How to plan for unexpected illness and injury
How to plan for unexpected illness and injury
Get the help you need
If you’re faced with a sudden accident or injury, or you have a chronic illness, getting help can be tough, and that’s ok. Before you begin, you may want to ask for support from family or friends, so you feel ready to work through your to-dos.
Get important paperwork done
Sorting out important paperwork now will give you and your family more time together if you’re faced with an illness or injury.
If you’re currently living with a chronic illness or serious injury, start working through the checklist as soon as you’re able.
Financial matters checklist
Understanding types of payments
It can take time to process applications for payments, so try to submit the relevant forms as soon as possible.
- Government payments – Learn about your options for government financial support if you’re living with an illness, injury or disability.
- Paid leave from work – Find out what sick and/or carer’s leave you’re entitled to.
- Super insurance – Check your policy or ask your super fund if your super includes automatic cover for Total Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance and/or income protection. Find out if or how you can make a claim for some insurance money if you have an injury or illness that affects your ability to work.
- Income protection – If you have illness, injury or income protection insurance, you may be able to apply to claim it.
- Early superannuation access – Find out if you’re eligible to access some of your super early.
- Natural disaster and crisis support – If you’ve been injured and unable to work.
Get help managing expenses
- Loan repayment break – Ask your lender if you’re eligible for a few months off paying your loan.
- Concessions – Find out if you’re eligible for government concessions or a health care card in your state.
- Paying bills – Talk to your utility companies about bill payments if you’re having difficulty meeting them; they may be able to offer you financial hardship assistance.
- Reducing bills – Get tips for reducing your energy bills.
- Consolidating debts – If you have multiple credit card, loan and/or store card debts, use this debt consolidation loan calculator. This calculator will give you an estimate of how your repayments could change if you consolidate your debts into one personal loan.
Get help covering medical costs
- Health insurance – If you have private health insurance, ask your provider how much of the gap you may be able to claim back. The gap is the difference between the medical expense and what Medicare covers.
- Home loan redraw – Speak to your lender about redrawing money from your home loan (if eligible) to help pay your medical costs.
- Loan – If you’re considering a personal loan to help cover medical costs, use this personal loan calculator to estimate your repayments, before applying.
- Illness, injury and life insurance – Learn about the different types of insurance and what the benefits are.
Medical plans
Decision making assistance
It might be a good idea to learn how to make important medical decisions:
- with your health professionals
- about tests and treatments (principles for better communication).
Future healthcare preferences
Have a think about your preferences for future care.
- Learn about advance care planning (what you want to happen if you’re no longer able to voice or make medical decisions).
- Confirm your preferences by completing the advance care plan forms relevant to your state.
Legal aspects
Your estate planning
It pays to have your bases covered. Completing your estate planning is an important part of planning for the future.
Take some time to think about directions for the following.
- Medical care – Find out how to appoint someone else to make medical decisions for you if you’re unable.
- Financial management – Find out how to appoint someone else to manage your finances for you if you’re unable.
- Assets and money – How you want everything divided up and distributed after your death, including your super (you can tell your super fund now who your beneficiaries will be).
- Children’s care – Clearly state who will be the guardian of your children.
What happens if you pass away without a will?
If there’s no will, your assets may not be divided up the way you want – and if you don’t have any living relatives, everything could end up going to the Government.
- Find out more about writing your will.
Personal wishes
Decide what you want to do regarding your personal wishes for:
- funeral arrangements – convey these to your loved ones and put financial plans in place
- organ donation – if you would like to become an official organ donor, register online and tell your family your wishes.
Source: NAB
Reproduced with permission of National Australia Bank (‘NAB’). This article was originally published at https://www.nab.com.au/personal/life-moments/unplanned/illness-injury/plan-unexpected.
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