Coverage under the Midwife Professional Indemnity Run-Off Cover Scheme (MPIROCS)

When midwives are covered

The MPIROCS only covers midwives when they are eligible.

What MPIROCS covers

The MPIROCS cover is based on an eligible midwife’s last cover with Medical Insurance Australia (MIGA), including:

• cover for the same types of incidents
• the same terms and conditions.

What last cover means

Last cover usually means the cover a midwife had before they stopped private practice.

Types of costs covered

If they are in line with the terms and conditions of a midwife’s last cover, the MPIROCS will cover:

• compensation or damages costs for claims made against the midwife
• costs incurred by the insurer in managing or investigating a reported incident (which may or may not become a claim)
• costs related to claims made by the midwife arising from midwifery practice, such as the cost of legal representation at coronial enquiries.

Amount covered

The MPIROCS covers claim costs up to the limit of the midwife’s last cover.

What the MPIROCS does not cover

The MPIROCS does not cover:

• any free midwifery services the midwife provides before or after stopping private practice – they should take out appropriate cover for these services
• any public sector work before or after stopping private practice – the public sector employer will cover these services
• loss of income
• personal injury claims
• incidents that MIGA received notice of when the midwife was not eligible for the MPIROCS.

Why MPIROCS cover is based on last cover

The Australian Government funds the MPIROCS with a levy on insurance premiums.

It is fair that midwives who had indemnity insurance, and contributed to the MPIROCS through their premiums, continue to receive the same cover.

This also encourages midwives to ensure their insurance offers adequate cover.