Headquarters Health, a specialized virtual clinic focused on concussion care, has announced a landmark partnership with the HeadStrong Concussion Insurance Program to provide covered youth athletes with rapid access to specialized medical treatment with no out-of-pocket costs. The new collaboration aims to bridge a critical gap in youth sports safety by ensuring that financial hurdles and bureaucratic insurance mazes never stand in the way of timely, high-quality neurological care for young competitors.
Under the terms of the new agreement, participating youth sports programs and school districts will be able to offer their athletes next-day specialized concussion care completely free of out-of-pocket expenses. By integrating their underlying technological and clinical infrastructure, Headquarters Health and HeadStrong have designed a system where coverage, claims, and medical billing operate seamlessly in the background, allowing families to focus entirely on recovery rather than administrative burdens or unexpected medical bills.
"A concussion is chaotic enough. The last thing a family should have to think about is paying for care or navigating the insurance maze," said Orestis Skoutellas, co-founder of Headquarters Health, highlighting the core philosophy driving the new alliance. "By partnering with HeadStrong, we built the underlying infrastructure so coverage, claims, and billing run seamlessly behind the scenes. Any athlete covered by HeadStrong now has access to specialized care next-day for $0 out-of-pocket."
Concussions have long represented one of the most unpredictable and stressful injuries in youth sports, requiring careful monitoring, specialized expertise, and structured return-to-play protocols. Traditional healthcare pathways often involve long wait times for specialist appointments, confusing insurance pre-authorizations, and significant co-pays or deductibles that can discourage families from seeking optimal care. Industry leaders believe this partnership fundamentally alters that dynamic by establishing a streamlined, accessible model for treatment.
"Together, we are setting a new standard for individual, specialized concussion treatment that meets athletes, families, and organizations where they need it most—with certainty, speed, and specialized care," added Christian Reed, creator of the HeadStrong Concussion Program and Vice President and Practice Leader of Collegiate and High Schools Sports at HUB International.
The mechanics of the program are designed to be frictionless for families. Athletes are automatically covered the moment their sports league, team, or school district enrolls in the HeadStrong program, eliminating the need for individual enrollment applications, medical history questionnaires, or pre-screening hoops. The policy provides up to $25,000 of comprehensive coverage per individual injury, backed by a zero-dollar deductible and zero out-of-pocket expenses for the families involved.
This robust financial structure ensures that full neurological care is completely covered from start to finish. The scope of the program encompasses everything from the initial professional diagnosis and specialist consultations to advanced neuroimaging, specialized cognitive testing, and ongoing follow-up care necessary to safely guide a young athlete back to full health. Furthermore, HeadStrong functions as a secondary insurance policy that coordinates smoothly alongside an athlete’s existing primary health insurance. In instances where a family lacks primary insurance coverage, HeadStrong is structured to step in and serve as the primary payor, ensuring that no child is ever turned away or left unprotected due to insurance status.
For coaches, league administrators, and parents who witness the toll of head injuries firsthand, the elimination of financial barriers represents a vital step forward in youth athletic safety.
"The HeadStrong program puts athletes first and provides families the peace of mind that the financial burden is eliminated," said Justin Vandewynkle, program manager for the HeadStrong Concussion Program at HUB International. "As a youth sports coach, I see firsthand how concussions can impact young athletes and their families. No athlete should ever have to skip care because of a price tag. They deserve more."
The HeadStrong program itself has a long-standing history within the athletic community. Developed by Dissinger Reed, a specialized division of HUB International, it is widely recognized as the longest-running concussion-only insurance program in the United States. To ensure financial stability and reliable claims processing, Mutual of Omaha serves as the official insurance carrier and claims payor supporting the initiative.
Insurance and risk management experts note that the program offers substantial benefits not just to families, but to schools and youth sports organizations seeking to protect their participants while managing institutional liability. By providing clear, accessible, and professional medical pathways, organizations can foster safer environments for student-athletes.
"The HeadStrong Concussion Insurance Program gives leagues and school districts a practical way to protect student-athletes and families from the financial burden of concussion care," said Brian Kalasek, vice president of Special Risk at Mutual of Omaha. "With zero deductible coverage, no copays, access to neurological follow-up, telemed services when needed, and no required referrals or provider restrictions, the program supports safer return-to-play and return-to-classroom decisions while helping organizations strengthen their overall risk management approach."
To date, the HeadStrong program has provided protection and peace of mind to more than 700,000 athletes nationwide. Participation remains open to any school district, league, or youth sports program across the United States. Enrollment in the comprehensive coverage plan is priced at $1.35 per athlete annually, a fee that directly incorporates access to the advanced telehealth clinic services provided by Headquarters Health.
Through this alliance, Headquarters Health and HeadStrong intend to redefine the standard of care for youth sports head injuries, ensuring that speed, certainty, and specialized medical expertise are universally accessible to young athletes regardless of their financial circumstances.
