| Costs and government funding | Complementary therapies aren’t covered by government-funded schemes such as Medicare or the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Some treatment centres offer free or lower-cost complementary therapies to patients, but many you will need to pay for. |
| Private health insurance | Some private health funds cover complementary therapies, which may be called “extras” on the policy. This may include massage and shiatsu, acupuncture, naturopathy, Chinese medicine, Alexander technique, yoga, Pilates and tai chi. Check your policy to see what it covers, including the limits per visit and treatment type. Private health insurance doesn’t usually cover medicines, herbs or remedies used in complementary therapies. |
| Consultation fees | Complementary therapists set their own fees for consultations. The cost can vary depending on their training and experience, how long the consultation lasts, and the type of treatment you have. Fees may sometimes be expensive, so it’s a good idea to speak to a few therapists to compare costs. Also ask about the long-term plan and consider that cost. If they suggest you have a therapy every 2 weeks for 6 months, consider what the total cost will be. |
| Costs of remedies and products | The consultation fee usually does not include the cost of herbal remedies, nutritional supplements or other products that they may recommend (e.g. yoga equipment or therapeutic skin creams). In particular, it’s common for naturopaths, herbalists and homeopaths to mix or make remedies for you, sell you pre-made nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplements, or give you a script for a naturopathic dispensary or a compounding pharmacy/chemist. How much you will pay for these products varies depending on the type of remedy and the ingredients, strength and quantity. |
→ READ MORE: Taking part in a clinical trial
Meditation and Relaxation Podcast
Listen to more of our meditation and relaxation podcast for people affected by cancer
Key resource
Download a PDF booklet on this topic.
More resources
A/Prof Geraldine McDonald, Director Patient Experience and Wellbeing, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Laura Carman, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Victoria; A/Prof Christine Carrington, Senior Consultant Pharmacist Cancer Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital and Metro South Health and The University of Queensland, QLD; Kellie Giannarelli, Consumer; Dr Suzanne Grant, Senior Research Fellow, Integrative Oncology, NICM Health Research Institute, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Vivienne Hansen, Bush and Western Herbal Medicine Practitioner, WA; Karla Jaji, Administration Officer, Nepean Cancer and Wellness Centre, NSW; Dr Laura Kirsten, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Nepean Cancer Services, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, NSW; A/Prof Judith Lacey, Director of Supportive Care and Integrative Oncology, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Adjunct Professor Danforn Lim, Western Sydney University and University of Technology Sydney, NSW; Dr David Mizrahi, Senior Research Fellow and Accredited Exercise Physiologist, The Daffodil Centre, University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW; Professor Avni Sali AM, Founder and Director, National Institute of Integrative Medicine, VIC; Gillian Thompson, Consumer; A/Prof Kate Webber, Medical Oncologist, Monash Health, VIC; Tanya Wells, Integrative Oncology Consultant and Naturopath, Melbourne Integrative Oncology Group, VIC; Prof Kate White, Professor Cancer Nursing, Cancer Care Research Unit, The Daffodil Centre, University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
