Tradies know what it’s like to put in hard work. They use their hands, arms, feet, legs, and back every day—lifting, twisting, pushing, and pulling to get the job done. But what happens when injuries leave them laid up for days, weeks, or even longer?
Personal Accident & Illness insurance may be a lifesaver for busy tradies wanting to protect their most important asset—themselves. Read on to learn more about this cover option and get tips for finding a policy that fits your needs.
What is Personal Accident & Illness insurance?
Personal Accident & Illness insurance can cover your income if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury, even if you are injured outside of work. Options are also available to provide benefits if you are permanently disabled or pass away.
Think of it this way: Most bills don’t stop just because you’re unable to work. The workshop lease, ute payment, mortgage, school fees, utilities… they all keep coming even when you’re not earning a paycheque.
A Personal Accident & Illness policy can help cover lost income for a set amount of time following an accidental injury or illness. Once signed off from work by a medical practitioner, this weekly income benefit may pay up to 85% of your salary to help pay ongoing bills. You can also add optional extras to your policy that cover business expenses, disablement, and death.
Personal Accident & Illness insurance also comes with another important benefit: peace of mind. You’ll be able to rest and recover knowing your bills will still be paid while you’re unable to work.
But do I really need it?
Tradies who skip Personal Accident & Illness insurance often do so for two reasons:
I’m covered by workers’ comp insurance.
Are you sure? Sole traders are not covered by workers’ compensation insurance, because they aren’t considered employees. In some circumstances, independent contractors and subcontractors may not be covered by an employer’s workers’ compensation policy.
Workers’ compensation insurance also only covers on-the-job injuries or illnesses. So, if a weekend touch footy game or wrong step on your morning run leave you injured, you’d be completely out of luck.
Personal Accident & Illness insurance can help tradies protect themselves when workers’ compensation isn’t an option. Even better, many policies offer 24/7 worldwide cover, so you’re protected outside of work and even on holiday!
I have savings, so I’m good.
Great! But would it be enough? The median time lost to work-related injuries and illnesses was 7 ½ weeks during the 2023-24 financial year. That’s a long time to be without a paycheque. A good question to ask yourself is, why use savings if insurance can help provide financial protection?
Personal Accident & Illness insurance helps tradies fully recover before returning to work without draining their savings account.
What to look for in a Personal Accident policy
Interested in protecting yourself with a Personal Accident & Illness policy? Some things to consider when choosing a policy include, but are not limited to:
- What’s covered (and what isn’t) – Every insurance policy will have exclusions—activities and events that are not covered. Typical Personal Accident exclusions include pre-existing injuries, high-risk activities, and professional sports.
- Age limits – Personal Accident policies often have age restrictions (typically between 65-70 years, depending on the policy and cover selected).
- Waiting period – This is the amount of time you will need to wait before you can make a claim. You can choose different waiting periods for your policy (from 7 to 28 days). Longer waiting periods usually mean lower premiums.
How to find Personal Accident & Illness cover
Comparing Personal Accident & Illness quotes can help you find a policy that fits your needs and budget.
Every insurer is different, with their own policy exclusions, waiting periods, age limits, and pricing. If you choose a policy from the first insurer you find, you might be missing out on savings or cover that better suits your needs.
BizCover, Australia’s number one online business insurance service, makes it fast and easy for tradies to find Personal Accident & Illness insurance. You can compare quotes and buy online in minutes, no doctor’s visit necessary!
Tradies can also compare quotes for other types of cover alongside Personal Accident & Illness—like Public Liability, Portable Equipment, and Professional Indemnity—to see if they can save money by switching insurers—like Brodie a builder in NSW who saved $400 on Personal Accident & Illness insurance*.
Protect yourself on and off the job with Personal Accident & Illness insurance. Compare quotes and buy online in minutes with BizCover.
For on the go cover, go BizCover or call 1300 805 821 today!
*Savings made in August 2025. This information is provided as a guide only and may not reflect pricing for your particular business, as individual underwriting criteria will apply.
This information is general only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. It should not be relied upon as advice. As with any insurance, cover will be subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions contained in the policy wording or Product Disclosure Statement (available on our website). Please consider whether the advice is suitable for you before proceeding with any purchase. Target Market Determination document is also available (as applicable).
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