Overview
The Australian Government provides a range of payments that can help you pay less for treatments, prescription medicines and some medical supplies and aids.
Depending on your circumstances, this may include rebates on the cost of health professionals such as physiotherapists and dietitians. Concession and health cards may reduce the cost of medical expenses and medicines. The Medicare Safety Net and PBS Safety Net may also reduce costs in some cases.
There are also several ways to save on travel to medical appointments.
What’s on this page
The Australian Government offers several benefits that can help you pay less for medical treatments, tests, prescription medicines and other medical supplies.
Register for the Medicare Safety Net
A cancer diagnosis often involves many medical appointments for tests and treatment. Medicare will usually cover part of these expenses, but you may need to pay the difference yourself.
The Medicare Safety Net applies to out-of-hospital costs. Once your out-of-pocket costs go over a certain amount (called the threshold), Medicare will pay you a higher benefit for many services until the end of the calendar year. This may mean you receive more money back from Medicare for your appointments and tests.
If you are an individual, you do not need to register for the Medicare Safety Net as Medicare automatically keeps a record of your expenses. A couple or family will need to register even if you are all listed on the same Medicare card. To download the registration form, visit Services Australia and search for Medicare Safety Net, or call Medicare on 132 011.
Receive Medicare benefits for allied health services
If you have a chronic health condition – one that lasts for at least 6 months – you may be able to get Medicare benefits for allied health practitioners (e.g. physiotherapists, dietitians and psychologists) to help manage your condition.
If your GP refers you to any allied health professionals, you may receive a Medicare rebate for up to a total of 5 visits per calendar year.
Talk to your GP about whether seeing allied health practitioners would be helpful for your condition. If so, your GP will prepare a GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangement. They can then refer you to the allied health practitioners who are listed in the Team Care Arrangement.
Get a PBS Safety Net card
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidises the cost of many prescription medicines for people with a current Medicare card. The PBS Safety Net further reduces the cost of prescription medicines once you or your family have spent a certain amount on them each calendar year. This amount is known as the PBS Safety Net threshold.
There are 2 PBS Safety Net thresholds – one for general patients and one for concession card holders. Once you or your family reach the threshold, your pharmacist can give you a PBS Safety Net card. With this card, your prescription medicines for the rest of the year will be discounted (or free if you have an eligible concession card). You will still need to pay full price for medicines not listed on the PBS.
To get a PBS Safety Net card, keep a record of any PBS medicines you or your family buy. You can use a Prescription Record Form, which you can get from your pharmacy. For more information, call the PBS Information Line on 1800 020 613, or visit Services Australia and search for PBS Safety Net.
Medicines not on the PBS are usually expensive. You may be able to get them as part of a clinical trial or at a reduced cost through a compassionate access or cost-share program offered by the pharmaceutical company. Talk to your healthcare team for more information.
Use a concession card
Centrelink provides concession and healthcare cards to help reduce the cost of medical expenses and medicines for eligible people. These include the Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, and Health Care Card.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs Veteran Card also helps with these costs. The benefits you receive with a Veteran Card depend on its colour.
These cards may also mean you can get cheaper medicines through the PBS; free medicines once you reach the PBS Safety Net threshold; and refunds for medical expenses through the Medicare Safety Net. If you have an eligible card, show your pharmacist when you get your prescription filled. Some doctors bulk-bill concession card holders, although this is up to the doctor. Talk to your GP about whether they bulk-bill.
Use the Pharmaceutical Allowance
The Pharmaceutical Allowance is a small amount that helps eligible people cover the cost of medicines. It is automatically included if you receive certain Centrelink payments. For people receiving the Disability Support Pension, Age Pension or Carer Payment, the allowance is included as part of their payment each fortnight.
You do not need to apply for the Pharmaceutical Allowance as Centrelink will automatically assess your eligibility and pay you with your regular fortnightly payments if you qualify. You may be able to get the Pharmaceutical Allowance as an advance payment. For more information, go to Services Australia and search for Pharmaceutical Allowance.
Get help with aids and supplies
Receive help with the cost of continence aids
Receive help with the cost of continence aids
The Australian Government’s Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS) helps cover the cost of continence products. If cancer or its treatment has left you with permanent or severe incontinence (difficulty controlling your bladder or bowel movements), you may be eligible for CAPS.
