Personal Accident Insurance
Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane & Canberra

Personal accident insurance should be discussed in relation to the person insured and the financial effect of being unable to perform their usual work. Explain the occupation in practical terms, including manual tasks, travel, site work and any duties performed away from the main workplace. A business owner may combine administration with physical work, so a title such as director does not provide the full picture. Identify whether cover is being considered for one person or a group and who would receive any benefit. Ask the broker to explain the insured events and eligibility criteria in the proposed wording.

Separate personal income needs from business operating expenses. An owner’s absence may affect drawings, project supervision and the cost of a replacement worker in different ways. Bring an outline of the financial commitments you want to discuss, without assuming that one policy can address them all. Ask how benefit amounts, income evidence, waiting periods, benefit periods and definitions of incapacity operate for the product being considered. Also clarify whether the proposal is accident-only or includes any sickness benefits. These distinctions need to be read in the actual terms rather than inferred from a short product description or advertising heading.

Provide accurate occupation details and answer the insurer’s questions about work, activities and health as required by the proposal. If a question is unclear, ask for clarification rather than guessing. Keep a copy of the information supplied and any explanation accepted during underwriting. Discuss exclusions, restricted activities, territorial limits and any special conditions recorded in the schedule. An apparently similar benefit amount can operate differently under another policy because the qualifying event and payment conditions differ. Ask for the relevant disclosure documents and wording so you can consider the arrangement against your circumstances before deciding.

Review other arrangements that may be relevant, such as employer benefits, workers compensation, income protection or cover associated with another membership or policy. The purpose is to understand how each works and identify questions about overlap or gaps, not assume that one automatically replaces another. For a self-employed person, discuss what documents would demonstrate earnings and time away from work if a claim arose. Keep business accounts and role descriptions available, subject to appropriate privacy controls. Where tax treatment or the interaction with another entitlement is important, obtain advice from the appropriately qualified adviser for that issue.

If an injury occurs, obtain appropriate medical care and keep a factual record of the date, circumstances and work affected. Contact the relevant claims representative to understand the forms and supporting information required by the policy. Medical evidence, income records and details of usual duties may be requested depending on the benefit sought. Record changes in work capacity accurately, including any partial return or modified duties. Do not assume that a medical certificate alone establishes entitlement to a particular payment. The insurer assesses the claim against the selected benefits, definitions, waiting periods and other applicable terms.

Revisit the arrangement when your occupation, income or responsibilities change. Moving from office work to regular site duties, employing someone to replace part of your role or reducing working hours can change the questions worth asking. Consider how the business would contact customers, access schedules and authorise essential payments during an unexpected absence. Keep that operational plan separate from assumptions about insurance proceeds. At renewal, confirm the people insured and discuss whether the stated benefit levels and periods still match the purpose originally identified. Any recommendation should reflect the circumstances assessed and the limitations of the available policy.