Membership and benefits
Bicycle New South Wales Membership starts at just $139 annually for individuals ($119 for those eligible for concessions) and $186 for a family of up to six, providing a range of benefits that rival private health policies at a much more affordable price.
Canstar's website shows that the average annual cost for combined hospital and extras health insurance for individuals aged 36 to 59 is $3,456. In contrast, standalone extras policies range from $877 for basic coverage to $1,157 for comprehensive coverage. This is nearly tenfold more than a Bicycle New South Wales membership, with significantly lower yearly benefit limits.
For a mere $2.67 per week, Members of Bicycle New South Wales can receive reimbursements of up to 85% for non-Medicare medical expenses annually (including private hospital bed and theatre fees, ambulance services, physiotherapy, dental care, chiropractic, and osteopathy), with up to $7,500 per injury.
Comparison
In comparison, Bupa's top extras-only policy costs $30.04* per week ($1,562.08 per year), offering 80% cash back with selected providers and a combined annual maximum limit of $1,150 for physiotherapy, chiropractic, and osteopathy.
Medibank's top extras cover charges $26.63* per week ($1,384.76 per year), providing 75% cash back and an annual limit of $600 for physiotherapy, plus a combined annual maximum of $400 for chiropractic and osteopathy with selected providers.
For under $3 per week, Bicycle New South Wales Members also benefit from income protection and third-party coverage, which includes a market leading $20 million limit for injuries or damages to others—protections not included in standard health insurance policies.
Moreover, while private health insurance premiums have been rising above inflation rates, Bicycle New South Wales membership fees have only seen a minimal increase over the past few years.
Before you insure
Before purchasing insurance, be aware that coverage can vary between insurers. It's crucial to select a policy that aligns with your specific needs. Insurance doesn't encompass all scenarios, so it's vital to know what is and isn't included. Additionally, ensure you understand the premium expenses and any deductible you may be responsible for in the event of a claim.
* For the most current information, please refer to the provider's website as updates may have occurred since the time of this article.
Our three main Memberships are:
Household Membership: includes 2 adults of any age and up to 6 dependents.
Individual Membership: for the sole rider in a household.
Concession Membership: for the sole rider who is over 65, or under 25 and living away from home.
Join us here.
We also offer Corporate Memberships and Council Memberships. For more information please contact our office.
Bicycle New South Wales (Bicycle NSW) insurance, private health insurance, superannuation, and Medicare each serve different purposes and offer distinct benefits. Here's how they differ:
Bicycle NSW Insurance
- Tailored for Cyclists: Specifically designed to cover accidents and incidents that occur while cycling. This includes personal accident and $20 Million public liability cover. Coverage for injuries sustained while riding, is not typically included in standard health or home insurance policies.
- Income Protection: Provides income protection if you're unable to work due to a cycling accident, paying 85% of your weekly salary up to $1,000 for 52 weeks.
- Additional Benefits: Offers unique benefits such as coverage for taxis and rideshares if you're unable to drive, childcare benefits, and modification expenses.
- Legal Support: Access to legal advice and support for cycling-related issues, including an initial consultation at no charge with multi-award winning partner Advantage Legal our partner law firm.
- Advocacy and Community: Supports advocacy efforts to improve cycling conditions and infrastructure, and provides access to a community of cyclists for every type of bicycle user. This includes if you're a commuter, an e-bike enthusiast, a mountain biker, or a casual weekend rider.
Private Health Insurance
- Broad Health Coverage: Covers a wide range of health conditions and services, including hospital cover and extras like dental and optical care.
- Choice of Doctor and Hospital: Allows you to choose your doctor and access private hospital rooms, which can lead to shorter waiting times for certain treatments.
- Comprehensive Medical Services: Provides coverage for various medical services, including surgeries, specialist consultations, and emergency care.
- Preventive Care: Often includes preventive care services such as vaccinations, health check-ups, and screenings.
- Personal Accident: and $20 Million public liability coverage for injuries sustained while riding, is not typically included in standard health or home insurance policies. Also, why we have $7,500 per injury non medicare expenses benefit available. This is the reason why Bicycle New South Wales Insurance, (automatically included in our Membership) is so important.
Superannuation
- Retirement Savings: Superannuation is a long-term savings plan designed to provide income in retirement.
- Investment Options: Offers various investment options to grow your savings over time.
- Insurance Coverage: Many superannuation funds include life insurance, total and permanent disability (TPD) insurance, and income protection insurance.
- Tax Benefits: Contributions to superannuation are taxed at a lower rate, providing tax benefits to savers.
Medicare
- Universal Health Coverage: Medicare provides access to a wide range of health services for all Australian residents, including doctor visits, hospital care, and some prescription medications.
- Public Health System: Covers services provided in public hospitals and by general practitioners (GPs) and specialists.
- Bulk Billing: Many services are bulk billed, meaning there is no out-of-pocket cost for patients.
- Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS): Lists the medical services subsidised by the government, ensuring affordable access to essential health care.
Yes! No matter where our members live within Australia, they enjoy the same insurance cover and other membership benefits.
If you are living overseas, you must spend at least 6 months living in Australia within the Membership year (1 July - 30 June) for our insurance to cover you.
Your membership runs for 12 months for 12 months to the end of the month you joined the following year.
Your membership is valid for 12 months.
All memberships purchased are for 12 months and will expire at the end of the month you joined the following year.
Renewing my membership
Yes, you will receive communication from Bicycle NSW prior to your membership renewal.
For peace of mind, we recommend setting up your membership on an auto renewal basis so you will always be covered by our insurance.
If you have take up automatic renewals we start renewing Memberships before they expire to ensure our Members are not unintentionally left without insurance cover when the (old) Membership expires.
This allows time for credit card details to be updated if there is a failed payment.
When you join Bicycle NSW, you will receive a link to your Digital Membership Pass through your emails. Alternatively you can login to your account and download it there. If you are having issues with your card, please see this page.
Rides / Local information
You can visit our page here for rides in your area.
Please go to our NSW Riding Map or check out the rides run by our local Bicycle User Groups.
We recommend reaching out to your local Bicycle User Group.
Help! I need advocacy in my local area!
Take a photo/s and note the location of the issue (cross streets or the longitude and latitude coordinates). We recommend contacting your local council through the contact details on their website or for main roads contact the Transport Management Centre on 131700 or fill out their online form.
If you are having difficulty, please contact Bicycle NSW on info@bicyclensw.org.au and we can help you.
Our local Bicycle User Groups (BUGs) may have an advocacy coordinator for that area. Find your BUG here and contact them for more information.