Is this true????

just a quick post to dd....they can do no gap lap bands......

Deb

Well fingers crossed they reply quickly for you.

Yes more I think about it I will push for Feb date next year. Give myself time for the Apra and Super fund approval

and then also use my private insurance. Dont want to take $20k from super unless i have to.

what made u change ur mind from sleeve to band?

F

hate to be a damper - BUT my APRA application still hasnt been processed & i sent to them weeks ago - admitted i had trouble with gp & changed doctors & mishap with paper work BUT even after you get your paper work into them it takes 14 working days to get processed & make sure 100% that the letters are written to the t on how they want them - every time you have to sent them something you then have another 14 working days before it is processed - once done they will send you a letter which you then have to mail into the super fund for processing approx 10 working days

what a headache & a half, i have a great surgeon - im not getting the sleeve now - but a band - i like the long term results & im getting done by one of the all time greats in lapbands prof lapband himself Prof Paul O'Brien, i think if i had my jimmy jams & money with me he would have done me the next day, i chose my date so had time for money to come through, i have 4 more dates i can chose if need be



deb

Thanks DD

have downloaded the form

Will ring my super funds today to see what their ruling is.

But its wonderful that I found this site, as I wouldnt have known at all about this.

If it means i can pay in full earlier before February that would be brilliant!

Thanks again.

FAITH - NO

you can apply to APRA for early release of your super under compassionate grounds, you can download an application from APRA - AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL - http://www.apra.gov.au/Super/Pages/early-release-of-superannuation-benefits.aspx

you need a letter from BOTH Dr & Surgeon to say the op is needed for life threatening reasons etc -

deb

hi

i have just started to read this thread.

So if I am reading this right - I can apply to Apra (?) which is who lol and get letters done from my GP and surgeon

and then apply to my super (ok I have a few super accounts so guessing my most current one) - i have sunsuper, westschem and guild.

And that means that they will fully reimburse the full cost of the surgery etc?

What if I am having it done via Private health (which will apply in Feb 2012) can I apply for the gap difference?

I appreciate any feedback, would love to get this ball rolling sooner than Feb 2012

Faith x

mine is having final assessment today with apra - mlc said they WONT accept a fax from apra when to start they said the would, mlc is paying direct to my account - i put the information on my application to them

i am no longer getting a sleeve done - rather getting a band, was worried if something goes wrong - i have no stomach to fall back on

deb

DD I'm with MLC and applied to APRA. When they advised that I was approved and the letter was being sent in the mail (and may take a week to arrive), I contacted MLC concerned about how long the process would take from their end and was put through to a special department within MLC. To cut a long story short it was just before Easter, the three weeks between then and my surgery was cut down to only 8 working days or something before my payment was due and I was stressed that the funds wouldn't clear in time.

MLC said they'd accept a faxed copy of the letter from APRA and would put an urgent status on my case. I phoned APRA and they advised MLC would have the form within 48 hours. The next day MLC phoned and said they not only had the fax from APRA, but a cheque had been raised and rather than posting it, a staff member was going to go to Westpac in person the following day and DD straight into my account. I had to supply them with my account details and written permission!!

Who knew a huge corporation could be so kind. I definitely didn't feel like just a number on that day.

True to their word, the cheque was deposited and by the following Tuesday the money was in my account, EARLY!!

So basically I just wanted to let you know that MLC is great to deal with and if you need to they do have the ability to help process the release of funds urgently if needed.

