Lifetime Care & Support Scheme
The Lifetime Care & Support Scheme provides treatment for people severely injured in a motor vehicle accident on NSW roads.
The Scheme was established under the Motor Accidents (Lifetime Care & Support) Act 2006.
The Scheme began for children under the age of 16 on 1 October 2006 and will begin for adults on 1 October 2007. Collection of the levy to cover adults will begin 1 April 2007.
Until now the NSW CTP Scheme has been fault based, which meant that to be covered an injured person had to prove they were injured by the fault of the driver. If the driver was not at fault, treatment, care and rehabilitation costs were not covered.
What the Scheme does
The Lifetime Care & Support Scheme provides treatment, rehabilitation and care services to people severely injured in motor accidents in NSW, regardless of who was at fault in the accident. People who are eligible for the Scheme will have a spinal cord injury, moderate to severe brain injury, multiple amputations, severe burns or permanent blindness.
The Lifetime Care and Support Authority will provide reasonable and necessary treatment, rehabilitation and care as it is needed throughout the injured person’s life, including daily personal and nursing care, wheelchairs, domestic help, respite care, home and transport modifications.
How the Scheme is funded
NSW Legislation imposes a levy on motorists through the compulsory CTP Greenslip mechanism. The levy is collected by insurers on behalf of the NSW Government.
On 1 October 2006 the Lifetime Care & Support Scheme began for children under the age of 16. On your CTP Greenslip this levy is detailed under MCIS (Medical Care and Injury Services) on your Greenslip notice. This levy covers all ambulance and hospital costs for all motor vehicle accidents (in the past this was included in the premium) and for the treatment and care for people with severe injuries who need lifetime assistance.
From 1 April 2007 the MCIS amount will increase to include Lifetime Care coverage for adults as well as children. This means that from 1 October 2007 everyone will be protected under the Lifetime Care & Support Scheme.
For more information
A website has been set-up by the NSW Government dedicated to the Lifetime Care & Support Scheme, providing publications, resources and more information about the Scheme at www.lifetimecare.nsw.gov.au or 1300 137 131.
For a PDF version please click here.
Insurance Council Contact:
Paul Giles
General Manager Communications
p: (02) 9253 5160
f: (02) 9253 5111
pgiles@insurancecouncil.com.au