FAQ

How do I apply for cover?
You simply need to complete the application and proposal form and return this to us by mail, fax or email. Click here for a copy of the application pack or call Member Services on 1800 011 255 if you would rather receive a copy in the post.
What is retroactive cover?
Retroactive cover is cover for claims, investigations or inquiries which arise from medical services provided prior to the inception date of the policy, where you first become aware of such a matter during the period of insurance. The retroactive date on the policy determines how much of your prior practice is covered under your policy (see Retroactive Cover). The retroactive date is specified on the policy schedule.
If you do not acquire adequate retroactive cover and a claim arises from your work prior to the retroactive date, you will not have cover from us for that claim and may have to pay the claim (or your proportion of the liability) including all associated defence/legal costs personally.
You should be aware that if you purchase retroactive cover, your policy will not respond to claims that have been made against you at the time of your application. Nor will your policy respond to any other matter that you were aware of, or ought reasonably been aware of at the time of your application.
What are Gross Annual Billings?
Gross Annual Billings are the total billings generated by you from all areas of your practice for which you require medical indemnity cover from us within the premium period (that is, work performed in your name or work for which you are personally liable, including but not limited to Medicare benefits, payments by individuals, payments by the Commonwealth Department of Veterans' Affairs, workers' compensation schemes and third party and/or vehicle insurers) whether the funds are retained by you or not, and before any apportionment or deduction of expenses and/or tax.
What is the PSS?
The Premium Support Scheme (PSS) is an Australian Government Scheme introduced to assist eligible doctors to meet the costs of their medical indemnity insurance.
MDA National Insurance has entered into an agreement with the Department of Health and Ageing and Medicare Australia to administer the scheme on the government's behalf.
You may be eligible for the scheme if:
- your gross indemnity costs for a premium period exceed 7.5% of your estimated or actual income; or
- you conduct work as a Procedural General Practitioner in an area that is classified by the Department of Health and Ageing as a Remote, Rural or Metropolitan Area (RRMA) 3-7; or
- you previously received a subsidy under the government's Medical Indemnity Subsidy Scheme (MISS) and continue to work in the same specialty; or
- you conduct work only in the public sector (thereby earning no income from private practice) but have a contract of insurance which provides run-off cover or retroactive cover for incidents that occurred in connection with past private medical practice. This does not include an insurance contract which only provides cover for medico-legal costs and/ or damages in respect of gratuitous services.
Further information about the details of the Scheme can be found here.
What is Run-off Cover?
Run-off Cover is a form of cover generally taken out by professionals when they retire or in the event they stop practising for a significant period of time. Medical negligence claims can be made against a medical practitioner years after the medical services were provided. A Run-off Policy covers claims that first come to light and are notified to us in writing after a nominated cessation date but only in respect of medical services provided during the period from your retroactive date to your nominated cessation date. The cessation date is normally the day after your last day of practice for which you require our cover.
If you would like to find out more about our Run-off Professional Indemnity Insurance Policy, please contact Member Services and we will be happy to discuss your needs and send you a Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Policy Wording.
When considering Run-off Cover, you should be aware that the Australian Government has introduced a statutory Run-off Cover Scheme (ROCS) which means you may not need to purchase a Run-off Professional Indemnity Insurance Policy from us.
What is ROCS?
From 1 July 2004, the Australian Government introduced a Run-off Cover statutory indemnity scheme for doctors who practise in Australia. The scheme provides Run-off Cover to certain eligible doctors without the requirement for premiums to be paid once the doctor is eligible.
You are eligible for ROCS if you:
1. are aged 65 years and have retired permanently from private medical practice;
2. have not engaged in private medical practice at any time during the preceding period of 3 years;
3. have only ever worked in public medical practice and have not undertaken any paid medical practice at any time during the preceding period of 3 years;
4. have ceased (temporarily or permanently) medical practice because of maternity;
5. have ceased medical practice because of a permanent disability; or
6. have left Australia permanently having practiced in Australia on a Visa sub-class 422 or 457.
A doctor's estate will also be eligible for ROCS after the doctor's death.
ROCS indemnity will apply in exactly the same way as your final medical indemnity policy would. Accordingly, if you have any gaps in cover in your final policy, these gaps will remain uncovered once you become eligible for ROCS.
More information on the scheme is available on request or from the Department of Health and Ageing at www.health.gov.au
How do I know which risk category is right for me?
Selecting the right risk category is important because your risk category not only determines the premium you pay but also the procedures for which you are indemnified under your policy.
