Workplace personal injury insurance

The Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 (the Act) states that employers must insure their workers with WorkCover Queensland. Therefore, anyone excluded from the definition of a worker is not required to have insurance with us.

Workplace personal injury insurance is an optional insurance for anyone excluded from the definition of a worker by the Act. Directors of companies, partners in partnerships, trustees of trusts and some sole traders are not workers, and are eligible to take out Workplace personal injury insurance. Anyone can insure themselves by taking out this type of policy, regardless of age or health.

If you have any questions about your eligibility for a Workplace personal injury insurance policy, call us on 1300 362 128 or check our product disclosure guide.

Do I need an accident insurance policy?

This policy covers you in the event of a work-related injury or for injuries. Injuries incurred while travelling to or from work, while on a break from work, or while working interstate may also be covered.

It covers medical, hospital and rehabilitation costs. It also covers wage payments, based on your insured benefit level. See below for more information about how we pay lost wages.

This policy does not provide common law coverage against damages, as you are insuring yourself.

It is important to note that this policy is not the same as income protection and does not provide 24-hour cover.

How is the premium calculated?

Like accident insurance, your Workplace personal injury insurance premium is calculated by multiplying wages by a premium rate. There is a non-refundable minimum premium threshold for this insurance, which is currently $1500 for a full financial year (pro-rated by month thereafter).

The rate is based on your occupation and will be classified depending on whether the majority of your own work involves physical labouring.

Your wages are called your insured benefit level (IBL), and are used to calculate both your premium and lost wages payable in the event of a claim. Your IBL is your declarable income level. This will usually be the same as the income you would declare to the Australian Taxation Office.

If you make a claim, we will require verification of your IBL. Your weekly benefits will then be paid as the lesser of 85% of IBL or your actual income level.

How do I set up a workplace personal injury insurance policy?

To insure yourself, please call us on 1300 362 128 with the following information:

• your name and date of birth
• your contact details including home address
• a brief description of your occupation
• your IBL.

We prefer payment by Mastercard or Visa over the phone when you take out your policy. Payment plans are not available for this policy. For other payment options, please check your premium notice.

Please call us if you need to cancel your policy so we can arrange any refund owing to you.

Maintaining your insurance

Your policy will be renewed in early June every year, for next financial year’s period of insurance. You’ll receive a renewal premium notice based on your prior declared IBL. If you want to update your IBL or your occupation has changed, call us as soon as you receive your notice so we can issue you with the correct premium notice.

Please make sure we have your up-to-date contact details prior to your policy’s renewal in June, so your notice is sent to the right address.

Before taking out workplace personal injury insurance

This type of policy is not mandatory in Queensland. This policy does not provide 24-hour coverage.

We encourage our customers to carefully compare our insurance with other policies and consider what product features and costs are best suited for your business and needs.

Important note: This policy does not circumvent the need for accident insurance if someone is defined as a worker under the Act.

For example, an employer asks all their workers to take out workplace personal injury insurance. A worker sustains a work-related injury, which is then accepted as a claim by WorkCover. As they are a worker, their claim will be made under their employer’s policy, not the worker’s personal policy.