Easy Read – Help with money

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

You can learn how to get help paying for:

• medicine
• treatment
• transport to the hospital.

You can ask someone for help to read this information.

Having cancer can be expensive.

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

You may have to pay for:

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

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

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

Knowing the costs can help you make decisions about treatment.

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

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

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

Some people have trouble paying bills for:

• phone
• electricity
• water
• gas.

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

We call this a hardship policy or assistance program.

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

The Australian Government can help pay for some cancer costs.

Medicare can make some health care free or cheaper.

Centrelink has payments to help some people.

How much you pay depends on the type of hospital.

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

Image of private hospital usually costs more.

Medicare covers:

• seeing a doctor

• having blood tests, x-rays and scans

• going to a public hospital

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

Sometimes Medicare does not pay the full cost.

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

The Australian Government helps with the cost of many medicines.

This is through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme or PBS.

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

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.

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

Ask your pharmacist:

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

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

Some concession cards include:

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

Centrelink might help with money if:

• you are looking for work

• have a disability

• are looking after someone.

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

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

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

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

A financial counsellor can help you:

• make a budget
• give you tips for paying your bills and money you owe.

To find a financial counsellor, call:

• Cancer Council 13 11 20
• National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007.

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

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