Work-out Woes For Seniors
Newcastle Herald
Saturday June 30, 2001
FOR the past six years Swansea pensioner Betty Mawdsley and 30 of her friends have enjoyed a weekly exercise class at Belmont Anglican Church Hall.
But the aerobics class has been cancelled because their instructor was unable to get insurance.
Mrs Mawdsley has decided to go public with her group's plight because she believes there are many other people in similar situations who are suffering from insurance companies' attitudes.
`We were told by our instructor that we would have a lot of trouble finding an insurance company that would cover us,' Mrs Mawdsley said.
`If she did go ahead, the instructor would then have to take her own insurance out to stop her being sued in case someone hurt themselves.'
Mrs Mawdsley said she was told no insurance company would cover the group because their age put them in a high risk group.
The instructor had tried to renew the policy recently, but she was knocked back, Mrs Mawdsley said.
The Swansea pensioner is outraged at the decision and says insurance companies are being discriminatory.
`Older people are encouraged to be active, and when we are we get told no one can cover us for (public liability),' she said.
`It's discrimination. I have arthritis and exercise helps me become more flexible.
`Now I will have to look for somewhere else to go.'
The class instructor could not be contacted for comment.
Belmont Anglican Church minister Father Phillip Saunders said the public risk policy only covered church activities.
Father Saunders said anyone else using the hall would have to take out public risk insurance.
An Insurance Council of Australia spokesman said claims and costs associated with public liability had jumped dramatically.
`The latest figures from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority showed for the period between 1998 and 2000, costs for public liability have gone up by 14%,' he said.
`The cost of claims have also gone up by 52.5%.'
The spokesman said it was hard to comment on cases without knowing the details.
Bank Corner Boxing Gym co-owner Peter Hallett said most gyms had their own public risk cover.
Mr Hallett said he paid an up-front annual fee for his Hunter St, Newcastle West, sports centre.
His premium had also increased.
`The suggestion I make to instructors is to shop around, because having cover is worth it,' Mr Hallett said.
© 2001 Newcastle Herald