Weight-loss surgery
Surgery When Your Weight Is Putting Your Health At Risk
For people living with obesity-related illness, bariatric surgery can be life-changing, but public waiting lists are long and places are limited.
Good to know
The ATO doesn’t release super for weight-loss programs, gym memberships or health retreats. Surgery must be medically required.
May Be Eligible When
- Surgery treats a life-threatening condition linked to your weight, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease or sleep apnoea, or relieves chronic pain
- It isn’t readily available to you through the public system
What You’ll Need
- A report from your bariatric surgeon
- A report from your GP or another registered medical practitioner
- An itemised quote covering surgeon, anaesthetist and hospital
How we protect your application: we make sure both reports explain the medical need (not just the procedure) and why public treatment isn’t readily available, which is what the ATO assesses.
Ready To Check Your Eligibility?
It takes about four minutes, is free, and there’s no obligation. A Case Manager will call you within one business day.
Super for Health is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). The ATO decides every application, and approval is not guaranteed. The amount released is based on your itemised quote or invoice.
Super released on compassionate grounds is paid and taxed as a normal super lump sum, must be included in your tax return, and may affect government benefits and insurance held through your super fund. This page is general information only and is not medical, financial or tax advice. Consider your circumstances and speak with your super fund or a licensed adviser.
It is illegal to access super early unless you meet a condition of release. False or misleading statements in an application can attract penalties.
Treatment examples are illustrative. Eligibility depends on your medical circumstances and supporting reports, not on the type of treatment alone.