Rider Down: Nick Van Dine
Posted: April 3rd, 2009 by Karl Rosengarth
Nick Van Dine, Cannondale pro rider, personal friend of Dirt Rag and all-around good guy recently suffered a bad crash while snowboarding. Thanks to Scott House of White Pine Touring for passing on the following information and for organizing a fundraiser for Nick’s recovery fund. Godspeed, Nick…
On Monday March 30th Cannondale pro rider Nick Van Dine took a nasty fall while snowboarding that landed him in the ICU. Nick severely fractured the right side of his face during the crash, as well as sustaining trauma to his head and brain. Nick is not only a professional athlete but a advocate for the sport of mountain biking, and is also involved in youth development programs.
Nick underwent reconstructive surgery on Thursday, April 2nd to repair the injuries to his face. The surgery went well and doctors expect Nick to make a full recovery.
Although the prognosis is good for Nick he has a long road ahead of him with some significant financial hurdles in his way. On April 23rd 2009 there will be a fundraiser to help Nick with these hurdles. The event will be held at the Sidecar Bar (333 Main St , Park City, UT 84060) with doors to open at 7pm.
Live music from local band Leadfoot will start between 8 and 9pm. The event will feature a Silent Auction sponsored by Cannondale Bikes for a Cannondale Rize mountain bike. Along with the auction there will be a chance drawing (Utah for raffle). $10 at the door gets you two “chances” to win great prizes from local sponsors as well as national vendors such as SCOTT Bikes and many more.
Thanks to all of those who have already generously donated products, and services for the raffle. It is with your support we can help to get Nick back out and on his bike.
For more information, or to donate to the cause email Scott House at White Pine Touring or call 435-655-5009 or 435-649-8710.
If you would like to make a donation to Nick and will not be able to attend the fundraiser White Pine Touring will be collecting donations (Physical: 1790 Bonanza Dr, Park City, UT 84060; Mailing: PO Box 280, Park City, UT 84060). Checks can be made payable to Nick Van Dine.
April 3rd, 2009 at 8:24 pm
I don’t intend to sound cold but why do these folks that engage in risky behaviors or lifestyles not insure their health? Sure, it’s expensive, but so are hospital stays at premium rates (those charged to uninsured or out of network patients).
April 3rd, 2009 at 8:43 pm
S. cerevisiae, you are entitled to your opinion. Here’s my take:
In and academic sense your make a vaild argument. But I want to say that Nick Van Dine is a friend of mine and point out that there’s a personal side-effect of your comments that amounts to “kicking a guy when he’s down” in my opinion.
It’s in my nature to help a brother out and offer support when he’s down, not wag my finger and tell him what he “should or could have done”. That’s just me. That’s how I roll. I gonna dig in my pocket and help my friend, and not deliver a sermon.
I hope the mountain bike community will open their hearts and support Nick. I have confidence that they will.
April 4th, 2009 at 9:07 am
I just received the following message from Nick Van Dine and wanted to pass it on:
Iin response to the comments, I do actually have medical insurance. I’m not that dumb… however, insurance companies aren’t generally the most generous bunch and always involve red tape and loop holes. Where I’m at now with things there is probably about a $60-70,000 bill, I won’t be responsible for more that $10,000 after insurance kicks in, but 10 Gs is still a nice chunk of change.
Not that I have to justify myself, but I think it is funny that so many people assume that injuries are free once you get insurance. Not to mention time off work, etc. etc.
April 4th, 2009 at 10:36 am
I just received additional information on how you can donate to Nick’s recovery fund (added to original post above and pasted it here for your convenience)….
If you would like to make a donation to Nick and will not be able to attend the fundraiser White Pine Touring will be collecting donations (Physical: 1790 Bonanza Dr, Park City, UT 84060; Mailing: PO Box 280, Park City, UT 84060). Checks can be made payable to Nick Van Dine.