Good luck!

i just spoke to the office & he is going to write me one BUT i see him 11.10.11 & my surgery is booked for 22.11.11, problem - it has to go to apra & then to mlc & im interstate for 2 weeks - get back just before my surgery



omg Tess at the office says dont worry it will be ok, but im a worrier



change of plans & omg thank god for Tess, i can get into see George 8 days earlier, that is going to make things easier with apra application, just have to jiggle everything else around now, pre admin not happy with me, but you get that

i dont know why a surgeon wouldnt do it, seriously all he needs is a template where he inserts your name in a few spots and then signs the bottom.... thats all my bariatric gp and surgeon did, it took them less than a minute.



im sorry your having trouble with this!

if he doesnt write me one i dont get done simple as that :(

You need 2 letters, one from your GP and one from your surgeon. I don't know why he would refuse to write you a letter, it's in his best interest... if he doesn't write it he doesn't get paid!

did you get letters from your specialist or just gp to go with your application, my surgeon apparently doesnt do them, letters to apra apparently

Hey I was sleeved on the 6th june and accessed the whole amount from super about 18000 Apra took 21 days to approve and faxed the letter straight tomy super fund. I mailed the forms needed to super with a letter stating when my operation was and had the money in the bank the day before the operation If you ring Apra they will give you time frame So say if they say 21 days that is from the time your applcation is put into the system

Hope this helps

Fraggle - you have made my day, I just want to hug you!!!

I just got off the phone with APRA and was told their turnaround time is currently 17 working days.

When I spoke with my super fund (SunSuper) last week they told me it takes about 7 days from the time they get the APRA approved request to the funds hitting your bank account.

So as it stands at the moment, it'll take about 5 weeks to get my APRA approval and funds released (providing there are no issues with my application and assuming they grant it).

I don't know where Dr Greenslade's receptionist got her information from, but maybe that was just one case that had lot of information requests or something.

Thanks Everyone for your replies. I used APRA when I got my band done 15 months ago and I think it took a month or so to go through. My husband's superfund is with MLC and they had no problems with releasing the money. Unfortunately with the band causing so much trouble, I am again going to ask APPRA so not sure if they will look at it twice but can only wait and see. Fingers crossed for everyone in their quest - hope we have smooth sailing!!!
Z

yep your spot on MiddleWoman. I told them that I was going for an operation and I had applied to APRA so they sent through the forms and now Im waiting waiting waiting .......

by the way, thankyou for all your wisdom on this topic, I would have been waiting extra extra long if it wasnt for your information.

Just another point - you can ask your super fund if they DO release funds on medical grounds. realme, the fact that they sent you the forms indicates that yours probably does - to know this for sure would give you a little more hope.

Best wishes.

MiddleWoman

Well from my experience, I applied on the 6th January thinking I had plenty of time because Im getting sleeved late March. The got back to me 6 weeks later advising they needed additional information. It took me about 2 weeks to get all the information they required and they now tell me its another 18 working days (3-4 weeks) to advise me if this has been approved.
Now, I have just recently been enlightened to the fact that this is only the first process, yes thats right, once Apra approve early release of your funds you need to contact your superannuation company and its up to them whether they deem it suitable to release your funds or not. I have already contacted my super and they have forwarded me the forms I need to fill out which included bank account details and JP certified identification which Ill send off with my APRA approved letter (if in fact they actually do approve me). Then I should have the funds in my account in approximately 2 weeks. This entire process has taken approximately 10 weeks! (not including the 2 weeks I took to gather additional info). looooong and tedious process.

Big Softie wrote:

I was talking to Dr Greenslades receptionist today and she said that APRA is taking up to 12 weeks to decide and that super now pays you back after you have paid for the operation first.
I have dealt with APRA before and they didn't have me pay first & reimburse me after - I thought the idea was that people access super because they cant afford loans etc????

I hope that's not the case - I'm seeing him on Thursday.

Haven't heard anything about it, but I'm out of the Apra loop now. I'd call them and talk to them about it - and also your super company, because some of them just won't release the money, even with Apra approval. Don't take it on hearsay!

I was talking to Dr Greenslades receptionist today and she said that APRA is taking up to 12 weeks to decide and that super now pays you back after you have paid for the operation first.
I have dealt with APRA before and they didn't have me pay first & reimburse me after - I thought the idea was that people access super because they cant afford loans etc????