Emergency-Ish Dental and Accessing Super

smalltime0 on 15/05/2020 - 08:58

Hello,

I recently had an accident and have damaged my two front top teeth.
I've lost ~1/2 of one tooth and about 1/3 of the other.
I still have swelling and cuts in my lips and gums in the area, so I can't yet get any sort of help for my teeth.

Now, from just browsing the internet, I think this is going to be anywhere from $2k to $8k, depending upon how damaged they actually are.
I can afford that, but if it is over that I'd want to access my Super early - does anybody have any experience in doing this?

-What is required?
-Do I get the procedure(s) done and then use that as proof first?
-How stringent is the proof that it is necessary medical work?

I know there is a telephone line to get these questions answered, but talking is basically a no-go right now.

Health & Beauty

Comments

  • Kail on 15/05/2020 - 09:05
    +1

    Do you have health insurance extras that can cover part of the bill?
    If not, is there any other way you can pay for it? Raiding your super before retirement is rarely a good move.
    Maybe you should go and get a quote first before panicking about the $. You may find it's well within your budget anyway.
    Best of luck.

    • smalltime0 on 15/05/2020 - 09:33

      I don't, but even if I did they'd only stump about $2k for this AFAIK. It is more that it is so open ended that is my issue.
      I can't get a quote for almost a week, so I don't know what it'll cost.

  • oscargamer on 15/05/2020 - 09:07

    Go to a couple of dentists and get quotes.

    Impossible for any of us to give any kind of other guidance.

    • smalltime0 on 15/05/2020 - 09:34

      It was more accessing the Super just in case.
      The ATO keeps it rather cloudy as to what the conditions on accessing it are, and what the actual procedure is.

  • holdenmg on 15/05/2020 - 09:14
    +1

    https://www.uwa.edu.au/facilities/ohcwa
    After-hours emergency treatment
    An emergency clinic operates in the Centre’s annexe in E Block of Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital from 2pm to 5pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
    Patients should be present at the Clinic by no later than 4.15pm to enable completion of registration and treatment. The Clinic offers emergency dental treatment only.
    A fee applies to all emergency treatment, but a subsidy is provided to holders of Health Care and Pensioner Concession Cards. Holders of these cards will need to present a current card at the time of treatment to receive this subsidy.
    No appointments are necessary.
    If you wish to speak with clinic staff, call (+61 8) 6457 7626 between 2pm and 5pm on weekends and public holidays.
    For after-hours emergency treatment at other times, contact Dental Health Services on 1800 098 818.

    • smalltime0 on 15/05/2020 - 09:36

      I forgot UWA had the training clinics, but I am not sure they will be able to do this…
      I'll send them an email, but again - I can't actually get help now because I have swelling and cuts in the area.
      EDIT: Also, talking, not really an option.

  • 1ch1go on 15/05/2020 - 09:51

    You may be able to access your super under compassionate ground:
    https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Super/In-detail/Withdrawi…

    You will need to apply to the ATO.

    • smalltime0 on 15/05/2020 - 10:23

      Yeah, I know, but what do I need to do? The ATO leaves it very vague.

        • smalltime0 on 15/05/2020 - 10:46

          "For medical treatment/transport

          You must provide two reports for medical treatment/transport costs: either from two registered medical specialists or one report can be from a registered medical specialist and the other from a registered medical practitioner.

          Unpaid invoices or quotes for any necessary treatment/transport must also be provided as part of your application."

          So, I guess I need to wait until I can get a quote/actually do it.

  • Tech5 on 15/05/2020 - 10:44

    If the teeth are not dead or dying (fractured into the nerve), you can have them filled. Would cost around maybe $300-400 per tooth. This would get you by for the next few years, but if you have a strong bite, fillings may break and a crown could be required.

    If the teeth are dead, same as $300-400 for the fillings as above, but add on around $700-1000 per tooth for a root canal treatment before the filling.

    These prices would be pretty accurate for a city/reasonably metro area.

    In terms of super release, a specialist opinion is required. The procedure would be to see a general dentist who then refers you probably to an endodontist. The specialist will start the paper work and cc the general dentist in.

    • smalltime0 on 15/05/2020 - 10:48

      They are literally the front two teeth, and one is close to the the nerve.
      They aren't dead, but they need fixing. It'll be a crown job maybe on the worse one.
      Edit: Thanks for the Super related info.

      • Tech5 on 15/05/2020 - 10:49

        If they aren't dead, fillings will 100% work in the 5-7 year outlook. As long as you don't apply sheer forces to the teeth. E.g. biting into an apple and chewing.

        Two fillings done by a dentist with good aesthetic skills would be around $1000

        • smalltime0 on 15/05/2020 - 10:53

          I think the loss on one tooth (being about half the tooth) will need a crown.

  • Randxyz123 on 15/05/2020 - 11:36

    I would suggest getting a quote ASAP and getting it done. Most dentists will offer payment plans while you sort out your super.

    • smalltime0 on 16/05/2020 - 09:34

      Yeah, I can't until my other wounds heal.

  • benwaffle on 15/05/2020 - 11:44
    +1

    If you were affected by COVID by getting laid off or had your hours reduced by more than 20% then you access $10000 without needing to do the same paperwork mentioned above

    • smalltime0 on 16/05/2020 - 09:35

      Nah, I'm still working.

  • Seraphin7 on 15/05/2020 - 11:55

    Beyond what others have mentioned above in terms of accessing super, you'll need to be quite specific in terms of the reasons for your request. It appears that yours will fit into "access on compassionate grounds" (and not any of the others).

    Within this category and in practical terms you need to demonstrate that you are physically unable to cover the costs of the treatment. You will need to demonstrate that you cannot cover the costs of treatment by taking out a loan, accessing savings, or selling assets. This is a much stricter test than "I can't afford it" (because you had that money earmarked for some other purchase).

    Rightly or wrongly (and not withstanding the recent relaxations for COVID-19), superannuation has been enshrined as solely for the purpose of building a retirement income. It is not able to be used to cover "unexpected expenses" (regardless of how significant those expenses might be) unless one of the specific and quite strict conditions for early release can be met.

    • smalltime0 on 16/05/2020 - 09:36

      My current idea is drawing on annual leave, but I want a just in case option.

  • pencilman on 16/05/2020 - 09:40

    It's unfortunate that you have had the accident and need to pay a dental bill.

    But one point to make as an Ozbargainer is that the money you have in Super will generally be the most tax advantageous investment you can make and will grow greatly with time.
    So really only draw out your Super if you have to. If you have access to a low interest loan eg draw down on housing loan, using a loan would probably work out better in the long run.

    • smalltime0 on 16/05/2020 - 16:04

      I thought I made it clear that I'm not rushing to this, it is just in case I have to.

  • whooah1979 on 16/05/2020 - 09:47

    Have your work hours been cut by 20%?

    • whooah1979 on 16/05/2020 - 11:01

      All you need to do is to cut your work hours by 20% or more to access your super.

      • smalltime0 on 16/05/2020 - 16:04

        I thought they suspended this because of the fraud

  • smalltime0 on 18/05/2020 - 23:32

    WTF, I need to dispense myself of all assets and bankrupt myself to access super early?! I just want it as a backup, the loans to fix my teeth might have 20% interest.

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