Practical issues

Finances

Illness can cause short-term financial strain as day-to-day expenses continue with the additional costs of medical treatments and tests, but there is support to help ease some of the financial burden you may experience:

  • Talk to your doctor about the likely costs of tests, treatment and support services
  • My Journey Kit has more information on how to manage your finances
  • Ask your GP, Breast Care Nurse, hospital social worker or contact the Cancer Helpline on 13 11 20 to find about financial schemes in your area that can help you
  • Find out if you are eligible for a health care card from Centrelink (phone: 13 27 17) which can reduce the cost of medications and other services
  • Once you have spent $1500 on net medical expenses (the cost of medical expenses after receiving Medicare or private health fund rebates) you can make a tax offset claim of 20 cents in every dollar you spend beyond this amount, as a tax deduction. Visit the Australian Taxation Office website for more information or call 13 28 61.
  • Read our reports on the cost of follow-up mammograms and the high cost drugs research report.

"My main concern was how long I could stay off work without an income before losing my house. Luckily I was OK as I was very careful and budgeted well." - Michelle

Women living in rural and regional parts of Australia often have additional expenses if they are required to travel for treatment in another town or city. For more information for rural women, visit our In rural areas page.


Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)

The PBS is a government system which subsidises the cost of some medications. If you have a Medicare card you will be covered by the PBS. Some commonly used medications for breast cancer are not approved for the PBS, however, and so will not be provided to you at a reduced cost. Ask your doctor if there are subsidised medications suitable for you. Check the Medicare website to find out if any medications you use are covered by the PBS Schedule. You may also like to read more about the process by which breast cancer medicines are subsidised.

Under the PBS Safety Net, when you have paid a certain amount for prescription medications in less than one calendar year, you will be eligible to pay less, or in some cases nothing, for future medications in that year. Ask your pharmacist, Medicare or Centrelink how to register when you reach the threshold. For more information, visit the PBS website.

The Medicare Safety Net works the same way -- once you have paid a certain amount in medical fees, you won't have to pay as much for the rest of the year. Services which count towards the Medicare Safety Net include GP and specialist consultations, ultrasounds, scans and x-rays and blood tests. If you are single, you do not need to register for the Medicare Safety Net, but do be sure to let Medicare know if you change your address. Couples and families do need to register for the Medicare Safety Net so that your combined medical costs can contribute to your family safety net. Visit your local Medicare office, or call Medicare on 13 20 11, to register. For more information, visit the Medicare website.

Women diagnosed with breast cancer are eligible to claim through Medicare for up to five allied health services per year, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists and dieticians. Ask your GP about developing a GP Management Plan and/or a Multidisciplinary Team Care Arrangement Plan for you.Visit the Department of Health and Ageing website for more information.

You can also keep track of your expenses in your My Journey Kit Personal Record.

Travel insurance

Women can have trouble obtaining travel insurance after they've been through breast cancer, so find out what your options are before making travel plans.

Visit the fact sheets page to download the travel insurance fact sheets.

Employment

Work may bring a sense of 'normality' and help to keep you occupied during your treatment or you may not feel strong enough to work due to side effects such as fatigue from chemotherapy. Here are some tips for managing work during your breast cancer:

"I returned to work one day after finishing radiotherapy. Now, looking back, I wish I had taken some time off to rest and relax." - Melissa

  • Talk to your employer as soon as possible, as they may be able to work out a job share or reduced hours arrangement for you
  • You can find out your entitlements regarding paid and unpaid leave from supervisors, human resources personnel, your union representative, a financial advisor or Centrelink
  • If you are self-employed you may be able to find someone to step into your role for a while
  • If your work includes manual tasks, talk to your doctor about whether these aspects of your job need to be modified
  • If you have income protection or trauma insurance you may be eligible to make a claim while going through your treatment.

Child care

In-home child care is a service provided by an approved carer in the child's home, available to families with no other child care options. Contact your local FaCS office on 1300 653 227 to find out your eligibility.

Increased child care hours and/or special child care benefits

  • If you already receive Child Care Benefit (CCB) and need to increase the number of hours of child care in any week, then ask your child care provider if you might be eligible for extra hours of CCB under the 'exceptional circumstances' provision
  • If your illness has caused financial hardship and you are having difficulties paying your portion of child care fees then you may also be eligible for up to 13 weeks of Special Child Care Benefit (SCCB)
  • If your children are not in approved child care and you would like to access approved child care while you are receiving treatment, contact the Child Care Access Hotline on 1800 670 305 and they will provide you with details of approved child care services in your area
  • For more information on the Child Care Benefit visit the Family Assistance Office website.

More information

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My Journey Kit

My Journey Kit is a free, comprehensive information resource for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

You can order the kit online, or by phoning 1800 500 258.

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