MDA National Insurance produces a Risk Category Guide which discusses all risk categories from intern through to private practice consultant. Click here to download a copy of the 2007/08 Risk Category Guide. If you are unsure whether or not a particular aspect of your practice is indemnified under a risk category, you should contact Member Services for clarification.
It is important to be aware that in order to have adequate protection for the areas of your practice for which you require our indemnity, you must select the risk category which corresponds with the highest risk activity you undertake.
How do I obtain a quote?
You can call Member Services on 1800 011 255 to receive a pricing indication over the phone, or alternatively you can submit an online enquiry and we will send a pricing indication and application pack in the post for you.
We will provide you with a formal quotation once we have received and accepted your completed proposal. In most circumstances you can you can expect to receive a response from us within three to five working days of us receiving your completed proposal.
What services do you offer on Member Online Services?
View and update your details - update your personal details such as your address or provider number online
Renew and pay online - in a few easy steps you are able to renew and make payment for your Professional Indemnity Insurance Policy online and in total security
Online Notification of Incidents - incident reporting is important and you should inform us as soon as possible of any incident
Certificate of Currency - as part of your practice you may be required to provide proof of indemnity. If you have a current Professional Indemnity Insurance Policy with us, you can download and print a Certificate of Currency online
View your risk category history - you can review the risk category history associated with your insurance cover for the past three years
Other services will be soon available for our Members. Our web development will be offered in stages to ensure that our system is secure and stable at all times. Shortly Members will be able to register for events online and other online payments will be also available soon.
MDA National is committed to ensuring we have the most up-to-date security protocols at all times.
How do I access my login details for Member Online Services?
You can register by clicking on the "Register Online Now" button. This will take you to the registration form. Enter your Member number, surname and date of birth into the registration form and press the "Submit" button.
Your registration will be processed by our Member Services team and an interim password will be posted to you.
Tip: The interim password is sent via regular mail, it is not sent via email for security reasons. If you wish to receive your interim password over the phone, call Member Services on 1800 011 255 during business hours.
What risk management do you offer to Members?
MDA National offers a wide range of Risk Management activities for our Members. Visit our Risk Management section for more details
How can I provide feedback or get support for using your website?
Visit our Contact Us page and complete the available online form. You can send feedback, ask for support with the website and request information about our products, we will respond as soon as possible
How can I request information about our Products and Services?
Visit our Contact Us page and find your favorite way to get in contact with us, via email, phone, fax or using the available online form
Am I covered if I practice overseas?
If you are planning on working abroad (excluding USA) and require our indemnity for this work, the Professional Indemnity Insurance Policy can be extended to include cover for acts or omissions outside Australia. You will need to request cover for this type of work in writing and include the dates you will require the cover, where you will be practicing and the nature of your practice at this time. Cover is subject to underwriting approval and is generally for short periods of time.
What are Gratuitous Services and do I need indemnity to cover them?
Gratuitous Services are medical services which are provided free of charge. They may include things such as Good Samaritan and volunteer acts, prescription writing and/or referral writing.
If you retire from medical practice and you become eligible for the Run-Off Cover Scheme (ROCS), ROCS will not cover you for matters arising from Gratuitous Services you provide after entering the Scheme. Similarly, if you are not eligible for immediate entry into ROCS, Run-off Cover will not provide you with indemnity for any Gratuitous Services you may provide after your last day of medical practice.
MDA National Insurance can provide you with indemnity to cover any Gratuitous Services that you may provide. For further information, please contact Member Services on 1800 011 255
Why do I need cover if I'm working in a public hospital and am indemnified by my employer?
If you work full time in the public health system, you will most likely be indemnified by the State for medical negligence claims which arise from this work. Any other cover you receive will vary based on your employer and your individual employment agreement, however there may be situations where the indemnity provided by your employer does not extend to protect you.
The Professional Indemnity Insurance Policy issued by MDA National Insurance can provide you with your own medical indemnity cover for Medical Board Investigations, Professional Services Review Committee Investigations, Coronial Inquiries, Hospital Inquiries, Disciplinary Proceedings and Royal Commissions. There may be significant legal costs associated with these types of investigations and inquiries.
The costs for these types of matters are not insignificant. Inquiries can cost upward of $100,000, while major investigations can run to more than $300,000. The Professional Indemnity Insurance Policy provides you with cover for up to $500,000 in the aggregate for defence costs for investigations and inquiries.