Bicycle Network: Bicycle Network Victoria Membership

View the full policy wording

1. What does personal injury and third party liability insurance cover me for?

2. How do I insure my bicycle?

3. When does WorkCover apply?

4. Why can't my insurance cover my bill for my GP? Why doesn't personal injury and third party liability insurance cover any Medicare expenses?

5. If I go to a private hospital, what is covered under Bicycle Network Victoria's personal injury and third party liability insurance?

6. When should I call Bicycle Network Victoria for free legal advice?

7. How do I find details for a person at fault?

8. How do I use my contents insurance to cover my bike?

1. What does personal injury and third party liability insurance cover me for?

Injury to yourself  as well as injury you cause someone else and damage you cause to someone else's property, every time you ride a bike anywhere in Australia. Bicycle Network Victoria membership does not cover your bike or accessories.

Our membership is designed to complement other insurance policies, as no insurance policy covers everything, especially when you take into account excesses and waiting periods.

Here's an example of how different insurances work together: 

After Lucy had a bike accident she was referred onto a physiotherapist to assist with repairing the damage to her lower back. She attended 12 sessions with her physio.
Physio costs: 12 x $100(session fees) = $1200
Private Health coverage: $500 per. year @ 70% of cost
Private Health Pays: $500 of $850 entitled
Bicycle Network Victoria Membership pays: $7,500 per claim @ 85% of cost
Remaining fee = $700
Bicycle Network Victoria Membership pays: $595

View the full policy wording online.

2. How do I insure my bicycle?

Bicycle Network Victoria's personal injury and third party liability insurance does not cover your property - including your bike or associated accessories. Consider CycleSafe Home Insurance. This covers your bicycle for theft and accidental damage, both at home and away from home, including while riding it.

3. When does WorkCover apply?

Cyclists are covered by WorkCover if involved in a work-related accident occurring during the course of employment. This does not include commuting to and from work. WorkCover pays no-fault compensation. For further details, contact WorkCover on 1800 136 089 (Victoria).

4. Why can't my insurance cover my bill for my GP? Why doesn't personal injury and third party liability insurance cover any Medicare expenses?

In Australia, insurance companies, by law, cannot cover any Medicare expenses. Please see below for Section 126 of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cth).

Section 126(1) of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cth) (Health Insurance Act) provides that:

"a person shall not make a contract of insurance with another person that contains a provision purporting to make the first mentioned person liable to make a payment in the event of the incurring by the other person of a liability to pay medical expenses in respect of the rendering in Australia of a professional service for which Medicare Benefit is, or but for sub-section 18(4) would be, payable."

[Section 18(4) relates to circumstances in which the Minister of Health and Ageing can direct that no Medicare benefit be paid in respect of a claim where it appears to the Minister that the claim may become a claim that will give rise to a certain type of determination.]

4. If I go to a private hospital, what is covered under Bicycle Network Victoria's personal injury and third party liability insurance?

Here is a summary that will best explain how Medicare works for our members:

Public patient
Under Medicare, you can be treated as a public patient in a public hospital, at no charge, by a doctor appointed by the hospital. You can choose to be treated as a public patient, even if you are privately insured.
As a public patient, you cannot choose your own doctor and you may not have a choice about when you are admitted to hospital.

Private patient
As a private patient you have the right to choose your own doctor, and decide whether you will go to a public or a private hospital that your doctor attends. You may also have more choice as to when you are admitted to hospital.
If you choose to be treated as a private patient in a hospital (public or private), Medicare will cover you for 75% of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee for associated medical costs.
You will be charged for the remaining 25% of the MBS fee for doctors' services, plus some or all the costs of:
• hospital accommodation,
• theatre fees,
• intensive care,
• drugs, dressings and other consumables,
• prostheses (surgically implanted),
• diagnostic tests,
• pharmaceuticals, and
• any additional doctor's fees.
Treatment as a private patient in a private hospital can be very expensive. Private health insurance will cover some or all of these costs.

Medical
When you visit a doctor outside a hospital, Medicare will reimburse 100% of the MBS fee for a general practitioner and 85% of the MBS fee for a specialist. If your doctor bills Medicare directly, you will not have to pay anything.

