1. Australian Government Department of Health. Medical and midwife professional indemnity insurance schemes. Overview of government backstop schemes including the ECS, HCCS, and PSS. health.gov.au ↗
2. AHPRA. Registration Standard — Professional Indemnity Insurance Arrangements. ahpra.gov.au — mandatory cover requirement for all registered practitioners.
3. GPRA. NTCER 2026.1 and employment guidance for GP registrars. gpra.org.au/ntcer
4. MDA National. mdanational.com.au — product information and 24/7 advice line.
5. Avant Mutual. avant.org.au — product information and Avant Law.
6. MIPS. mips.com.au — product information and GP category definitions.
Disclaimer: This page is general information only. Premiums, coverage terms, and policy details vary between providers and are subject to change. Always obtain a personalised quote and read the product disclosure statement before purchasing medical indemnity insurance. This site is not affiliated with any MDO and receives no payment from any provider featured here.
What it covers, what the AGPT program pays for, what you pay for yourself, and how MDA National, Avant, and MIPS compare.
AHPRA requirement — not optional. All registered medical practitioners must hold appropriate medical indemnity insurance as a condition of AHPRA registration. Practising without valid cover is a registration breach. Source: AHPRA Registration Standard — Professional Indemnity Insurance Arrangements.
What medical indemnity actually covers
Medical indemnity insurance protects you if a patient makes a claim against you for alleged negligence, a clinical error, or a breach of duty. It covers:
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Civil claims (negligence) — patient sues you for a clinical error. Legal defence costs and any damages awarded are covered.
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AHPRA notifications and investigations — if a patient lodges a complaint with AHPRA, your MDO provides medico-legal support and representation.
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Coronial inquests — if a patient dies and a coroner investigates, your MDO represents you.
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Health complaints commission investigations — state-based complaints bodies (HCCC in NSW, OHO in QLD, etc.).
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24/7 medico-legal advice line — call before a difficult consultation, after an adverse event, or when you receive a complaint letter.
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Not covered: Criminal conduct, deliberate harm, work outside your scope of practice or registration.
Claims-made vs occurrence-based — what registrars need to know
Most Australian medical indemnity is claims-made: the policy in force when the claim is lodged covers it, not when the incident occurred. This matters when you change providers or retire.
Run-off cover: When you stop practising (or change providers), you need "run-off" cover for claims that arise from past practice. Most providers include this or offer it at low cost for GPs leaving the workforce. When you change providers, always ask about tail coverage for your previous practice period.
What does it actually cost?
Premiums are individually calculated and not publicly listed. Indicative ranges based on available information:
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GP registrar (non-procedural, AGPT-supervised) — typically $2,000–$4,000/year. Some training programs include or subsidise this.
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GP (procedural — skin excision, joint injections) — $4,000–$8,000/year.
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GP with obstetrics or anaesthetics — significantly higher. Get a quote.
These are indicative figures only — your premium depends on provider, location, scope of practice, procedural work, and claims history. Always get a direct quote from each provider. Source: indicative ranges from MIPS, AHPRA, and published guidance.
What the AGPT program covers — and the gaps
Good news first: While you are working in an accredited AGPT training practice under supervision, your training organisation (your college or the Department of Health via GPSA) provides indemnity cover for work within the scope of your training. You are not unprotected.
What training program indemnity covers
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Clinical work within your accredited training placement — standard GP consultations, supervised procedures, within training practice hours.
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Telehealth and in-person consultations at your accredited training practice.
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Most procedural work within the scope of your GPT level and supervision requirements.
What it may NOT cover — the gaps registrars miss
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Work outside the training placement — any locum shifts, after-hours clinics, or work at non-accredited practices may not be covered by your training indemnity.
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AHPRA notifications — training program indemnity may not fully cover representation during AHPRA complaints processes. Your own MDO membership provides more comprehensive support.
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Good Samaritan situations — acting as a doctor at an accident or emergency outside your workplace. Personal MDO membership covers this; training program coverage may not.
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Run-off on completion — when you finish training and become a fellow, the training indemnity ends. You need your own policy.