April 5th, 2009 at 3:42 am
Just saw a great shot of Nick in “Bike” magazine, was Googling around during my insomnia hours to see what else he’s been up to since seeing him last Thanksgiving and came across this sad story. Nick, I am so sorry to learn about your accident. Jonathan, Bill and I send you our very best get well wishes. More to come via your mailing address.
Apparently S. cerevisiae doesn’t have a clue about the current state of health insurance. When my son had a bad fall during a XC MTB training ride with his sophomore h.s. teammates last spring, his physician rightfully advised an MRI. Although we hoped it could be ordered directly from the lab to keep costs down, nope, we had to go to through the ER. He had a concussion and was sidelined for a while. Fortunately all is well.
Since I’m working on 2008 tax returns the cost for that 45-minute visit to the ER is all right here. Hospital Outpatient Services $6935, Advanced Imaging $440, Emergency Physician $306. Out-of-pocket $2063. Annual “prudent buyer PPO” insurance policy for healthly 15 year old boy $2220. Annual deductible $1500, no RX included. U.S. health insurance is a mess!
Nick, hang in there. You will heal. You’re a great athlete and a kind, smart, and cute guy. And it’s really apparent that you have a super support team around you. Big hug. Love, Aunt Elizabeth
April 6th, 2009 at 9:47 am
“Apparently S. cerevisiae doesn’t have a clue about the current state of health insurance.”
We’re both guilty of commenting about another before we have the facts. I too was injured rather badly last summer in a fall from a MTB. It was in another state and out-of-network. I have an all too large clue about the current state of health insurance in the States. My uncovered costs were also > $12,000. What helped me got out from under them is something that perhaps Nick could pursue…patient advocacy organizations. There are often companies that one’s health insurance company contracts to appeal and argue for a reduction in invoices (out of network accidents often get charged non-contract rates) to contracted rates.
In my case a patient advocate was able to get the hospital involved to waive around $11,800 of what they were billing, and the insurance wasn’t covering.
Nick-
Get someone to argue for you. Explore patient advocacy. Ask your health insurance provider whether they have a contractor for that. Mine was Viant in Colorado. They are contracted to what was my provider. Don’t be afraid to argue with the hospital or your insurance provider.
Lastly, if after everything else you still owe gobs of $$$, pay it as slowly (in installments) as you need to. As long as something is being sent there can be nothing legal they can do to your credit (if that’s a concern).
If I stepped on toes and offended friends or people I have not yet befriended I apologize. I think the events hit a little too close to home at a weak moment.
April 6th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
The whole health insurance thing is thorny. I just read an article in Consumer Reports about individuals who have purchased health insurance as ‘individuals’ not as part of a group plan, have an expensive health problem and then find that they where not covered. The catch 22 is that to be affordable, the insurance policies offer very little coverage, to get decent coverage, the cost is very high and out of the reach of most.
I’m glad that Mr. Van Dine has a health insurance and he we will not be financially ruined because of a mishap. That is what insurance is for. He is also fortunate to have a network of friends and contacts that is willing to fundraise to help him pay for his deductables. Most importantly, ‘he is expected to make a full recovery’.
Unfortunately, S. Cerevisiae has not, and probably won’t make a full recovery from his bicycling related injury, but he does offer up some good advice: ‘everything is negotiable’.
It does sound like those with insurance would benefit from analyzing the deductable side of the insurance equation once in while to understand what the financial impact could be.
April 7th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Regardless of Nick’s insurance status, I’ll be sending a donation. It’s riders like Nick that keep our sport moving in a positive direction and something like a medical bill shouldn’t stop that movement.
If everyone who reads this would donate $5, Nick would have the dough to cover his bill. I urge you all to do the same.
Get well soon, Nick.
April 30th, 2009 at 7:00 am
[...] you hadn’t already heard, all around good guy and Cannondale factory pilot Nick Van Dine took a nasty fall snowboarding that landed him in the ICU. Nick underwent reconstructive surgery shortly after the [...]