Easy Read

Help with money

This information can help you with money when you have cancer. You can find out how to get help paying for medicine, treatment and travel to the hospital. You can also find out how the government can help you.

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Introduction

Australian banknotes and coins beside a blue credit card.

This information is about help with money when you have cancer.

A medicine bottle, Cancer Council car and intravenous fluid bag.

You can learn how to get help paying for:

  • medicine
  • treatment
  • transport to the hospital.
two people look at a factsheet

You can ask someone for help to read this information.

The cost of cancer

A person seated on a sofa, holding a piece of paper with a handbag beside them and a thought bubble with dollar signs in it.

Having cancer can be expensive.

A man in a yellow shirt standing with both arms raised and palms facing upwards.

What you pay depends on what cancer you have and where you get treatment.

A parking sign, a ramp up to a door and a child with toy building blocks.

You may have to pay for:

  • getting to the hospital
  • parking
  • childcare
  • changes to your house.

Ask about the costs

A man holding a piece of paper titled 'bill' seated across a desk from a woman with her hands clasped in front of her.

Ask your doctor and hospital what tests and treatment will cost.

A man seated across a desk from a woman who has a speech bubble above her with a clock inside.

Ask if you can pay a little bit at a time or have more time to pay your bill.

A man seated across a desk from a woman who has a speech bubble above her with a clock inside.

Knowing the costs can help you make decisions about treatment.

Making a budget

Two hands holding an open, empty wallet.

Cancer may mean you stop working for a while. This may mean you have less money.

A piece of paper with the word 'budget' and items of pay, rent and food.

It is a good idea to write down how much money you have, what you spend and what you need for bills.

A calculator, pen, blank paper and budget planner on a desk.

We call this a budget. A budget lets you work out what you can afford and when you need help.

Paying bills

Four overlapping household bills with phone, electricity, water and gas symbols.

Some people have trouble paying bills for:

  • phone
  • electricity
  • water
  • gas.
A man in an orange shirt sitting at a desk and looking at a piece of paper.

Phone, electricity, water and gas companies must help you if you cannot pay your bills.

We call this a hardship policy or assistance program.

A monthly calendar with two dates circled in red.

They might let you pay later or pay a little bit at a time.

Help from the government

Outline map of Australia with a dollar sign in the centre.

The Australian Government can help pay for some cancer costs.

A green Medicare card.

Medicare can make some health care free or cheaper.

The front of a Centrelink office.

Centrelink has payments to help some people.

Going to hospital

Two people walking through the entrance of a hospital.

How much you pay depends on the type of hospital.

A building with a yellow and green sign that says, "Public Hospital" and "Medicare" in front of it.

Going to a public hospital is free if you have a Medicare card.

A building with a blue and white sign that says, "Private Hospital" in front of it.

Going to a private hospital usually costs more.

Medicare

A man in a blue shirt speaking with a seated woman in a pink shirt; a Medicare card appears in a circle above them.

Medicare covers:

  • seeing a doctor
Two blood collection tubes, an X-ray image and a medical scanner.
  • having blood tests, x-rays and scans
A building with a yellow and green sign that says, "Public Hospital" and "Medicare" in front of it.
  • going to a public hospital.
A Medicare statement showing a doctor fee of $200, a Medicare payment of $200 and a total owed of $0.

Sometimes the doctor sends the bill to Medicare and you do not have to pay anything. We call this bulk billing.

A Medicare statement showing a doctor fee of $200, a Medicare payment of $150 and a total owed of $50.

Sometimes Medicare does not pay the full cost.

One hand placing an Australian banknote into another open hand.

You need to pay the rest. We call this the gap.

Paying for medicines

A medicine bottle and blister pack of tablets with a box.

The Australian Government helps with the cost of many medicines.

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme logo.

This is through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme or PBS.

A medicine bottle with the price reduced from $500 to $10 beside the PBS logo.

Medicines on the PBS are cheaper. You only pay part of the cost.

Two calendar pages under a PBS logo linked by an arrow, showing medicine priced at $50 for January and then $0 for December.

If you spend a lot of money on medicines, you can get a PBS Safety Net card.

This makes medicines cheaper or free for the rest of the year.

A medicine bottle priced at $500 beside a crossed-out PBS logo.

If your medicine is not on the PBS, you pay the full price.

A woman in a white uniform and name badge standing behind a counter and speaking with a man on the other side of the counter.

Ask your pharmacist:

  • how to save money on medicines
  • how to get a PBS Safety Net card.

Concession cards

map of Australia

The Australian Government has special cards to help you pay less for doctors, medicine and transport. We call these concession cards.

Four concession cards in green, purple, pink and orange.

Some concession cards include:

  • Health Care Card
  • Pensioner Concession Card
  • Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
  • Veterans Card.

Getting to treatment

A blue car travelling on a road beside a sign reading Sydney 200 km.

You may get help if you need to travel a long way for treatment. This is called a travel and accommodation scheme.

A blue car parked in a marked parking space beneath a parking sign.

Sometimes you can get a discount to park at the hospital.

A woman in an orange top wearing a lanyard and identification card.

Ask the hospital social worker how to get free or cheaper transport to hospital.

Where to find help

Two people standing side by side, one wearing a lanyard and identification card.

A social worker can help you find information about services that can help with money.

A man and a woman are sitting at a table, working on a laptop. The woman is holding a pen and paper, while the man is using a laptop.

A financial counsellor can help you:

  • make a budget
  • give you tips for paying your bills and money you owe.
A person wearing a telephone headset.

To find a financial counsellor, call:

a laptop showing the money smart website

For tips on managing your money visit the website moneysmart.gov.au.

A laptop displaying the Services Australia website.

To learn more about Medicare and Centrelink visit the website servicesaustralia.gov.au.

For family, friends and carers

a woman brings another woman a cup of tea

If you are supporting someone with cancer, you may need help too.

a smiling telephone support person

Call Cancer Connect on 13 11 20 to find out about help and support for carers.

More information

More Easy Read

Read more Easy Read pages like this one

More details about money

Read our longer information on finances and cancer

Read information in other languages

We have Easy Read and other information in Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Korean and Vietnamese

Call Cancer Connect

You can speak to us on the phone. We can help you find free cancer information and support. Call 13 11 20 Monday to Friday.

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