ACC CoverPlus is ACC’s standard personal injury cover for self-employed people. It automatically applies when you start self-employment. It includes 24-hour no-fault cover for work-related and non-work related personal injuries, including access to the full range of medical treatment and rehabilitation benefits and up to 80% compensation for lost earnings.
What am I covered for?
ACC CoverPlus provides access to treatment, help with recovery, and weekly payments of up to 80% of your liable earnings, starting a week after the injury. The amount of lost earnings compensation paid is dependent on your self-employed status.
For more information see:
Self-employed: What happens if I get injured?
How do I apply?
You do not need to apply. ACC CoverPlus is automatically provided as soon as you become self-employed.
How will ACC know I’ve become self-employed?
When you file your tax return with Inland Revenue, they will tell us you are self-employed.
What does ACC CoverPlus cost?
ACC CoverPlus levies are calculated based on your previous year’s earnings from self-employment and the levy rates specific to your business activity.
To calculate levies and lost earnings compensation entitlements, we classify self-employed people into three groups:
- Established in self-employment – means you have passed more than one balance date (last day in the tax year).
- Recently self-employed – means you have passed only one balance date and therefore may not have an entire year of liable earnings.
- Newly self-employed – means you have not been in self-employment long enough to lodge a tax return with Inland Revenue.
See What do I pay? for more information about levies and how they are calculated.
You can estimate your own levy by:
- using our online calculator
- contacting the ACC Business Service Centre.
How do I pay for ACC CoverPlus?
We use the details you provide on your tax return to calculate your ACC CoverPlus levies and send you an invoice. Invoices are sent out after July each year.
We have a range of payment options. See How do I pay?
If you are new to self-employment, your ACC invoice may not arrive until the year after you started being self-employed. See New to self-employment for further information.
What if I want extra cover?
For more information about other cover options for self-employed, see:
ACC CoverPlus Extra – if you want to guarantee your level of lost earnings compensation.
ACC TimeOut – cover for extended periods of unpaid leave.
If you can’t decide which cover option is right for you, you will receive standard CoverPlus automatically. You can change to other cover options at any time.
Last updated: 15 December 2008