Many drugs used to treat cancer are expensive. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) covers all or part of the cost of many prescription medicines for people with a current Medicare card.
Medicines that you buy from a pharmacy without a prescription (over-the-counter medicines) are generally not covered by the PBS.
Learn more about:
- Concession cards and allowances
- PBS Safety Net
- Generic medicines
- Non-PBS prescriptions
- Paying for medicines
Concession cards and allowances
Some PBS medicines are cheaper for people with a Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Veteran Card, Health Care Card or Department of Veterans’ Affairs Health Card. You will need to show your card to the pharmacist when you get your prescription filled. People who receive some Centrelink payments may be eligible for a Pharmaceutical Allowance, which can help to cover the costs of prescription medicines.
For information and to check if you qualify, visit Services Australia.
PBS Safety Net
The PBS Safety Net further reduces the cost of PBS medicines once you or your family have spent a certain amount on medicines each year (the threshold). When you reach the threshold, your pharmacist can give you a PBS Safety Net card, and your prescription medicines for the rest of the year will be discounted (or free if you have an eligible concession card). For details, call 1800 020 613 or visit pbs.gov.au.
Generic medicines
Your pharmacist may ask if you would like a generic brand of your prescribed medicine because it will be cheaper. Generic medicines contain the same active ingredients and meet the same high standards of quality, safety and effectiveness set by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, which regulates medicines sold in Australia. It is your choice whether to buy the generic or original brand.
Non-PBS prescriptions
Doctors may prescribe a medicine that is not on the PBS. This is called a private prescription. You will need to pay the full price for these medicines and it will not count towards the PBS Safety Net. If you have private health insurance, it may cover some or all of the cost of a private prescription. Check with your insurer.
You may also be able to access medicines that are not on the PBS by joining a clinical trial or through a compassionate access scheme.
Paying for medicines
- Public patients in public hospital do not pay for most drugs as the cost is covered by the PBS. Ask your treatment team if you have to contribute to the cost of your drugs (there may be a cost for some oral chemotherapy drugs).
- If you choose to be treated as a private patient, you may have to contribute to the cost of chemotherapy drugs. Check with your doctor and health fund before starting treatment.
- Some doctors only prescribe PBS medicines to make treatment affordable. Ask your doctor for every option – including private prescriptions – so you can make an informed decision about your treatment. You may also be able to get some drugs at a reduced cost on compassionate grounds (these are called compassionate access schemes). Ask your doctor if this might be an option for you.
- You usually have to pay for medicines you take at home. Keep a record of your PBS medicines on a Prescription Record Form, available online or from your pharmacist, so you know when you’ve reached the PBS Safety Net threshold.
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Prof Sarah Lewis, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW; Kevin Bloom, Senior Social Worker, Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW; Danielle Curnoe, Consumer; Alana Fitzgibbon, Clinical Nurse Consultant – Gastro-Intestinal Cancers, Cancer Services, Royal Hobart Hospital, TAS; Hall & Wilcox (law firm); Johanna Jordaan, Consumer; Dr Deme Karikios, Medical Oncologist, Nepean Cancer and Wellness Centre, Nepean Hospital, NSW; Melissa Lawrie, Breast Cancer Clinical Nurse, Cancer Services, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, QLD; Jacqueline Lesage, Consumer Reviewer, Cancer Voices NSW; McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer, VIC; Louise Pellerade, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Andrew Potter, Consumer; Siân Slade, PhD Candidate, Nossal Institute for Global Health and Non-Executive Director (health, disability sectors), VIC; Paula Watt, Clinical Psychologist, WOMEN Centre, WA.
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