There is more to learn about the long-term effects of Covid-19, but we know that many people are experiencing ongoing mental and/or physical ill health related to the disease.

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A person is usually considered to have Long COVID if their symptoms have persisted for longer than 12 weeks after their initial infection.

 

The symptoms can include:

• extreme fatigue (tiredness)

• shortness of breath, heart palpitations, chest pain or tightness

• problems with memory and concentration

• changes to taste and smell

• joint and muscle pain

 

According to the North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network, Long Covid may be experienced by up to 30 per cent of people who had a Covid-19 infection.​

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Financial Help for Those with Confirmed Long Covid

Before Long Covid patients contacted AFRM Claims Advocacy (ACA), they were pushing through work, because they could not afford to stop working.  With the help of ACA, we have helped clients to understand how their personal insurance can financially support them, giving them the peace of mind that they can afford to slow down and recover. 

 

 

 

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Featured on 2CC radio: Financial Help for those with Long Covid

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/2cc/episodes/Covid-Numbers-on-The-Rise-Before-Winter-Hits-e22kfnq

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Case Study

Kelly (aged 42) is a primary school teacher.  She tested positive to Covid -19 in February 2021.   She had all the typical symptoms - fatigue, dizziness, and brain fog.

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Post the isolation period, she tried to return to work but could not function. She could not concentrate, felt fatigued and by lunch time the brain fog set in.  Her GP confirmed it was Long Covid symptoms.  

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Kelly enjoyed teaching but was unable to work for over 12 months because of Long Covid.  When she returned to work, she started on a part time basis.  Fortunately, her superannuation plan incorporated an income protection component.  She engaged ACA to help her lodge an income protection claim which paid her 75 per cent of her regular income, whilst she didn’t have capacity to work full-time.  

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Kelly is still recovering from Long Covid.   Her income protection payments are helping her to pay for day to day living, including out of pocket medical expenses.  Her income protection policy will continue whilst she is recovering and unfit to work full time.

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Do I qualify?

If your medical specialist (GP) has confirmed that you have Long Covid (and related conditions) and it impacts your ability to work, then you might have personal insurance in your superannuation that could owe you an insurance payment. ACA can help you check whether you can access this payment to alleviate financial worry- its a free assessment. 

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What is personal insurance?

Personal Insurance intent is to provide financial security to you and your family for events such as a serious injury or illness.  Cover may have been purchased directly or often superannuation funds have a basic level of cover available to members. Cover includes:

⁞       Income Protection – the benefit payment is up to 75% of the client’s income if they can’t work due to illness or injury (eg. Long Covid)                   

⁞       Trauma – the benefit payment is made if the client is diagnosed with a major illness eg. cancer

⁞       Total & Permanent Disability – benefit paid if the client is totally and permanently disabled because of their injury or illness and cannot work. 

⁞       Death claims – the benefit payment is a lump sum paid to the beneficiary upon the death of the client.

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Did you know?

• Personal insurance benefit payments are intended to support you for most injuries and illness (incl. Long Covid).

• You’ve most likely been paying for your personal insurance via your superannuation fund.

• A successful default personal insurance claim, does not reduce your superannuation balance.

• It is difficult to identify the contraction of Covid. For some this makes it difficult to confirm that Long Covid was contracted at work, therefore making it challenging to lodge a Workers Compensation claim. 

• Personal insurance policies often have a wait period (at least 30 days), however most Long Covid exceeeds the wait period.

• Depending upon your insurance policy you can return to work at reduced hours (part time) and be paid insurance payments.

• Most employers are not aware of  personal insurance entitlements to employees, but it forms part of most employees default superannuation plan.

• Personal insurance can still be paid even if you already receive payments from injury compensation schemes (eg. Workers Compensation) or are a participant in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

• ​Even if your superannuation statement reads “nil cover” you may have had cover at the time you stopped work – so it is worth checking.  

• To make it easy for you, ACA can find out if you are owed payments or not, before lodging a claim.

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To find out if we can help, call us on 1300 013 328 or email us on aca@afrm.com.au

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What you can expect from the personal insurance claim process: