Cancer patients 'completely blindsided' by out-of-pocket costs, Victorian report finds

The report, from the McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer and commissioned by Cancer Council Victoria, surveyed more than 200 Victorians affected by cancer, including people with lived experience, carers and the professionals supporting them.

Neroli Padfield was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024 and underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Even with private health insurance, she spent about $10,400 on specialist appointments, tests and medications.

"As I was putting it all into a spreadsheet, I thought: 'Wow, this is ridiculous,'" she said. "The costs started even before I was diagnosed."

Ms Padfield, who describes herself as "lucky" to have kept working during treatment with flexible hours, said the financial burden continues long after active treatment ends. "I'm still paying for having had cancer, and I think I will be paying for a number of years."

Hayley Jones, director of the McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer, said many people told researchers they felt "completely blindsided" by out-of-pocket fees as they left specialist appointments, and some said they skipped medications because they could not afford them.

"Some of the people we interviewed had up to $10,000 in expenses in about two years," Ms Jones said. "That ranges from specialist fees to medications, treatment and reconstructive surgery, as well as travel to appointments and accommodation, particularly if people live regionally."

Hospital parking, diagnostics and medication also came with unexpected costs, the report found.

"A cancer diagnosis is life-changing, but unfortunately it also comes with unnecessary legal and financial burdens," Ms Jones said. "These challenges … often arise at times of crisis and are shaped by systems that are complex, fragmented and poorly aligned with the realities of cancer and caring."

The report's key recommendations include strengthening enforceable workplace rights and protections, reforming superannuation, and increasing awareness of the financial impacts of a cancer diagnosis.

Why This Matters

Out-of-pocket costs can affect treatment adherence — some patients in the report said they skipped medications because they could not afford them.
The financial burden extends well beyond treatment, with patients like Ms Padfield still paying years after their diagnosis.
The report frames the problem as systemic — involving workplace rights, superannuation and fragmented health and legal systems — not just individual medical bills.

Background

In Australia's mixed public-private healthcare system, Medicare covers a significant portion of medical treatment, but patients commonly face gap payments for specialist appointments, tests and medications, and private health insurance does not always close the gap. Cancer treatment often involves multiple specialists, ongoing scans, long-term medication and time off work, which can quickly accumulate into substantial costs. This report focuses on Victoria, but the underlying issues reflect pressures felt across the country.

Key Perspectives

Patients: Neroli Padfield's experience illustrates the gap between expectation and reality — even with private health insurance and a supportive employer, she faced $10,400 in costs. She argues the up-front costs of treatment must be better communicated to patients.

McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer / Cancer Council Victoria: The report argues the systems surrounding cancer care are "complex, fragmented and poorly aligned" with the realities of the disease, and that legal and financial challenges often arise at moments of crisis. It is calling for enforceable workplace protections, superannuation reform and greater awareness.

Critics/Skeptics: The recommendations extend beyond the health system into employment and superannuation law, areas where legislative change is typically slow and contested. Questions of who bears the cost of stronger workplace protections — governments or employers — and how superannuation reform would be funded are likely to be points of debate.

What to Watch

Whether the Victorian or federal governments respond to the report's recommendations on workplace rights and superannuation.
Any moves to improve communication of expected out-of-pocket costs to patients before they commit to treatment.
Whether the findings prompt broader national research into the financial burden of cancer beyond Victoria.

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