subject: Income Protection Insurance for Queensland Flood Victims: Who Can Claim? [print this page] Income Protection Insurance for Queensland Flood Victims: Who Can Claim?
The Queensland floods, followed up by the storms associated with Cyclone Yasi, have been truly devastating for many Queenslanders. While loss of life has fortunately been low, the real impact for the majority of Queenslanders will be on their day to day life. How will they meet the mortgage payments? What happens if the car was washed away and they can't get to work? It seems as if these times are the exact reason that you buy income protection insurance ... however, many Queenslanders will not be able to claim on their income protection policy. We look at some circumstances in which the Queensland floods may have created conditions that allow you to call in the safety net of your income protection insurance.
Flood-related injuries
If you have suffered an injury during the floods or the flood cleanup, you may be able to claim on your income protection insurance, if:
You are unable to work due to sickness
You are unable to work due to injury
For example, if you suffered a broken leg and would be unable to work, you could usually claim on your income protection insurance policy.
Flood-related sicknesses
Floodwaters have the significant potential to harbour disease and provide bacterial breeding grounds. If you have suffered a case of giardia, food poisoning from E. coli, or gastro-type symptoms from cryptosporidium, and your sickness extends past the waiting period, you should be able to claim on your income protection cover. In addition, if you have had to walk in floodwaters with open cuts on your legs, there is a risk of septicemia, hepatitis A. You can also develop hemolytic uremic syndrome through exposure to floodwaters.
It is essential that you inform your doctor or insurance company from the first day that you feel ill, so that if the illness extends past the waiting period you're able to claim.
Flood-related mental health issues
While the floodwaters are inherently dangerous to health, the whole experience is certainly inherently dangerous to mental health. Some insurers may cover mental health under their income protection cover policies such as stress, anxiety, depression or grief. You will need a formal diagnosis from your doctor. You'll also need to check your individual policy for a list of conditions and the definition of 'disability' with your insurer.
The floods have been devastating, and many people are discovering the importance of all types of insurance. In this case, home and contents insurance would have made a valuable adjunct to income protection insurance.
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