Medicare provides benefits for:

• consultation fees for doctors, including specialists,
• tests and examinations by doctors needed to treat illnesses, such as x-rays and pathology tests,
• eye tests performed by optometrists,
• most surgical and other therapeutic procedures performed by doctors,
• some surgical procedures performed by approved dentists,
• specific items under the Cleft Lip and Palate Scheme,
• specific items under the Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) program.

Pharmaceutical
Under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) you pay only part of the cost of most prescription medicines purchased at pharmacies. The rest of the cost is covered by the PBS. You must present your Medicare card to obtain this benefit.
The amount you pay varies with the medicine, up to a standard maximum. People with concession cards have a lower maximum payment.

Medicare does not cover:

Ambulance
Medicare does not cover the cost of emergency or other ambulance services. In Queensland and Tasmania, this service is provided free by the state government. NSW and ACT provide free ambulance cover for pensioners and low income earners.
In other states, you can arrange ambulance cover yourself from the ambulance authority in your state. Alternatively, you can arrange cover with your health insurer as part of your Hospital or General Treatment cover.
Note that ambulance cover can vary - some insurers provide cover for all ambulance travel, while others only provide for ground travel or other limited arrangements, such as in your state of residence only. Check the details with your insurer to ensure which type of ambulance cover best suits your needs.

Hospital
• private patient hospital costs (for example, theatre fees or accommodation),
• medical and hospital costs incurred overseas,
• medical services which are not clinically necessary, or surgery solely for cosmetic reasons.

Medical
• examinations for life insurance, superannuation or memberships for which someone else is responsible (for example, a compensation insurer, employer or government authority),
• most dental examinations and treatment,
• physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, eye therapy, chiropractic services, podiatry or most psychology services,
• acupuncture (unless part of a doctor's consultation),
• glasses and contact lenses,
• hearing aids and other appliances.
Other health costs
• home nursing

6. When should I call Bicycle Network Victoria for free legal advice?

- Your property is damaged by another person and you wish to recover your costs
- You need assistance with a TAC claim
- You would like advice about bike shop repair and maintenance issues

7. How do I find details for a person at fault?

Ideally you will have obtained contact details of the person at fault at the scene of the crash. If you only obtained the person's name, you can try doing an electoral roll search at the Victorian Electoral Commission to obtain their address details. Alternatively if the police attended the scene, you will be able to obtain a copy of the police collision report which will list the contact details of all persons involved in the accident.

8. How do I use my Contents Insurance to cover my bike?

In Australia, we have found that the best way to cover your bike is as part of your contents insurance. Most insurance companies do a really good job with most belongings, but they just don’t understand how important your bike is. For many insurers, a bicycle is just another piece of sporting equipment.

Here is a checklist to make sure you are adequately covered under your contents insurance:
• How many bikes do you have?
Some policies have a limit as to the number of bikes covered.
• Do you need to list your bike as a valuable?
Some policies will only cover your bike if you specifically mention it, like jewellery or antiques.
• Are you covered away from home?
Check to see if you are covered for theft and damage away from home. Also, if you ride all over the country, your coverage should be Australia wide. If you ride overseas, you’ll need worldwide coverage.
• Are you covered for damage while in use?
Many policies will cover your bike for damage, but not damage that occurs in use. Better check. If you race your bike make sure that you are covered while racing.
• Does your policy’s limit cover your bike’s value?
Don’t choose a policy with a $1200 payout limit to cover a bike worth $5000.
• Are you prepared for theft or damage?
Keep an up to date list of bicycle equipment and accessories. Also, take a good quality photo of your bike. The photo should clearly show the type of seat, make, frame type and size, wheels and accessories. This makes it much easier to report it stolen to the police and aid you in the event of a claim.
The insurance company and the police may ask for proof of ownership if your bike is stolen. Proof of ownership also helps if you bike is recovered by the police.
• Are you covered while your bike is in transit?
If you travel with your bike, check that any damage in transit is covered. Often it’s not.
• Are you covered for liability?
These days it’s increasingly important to have adequate liability coverage. In the case of an accident with a pedestrian, you may be liable. Make sure you’re covered.