Australians accessing super for medical bills highlights need for pain strategy

An increasing number of Australians are accessing superannuation for medical bills, diminishing the financial capacity of vulnerable people who are living with chronic conditions, and highlighting the urgent need for a national and strategic approach to pain in this country.

Painaustralia believes it is unacceptable that desperate Australians living with chronic pain are being left with no choice but to seek early access to their superannuation due to excessive waiting lists for pain services and high out-of-pocket costs.

In our Submission to the Department of Treasury Consultation on the Review of the Early Release of Superannuation Benefits we acknowledge that, although this situation is not ideal, the current regulations should not be changed until the services gap for chronic pain is addressed.

In many cases people who have chronic pain are financially disadvantaged, face forced early retirement and unemployment and have limited capacity to pay for private health services. Early access to their superannuation may be their only option to get the critical medical treatment and supoort they need.

We also believe people should continue to be able to access superannuation for ‘alleviation’ of pain as well as ‘treatment’, so as not to exclude anyone, given most cases of chronic pain cannot be completely treated, or cured.

“This is yet another indication that Australia needs a national pain strategy to address the increasing and unmet demand for pain services,” says Painaustralia CEO Carol Bennett.

“We are calling for a fully-funded and nationally-implemented strategy to enable better access to best-practice pain services, and to reduce the cost of pain on individuals and the wider community.”

Painaustralia thanks those who provided input into our submission by completing our superannuation survey. 

Please download our superannuation submission or complete our superannuation survey.