For most cancers, this payment is available only if you also hold a Pensioner Concession Card. For a small number of neurological conditions, including brain and spinal tumours, you can receive the payment without a Pensioner Concession Card.
To find out more about CAPS, call the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66. To download the application form, go to Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and search for Continence Aids Payment Scheme. If you want help completing the form, call the CAPS team on 1800 239 309.
Be reimbursed for external breast prostheses
Be reimbursed for external breast prostheses
Medicare’s External Breast Prostheses Reimbursement Program helps with the cost of new or replacement breast prostheses. If you have a Medicare card and have had a full or partial mastectomy because of breast cancer, you can claim up to a set amount for a new prosthesis every 2 years. If you’ve had a bilateral mastectomy, you can be reimbursed for 2 breast prostheses. You will need to pay the upfront cost of the prosthesis in full and get reimbursed later.
As policies can change, check what assistance is available before you buy a new prosthesis. Call Medicare on 132 011 or visit Services Australia to check if you’re eligible for the program and to get a claim form. You will need to send the completed form with a copy of the original receipt for the prosthesis to Medicare.
Receive free stoma supplies
Receive free stoma supplies
After surgery for bladder, bowel or anal cancer, you may need a temporary or permanent stoma. This is an opening in the abdomen that allows urine (wee) or faeces (poo) to be collected in a bag.
The Australian Government’s Stoma Appliance Scheme (SAS) provides free stoma supplies for people with a temporary or permanent stoma. To apply for the scheme, you must hold a Medicare card and be a member of a stoma association. These associations usually charge a small annual membership fee that gives access to free stoma appliances and products. For more information go to Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and search Stoma Appliance Scheme, or visit the Australian Council of Stoma Associations.
Save on travel costs
Having cancer treatment can mean a lot of travel to and from your medical appointments. There are several ways to save on travel costs.
Make a patient transport claim
Make a patient transport claim
People who need to travel away from home for treatment may have extra expenses. There is financial help available for transport and accommodation costs.
Every state and territory has Patient Assisted Travel Schemes (PATS) for people who need to travel long distances for specialist medical treatment that is not available in their local area. Many schemes also help with the cost of accommodation, if it is needed. The eligibility rules are different for each state and territory. In general, you must be a permanent resident of the relevant state or territory and also need to travel a significant distance to the closest available specialist treatment.
Most patient transport assistance schemes are subsidy schemes – they pay a part of your travel and accommodation costs, but you need to pay the rest. Usually, you will need to cover the upfront costs in full and get reimbursed later. If you have a concession or healthcare card, you may be able to apply for assistance before you spend the money.
If you meet the eligibility criteria, you and your doctor will need to complete a form. You may also need to provide original tax receipts and medical certificates to support your application.
To find out about the transport support offered in your state or territory, visit Healthdirect and search for PATS. Cancer Connect can help you find transport to treatment. Call 13 11 20.
Use your Pensioner Concession Card
Use your Pensioner Concession Card
If you receive certain payments from Centrelink, you will automatically receive a Pensioner Concession Card. This will mean you can get lower fares or free travel on public transport and discounts on car registration.
Carry your card with you and ask for the concession fare when you use public transport. When renewing your car registration, claim the concession rate if you are eligible. To see what concessions are available, visit Services Australia and search for Pensioner Concession Card benefits.
Check if you’re eligible for the Mobility Allowance
Check if you’re eligible for the Mobility Allowance
If the type of cancer or treatment you have makes it hard for you to use public transport and you receive certain Centrelink payments, you may be eligible for the Mobility Allowance.
This allowance only applies if you are travelling to work (paid or voluntary), study or training, or travelling to look for work. It is a regular extra amount that is paid with your main Centrelink payment each fortnight. To check if you are eligible, or to submit an online claim, visit Services Australia and search for Mobility Allowance.
Ask about parking concessions
Ask about parking concessions
Reduced parking fees are often available to help cover the cost of parking for people who are having ongoing cancer treatment, hold pension cards (e.g. Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card) or are in financial hardship. If you will be driving to treatment – or someone will be driving you – ask your treatment centre or the hospital social worker about whether discounted parking rates are available, and how to get them.
Find support services
Find the right services for your needs, wherever you are in Australia
Read cancer information
Trusted cancer information for all people affected by cancer
Need to talk to someone?
We're available 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)