Equestrian Australia Coaches

Medicare is a Commonwealth Government programme that provides eligible Australian residents with free or low-cost medical and hospital care.

Medicare provides access to:

• Free treatment as public (Medicare) patient in public hospital
• Free or subsidised treatment by practitioners such as Doctors or specialists.

The medical benefits schedule (MBS) lists all treatments and Associated MBR relating to Medicare.

You can access the MBS at any time by Medicare’s website. Items commonly used by sports participants that are Medicare listed can include General Practitioners, surgeons and an anaesthetists.

The MBS lists a rebate amount for each Medicare Item.

Example: A short consultation with a Doctor = Medicare rebate of $15.36

However, doctors or specialists may charge more than the listed MBS amount.

The difference between was is charged and the MBS rebate is call the “Medicare Gap”

1. The Doctor charges $45
2. Medicare provides a rebate of $15.35
3. Medicare Gap = $29.65 (our of pocket expense).

The Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cth) strictly prohibits any general insurer from insuring any item that is listed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule.

This also means that regardless of your out of pocket expenses, it is against the law for the insurer to cover the Medicare Gap.

So what does that mean?

If your medical or other treatment has a Medicare Item number, such as the doctor fee above, it is claimable on Medicare by is uninsurable and you may not claim for reimbursement.

In the example you cannot claim the $29.65.

If your medical or other treatment does not have a Medicare Item Number, you may claim for reimbursement through Marsh . For specific insurance and Risk Protection information please visit the making a claim section of this website.

Yes, accredited EA coaches who have elected to participate in the EA National Insurance Program are covered to coach anyone as long as they are coaching within their accredited qualifications.

Further insurance may be required for coaches that perform equestrian business activities which sit outside the remit of coaching. These may include activities such as providing agistment services, horse training, operating a riding establishment and more. Please contact the us to discuss additional insurances for your business.

The Public Liability policy does provide limited liability cover to property owners, in circumstances where their involvement is required for legal action brought against you, due to coaching activities conducted on their property.

A property owner is NOT covered under your public liability policy for claims where they are found liable for injuries or damage to a third party or their property.

Yes, coaches with a policy obtained through the National Insurance Program are covered when it is required for you to ride in connection with a student lesson. However, in cases where your business extends to taking on clients horses for continued education and/or agistment, additional insurance will need to be purchased.

No, the program provides cover ‘whilst engaged in coaching’ and does not extend to additional business activities such as agistment, horse education, etc. Marsh are able to arrange a policy tailored to these individual needs, please contact the team for further information.