Many competitors are surprised to learn that Medicare plays an important role in how motorsport personal accident insurance operates in Australia.

In Australia, insurance policies and payments made by insurers with regards to medical expenses are governed by the Health Insurance Act, which expressly prohibits an insurer from paying medical expenses or services listed on the Medicare benefit schedule.

As a result, Motorsport Australia’s insurance policy cannot reimburse competitors for medical expenses that are covered by Medicare – this is a legal restriction rather than a policy exclusion.

While these laws help preserve Australia’s universal healthcare system, competitors may still face out-of-pocket costs, particularly if they choose to receive treatment through the private healthcare system.

However, the policy can provide benefits for a range of non-Medicare medical expenses.

These may include physiotherapy, dental treatment, ambulance transport, private hospital accommodation and MRI scans performed by providers that are not registered with Medicare.

Please note that the advice provided above is general and does not take into account your specific circumstances. For further information, please review the Motorsport Australia insurance handbook, or contact MGA Insurance Brokers on 1300 642 000.

More information on Motorsport Australia’s Insurance Policy can be found on the website.