million a year, to pick up the extra cost for a medical procedure.



If it was a baseball related injury, I assume the Pirates would cover all medical expenses. Hinsz did get a large signing bonus. Sad news for sure, I hope he doesn't lose his dream. Maybe he made some friends (rich friends) in the organization to help his Go Fund Me page?

363D35393C3D266365122B333A3D3D7C313D520 wrote:



If it was a baseball related injury, I assume the Pirates would cover all medical expenses. 


Frankly I'd assume they would anyhow. This would obviously impair his ability to throw a baseball. But it floors me that the insurance doesn't already cover every conceivable medical issue, considering they are athlete.

I hope the best for Gage with the surgery and finding the funds to pay. I wonder how this is discussed in the signing process. Certainly, most of these guys can stay under their parents health plans while they are in the minors and the team is going to cover surgeries related to baseball injuries. One would hope that this is discussed with the player and family in some kind of orientation. Is this something that the family assumed some risk in dropping him from their plans or did they think he was covered by whatever the Pirates' plan covers.



I get where you would hope the team would help but where do you stop with that? I am sure there are all kinds of other illnesses within their system and would that open the door to pay for everyone?

Higher level athletes take insurance policies out on themselves. I am not sure if a 10th Rounder would do that, but it would be smart. Especially, with $560K.

There's has to be more to this story, right?   It doesn't make sense.   It doesn't fit into the federally mandated minimum insurance policy standards.     Open heart surgery, I assume, wouldn't fall under an optional procedure.  I think any insurance policy that meets the heathcare act requirements as a qualifying healthcare plan would apply here (to non-optional surgery).   Unless maybe it's grandfathered, but my understanding was that all expired.    He may be trying to raise money to cover a high deductible plan. There has to be an annual deductible cap. I don't know.



I think a lot of information is missing.   Good luck to him though, whatever it is.

The P2 article states:



This is a free article so we could highlight the fundraiser set up for the post-surgery medical expenses incurred by Hinsz. Since the surgery wasn’t baseball-related, the post-surgery medical and everyday expenses aren’t covered. Feel free to share the link to help spread the word.



UPDATE: The GoFundMe page has closed donations, due to lower than anticipated recovery fees. More updates will be provided later.







What this seems to be saying is that he was not seeking contributions for the surgery itself. So he must have had insurance to cover that. He was seeking help with expenses related to post surgical expenses. Not sure what that entailed but it could possibly be rehab or loss of income during recovery for the 2-3 month recovery period. But the article adds that the Go Fund Me page has closed because the recovery expenses were less than anticipated. 

Insurance covers moist of it.