INDIANAPOLIS — USA Gymnastics is expanding mental health coverage for athletes and coaches under a new program unveiled Monday.
The organization will help cover eight mental health provider visits per year for eligible national team members in all disciplines and four mental health provider visits for qualified coaches under the new program.
“Being able to fund services that athletes and their coaches can receive in their hometowns, from their preferred providers, is essential to wellness and something we’ve always wanted to do,” the president of the USA Gymnastics Li Li Leung.
USA Gymnastics will reimburse athletes/coaches up to $125 per visit. Coaches and athletes can use any health care provider they want if the provider has “appropriate training and licensure in sports psychology or mental health.”
The program will be funded in part by the organization’s agreement with GK Elite, which provides training and competition apparel for USA Gymnastics. Part of the sponsorship deal with GK Elite is earmarked specifically to cover the costs of mental health care.
Under the previous model, athletes and coaches had access to mental health specialists while participating in USA Gymnastics events such as training camps and meets. The new model expands that access so that athletes and coaches are financially covered when they return to their home gyms.
