Australia: Tax offset for surgery

[tarasita]

Hi all

I'm not sure how interesting you will find this but for Australians it may be important information.

You can claim a tax offset of 20% (20 cents in the dollar) of your net medical expenses over $1,500. There is no upper limit on the amount you can claim. So, if surgery costs $20,000, less the $1,500 the tax offset would be 20% of $15,000, ie $3,700.

You can claim expenses relating to an illness or operation paid to legally qualified doctors, nurses or chemists and public or private hospitals. However, expenses for some cosmetic operations are excluded. You and your dependants must be Australian residents for tax purposes but you can claim medical expenses paid while travelling overseas.

Payments for the following items do not qualify for the net medical expenses tax offset:
- cosmetic operations for which a Medicare benefit is not payable, and
- dental services and treatment which is solely cosmetic.

Now all I have to do is convince Medicare that FFS is medically necessary for me to live a normal life  .

Incidentally, laser eye surgery is performed to correct a person's vision, and since it changes the function, but not the appearance of the eye,
the procedure is not considered cosmetic and the expenses are eligible for the net medical expenses tax offset.

----------------

Do any of you have any suggestions as to how I would go about convincing someone that FFS is not done for the beauty aspect but for the passability aspect?

[buttercup]

That is great news tarasita, I'm from the same neck of the woods. 


Hmmmmm, that is a hard one, about how to go about claiming.  Maybe a letter from a psychologist stating your life would greatly benefit from ffs?
I just recently read that the Australian Defense Force (the Navy in this case) pays for women/men to have cosmetic surgery if it is deemed likely to improve their life/job significantly.  In particular, breast implants and nose jobs. This is the link.  (I took particular note of the wording of why they need to have it done.  I'm not sure what most Aussies think about paying for it though.  )
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22424066-2,00.html


buttercup 

[jade]

FFS in the case of transsexuals is not purely cosmetic, its a necessity.
We did not have the luxury to be born in the right body.
Every TS woman needs something done more or less.
Transition and FFS go hand in hand if one needs it for passability reasons.
If defence force people can justify their plastic surgery, we have a more valid point here.
Just because none had the guts to put this case forward, it does not mean you won't succeed.
It makes sense so you should definately give it a try. Back yourself up with evidence from medical professionals such as your GP, counsellor, psychologist/psychiatrist. The trans community in Australia is very small and there are only a handful of people pushing for changes so it takes time for things to get better.

[Cindy]

Hi
Medicare used to cover SRS. I think it still does. You need your psychiatrist to support it. And I presume you have one since you need their referal for HRT. If FFS is required for your true gender then I would have thought that was covered as well. You can get boobs done on Medicare but I think it was reported as quicker by going private.
I did laugh at the Navy thing, I remember reading and thinking of the Village People's song " Join the Navy; they get your boobs done. Join the Navy and get your FFs done." etc.

I never did understand the official explanation. It seemed to be purely cosmetic and not related to injury.  In a soft feminine voice "Hi, I'm the first mate, and need a bigger rack to demand attention" (Sorry not meant to be offensive)

Cindy

[Muffin]

This is very good news as I need my eyes and nose doing
What is the RRP of rhinoplasty in au? Approx? Say with a trachea shave as well!

[jade]

Rhinoplasty varies from AU$7,000-10,000 depending on the technique (closed or open) and on the surgeon's pricing, but that sort of cost includes everything. Trachael Shaving procedure can be done by any ENT (Ear-Nose-Throat surgeon), they do not have to be a SRS or plastic surgeon to be able to perform that. For facial work (meaning FFS obviously), its best to go to a maxillofacial surgeon with plastic surgery qualifications, because they know how to alter the face for a more pleasant and passable appearance, whereas regular maxillofacial surgeons are just used to dealing with injuries or extreme cases of deformity, they do not understand or specialise in the matters or needs of transgender born people.

[Muffin]

Thanks Jade I've been wanting to know this for months! thank you thank you ^_^

[caitlin_adams]

When you say a tax offset of 20% is that similar to a deduction?

E.G. if I earned $100,000 p.a. and spent $21,500 on surgery the offset amount would be 20% of $20,000 or $4,000.

Does that mean I simply pay my tax minus $4,000 OR does that mean I can claim a $4,000 deduction (lowering my taxible income to $96,000)?

Is there an accountant in the house?

[Imadique]

I was told there are no Medicare item numbers for SRS so it is not covered nor a rebate given. I would have thought Mr. Howard would have stamped out such nonsense if it ever existed anyway (though I do hope I'm wrong).

I have brought up the Net Medical expenses issue with my Psychiatrist and GP, neither believed it is applicable for (our) surgery but it is for medications and consultations. In a country which recognises Gender Identity to be separate from Sexual Identity yet refuses to grant legal recognition of the Gender Identity until the two are congruent what are the odds of anything we do being considered anything but cosmetic?

I was saving all my medication and consultation receipts last year to claim it but they didn't quite reach the threshold, damn medicare for it's bulk billing and generous rebates! 

Thailand will probably still be cheaper for BA even with 20% off.

[uni]

FFS in the case of transsexuals is not purely cosmetic, its a necessity.
We did not have the luxury to be born in the right body.
Every TS woman needs something done more or less.
Transition and FFS go hand in hand if one needs it for passability reasons.
If defence force people can justify their plastic surgery, we have a more valid point here.
Just because none had the guts to put this case forward, it does not mean you won't succeed.
It makes sense so you should definately give it a try. Back yourself up with evidence from medical professionals such as your GP, counsellor, psychologist/psychiatrist. The trans community in Australia is very small and there are only a handful of people pushing for changes so it takes time for things to get better.

It can also be argued that people who were born in the "right" body don't look like the sex they should be and if they want to be accepted as such, they must pay for the surgeries themselves. Proving it's a necessity would be extremely difficult. How can you determine what physical features are a direct result of male hormones, genetics, aging and to what extent? FFS often corrects many of the problems cisgendered people have when they seek cosmetic surgery. If my tax dollars were spent on extensive FFS, I'd be rather upset considering their surgically corrected faces would end up looking more feminine than my not so feminine  natural born face.

[Skier]

How can we maximise this entitlement?  Can we use it to the extent that treatment is provided at no cost to patient?  What scenarios would likely persuade specialists to provide appropriate documented support of getting surgery funded?

Hi
Medicare used to cover SRS. I think it still does. You need your psychiatrist to support it. And I presume you have one since you need their referal for HRT. If FFS is required for your true gender then I would have thought that was covered as well. You can get boobs done on Medicare but I think it was reported as quicker by going private.
I did laugh at the Navy thing, I remember reading and thinking of the Village People's song " Join the Navy; they get your boobs done. Join the Navy and get your FFs done." etc.

I never did understand the official explanation. It seemed to be purely cosmetic and not related to injury.  In a soft feminine voice "Hi, I'm the first mate, and need a bigger rack to demand attention" (Sorry not meant to be offensive)

Cindy

[Cindy]

The surgeon in Australia is Andrew Ives. The procedure is covered by medicare with a 'gap' that is covered by private insurance. The procedure is carried out a Masada private hospital and the hospital fees are paid by private insurance.

Out of pocket expenses are travel and accommodation outside the hospital.