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Telehealth consultations for patients outside your training practice — check with your RLO and MDO.
Ask your RLO: Exact coverage under your training program varies by year, training organisation, and whether you are on AGPT, RVTS, or another pathway. Your Registrar Liaison Officer (RLO) or GPRA can clarify what your training indemnity covers. Source: GPRA employment guidance.
The verdict for most registrars
Most GP registrars hold both training program indemnity AND personal MDO membership. The personal membership is relatively low-cost at your career stage, provides AHPRA representation from day one, covers all out-of-hours work, and ensures continuity when you transition to fellowship. The cost is deductible against your income as a work-related expense.
Important: Premiums are not publicly listed and are individually calculated. The comparison below covers structure, features, and approach — not price. Get a quote from each provider directly. None of these providers pay for placement on this page.
Tap a scenario to highlight the rows that matter most for your situation.
Sources: Avant Practitioner Indemnity Insurance Policy — Summary of features, effective 1 July 2025. MIPS Member Handbook 2025–26. MDA National insurance products page. Full PDS required for complete detail.
✓ = confirmed from provider's published materials. "Neutral" = confirmed exists, detail requires PDS. None of these providers pay for placement on this page. Not insurance advice — read the full PDS before deciding.
✓ = confirmed from provider's public materials. "Neutral" = confirmed exists but full detail requires PDS. Sub-limits and conditions vary by policy type, career stage, and scope of practice. None of these providers pay for placement on this page.
How to choose: Most registrars pick based on which MDO their supervisor or training practice recommends — continuity of relationship matters if a claim arises. Get a quote from all three, compare the premium for your specific scope of practice, and ask each about their registrar-specific support. Switching providers mid-career is possible but requires care around tail coverage.
If something goes wrong — what to do
Call your MDO first — before doing anything else. Before writing a response to a complaint, before speaking to the patient or their family about a potential claim, before contacting AHPRA — call your MDO's 24/7 advice line. This is what the membership is for. Their medico-legal advisors will guide every step.
Types of adverse events and how each is handled
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Patient complaint (verbal, to practice)
Acknowledge the concern, listen, offer to review. Do not apologise in a way that admits liability. Notify your supervisor. Call your MDO if the complaint is serious or escalating. Document everything in the patient record immediately.
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Written complaint to the practice or hospital
Do not respond without speaking to your MDO first. Your MDO will help draft a response that is appropriate, empathetic, and does not inadvertently admit liability. Notify your supervisor and practice manager.
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AHPRA notification
You will receive a letter from AHPRA with a timeframe to respond. Do not respond alone. Call your MDO immediately — they will assign a medico-legal advisor or lawyer to support your response. AHPRA notifications are common and most are resolved without action.
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Legal claim / letter of demand
Contact your MDO immediately. Do not communicate with the claimant or their lawyers independently. Your MDO manages the entire legal process including defence and any settlement.
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Coronial inquest
You will receive notice from the coroner's office. Contact your MDO immediately. You have the right to legal representation at a coronial inquest — your MDO provides this.
Expressing empathy and acknowledging the patient's experience is appropriate and does not constitute an admission of liability. "I'm sorry this happened" is different from "I made an error." Australian states have apology legislation that protects sincere expressions of regret from being used as admissions in legal proceedings (e.g. Civil Liability Act). Always call your MDO before communicating about serious adverse events — they will guide you on the appropriate language.
Yes, but you need to consider tail coverage. Because most policies are claims-made, you need cover for claims that arise from your past practice even after you switch. Most MDOs offer run-off cover or will transfer your history. Always confirm with both your old and new provider before switching — there should be no gap in coverage for your previous practice period.
Yes — medical indemnity insurance premiums are a work-related expense and are tax deductible. Keep your annual membership tax invoice (your MDO will send this). Include it as a deduction in your individual tax return. If you operate through a company or trust, it may be a business deduction instead — consult your accountant.
Contact your MDO — most offer payment plans or staged payment arrangements. If you are in financial hardship, explain your circumstances. Also check with your RLO whether your training organisation provides any subsidy. You cannot legally practise without cover, so do not delay addressing this.