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Trauma cover for us headbangers
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
Hi All, not wanting to be the harbinger of doom, but the reality is we participate in a high risk sport.
I'm trying to find out if anyone can recommend or has used a specific trauma cover for bikers during races or training, that cover the usual sort of potential damage like head trauma etc?
Thanks
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Firstly, I congratulate you on raising a good question and being responsible.
There is no specific Mountain Biking cover that I am aware of (I'm in the Life Insurance Industry). Standard Trauma Insurance policies all cover an event called 'Major Head Trauma' and the acceptance by an insurer of an application to purchase Trauma cover is subject to declaration of hazardous pursuits, If you have a Life Insurance adviser, I suggest you ask them to check with some insurers on your behalf after describing exactly what your Mountain Biking activities are. If you don't have a Life Insurance adviser - why not?
I can refer you and anyone else who's interested to several colleagues who specialise in Life cover. You should also consider Income Protection cover at the same time if you haven't done so already.
Don't even try to tackle this direct with Life Insurance companies, you need the knowledge and negotiating skills of a professional Life Insurance adviser.
PM me if you need referring to a specialist adviser.
Not affiliated etc. etc. but perhaps check these guys out.
http://ridercover.com.au/
I do not have cover through them, mostly cause I'm lazy and already have cover, although I'm pretty sure there's not bike specific stuff there but I do need to get off my bum and check it all out.
I thought that if you had an MTBA membership, then you're covered on race days and training rides against injuries?
Happy to be corrected if that's not the case...
I was under the same belief, would be good to have verified.
The MTBA insurance is supplied by Willis Insurance, and they have a summary of coverage on their website here - https://info.willis.com/site/cycling/DocLibrary/...
From what I can see, it covers you for the following:-
- Death or permanent disability up to $100,000
- Public liability
- Loss of income as a result of an accident
- Help needed after an accident such as home help, bedcare, funeral expenses
- On the medical side (which is I think what this thread is mainly about) it specifically excludes anything that is included in Medicare, like doctors fees, surgeons fees, anaesthetist's fees, X-rays, and only covers "non-medicare items" such as ambulance, dental, physiotherapy, private bed etc.
So, if you want cover for the actual medical treatment due to an MTB injury, it doesn't look like the MTBA insurance is designed to do that, it seems more about the other things around an accident like public liability, ambulance, recovery, income loss etc.
Disclaimer: I am not an insurance professional, just an average MTBer looking into this myself a while back and thought I'd share what I found out. You should make your own decision on what insurance you need after reading the policy documents thoroughly!
MTBA insurance does not cover for Medicare claimable expenses because the Medicare legislation prohibits it, only Medicare and your private Health insurance can cover Doctors fees. All Sports insurance policies are the same.
I don't think however that this is the main point of the thread, its about keeping an income stream if you are injured and can't work.
Wow this is really great info, thanks everyone. It's been useful and I'll investigate further. I've had a trauma policy in place for a year, which was quite expensive only to discover they wouldn't cover injuries sustained from MTB'ing....
Guess I'll be terminating that cover!!!
Check the fine print, I think you'll find the upper limits they will cover you for on things like income protection are quite low, and for quite limited periods. You may find that you want to top up the MTBA cover, especially if you have commitments like a mortgage and a family to support.
Good point...I'll look into that.
Cheers
Steve
Probably more relevant to specific cover for an event (I used in for BC Bike Race).
BUPA International. NOT BUPA Australia.
....until you get a better replacement policy in place. There is more to Trauma cover than just MTBking. This is one reason why I suggest you obtain the advice of an industry professional who will assist you obtain the cover you are looking for, for the same price or maybe less. Whatever you do, don't terminate your cover until you are certain you have a better replacement policy in place. Hope this helps?
I am covered partially through being a member of Bicycle Victoria, they don't pay for things that are covered by medicare, however they do pay for most other things including physio and other costs. To give an example I got injured Easter 2012 whilst doing some big jumps at Oxford Falls I tore the ligaments that hold your collarbone in place. I had surgery and loads of physio, total cost me about $4500, and Bicycle Victoria's insurance paid me about $3000, so I was only $1500 out of pocket. Not a bad deal considering the Bicycle Victoria membership is only about $120 a year. By the way this was the second time that they have paid out on their insurance policy, as 6 years ago a broke my collarbone and had to have it operated on and they again paid me about $1500.
So as far as I am concerned it's pretty cheap cover, in addition I am even covered when I ride in NZ, they even pay some of your wages if you can't work for extended period and have no sick leave left.
This is the link: https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/general/join-i...
Has anyone looked into the cover included in most superannuation funds?
Seems to normally be permanent disability and death cover...
The benefit with MTBA is a max $500 per week if injured in a sanctioned event, or $250 per week if injured in a non-sanctioned event (the cover with CA has just increased to $600 and $300, respectively, but not sure if this has been passed onto MTBA - the old rates are still showing on their website).
Vested interest alert: I second what someone else has said about getting proper advice about this though.