Help with additional costs

Help with health costs

The costs associated with cancer can have an impact on your finances when you have to keep buying things relating to your illness.

If you are on a low income you might be entitled to help with the cost of:

• Wig and fabric supports
• Dental treatment
• Eye treatment
• Aids and equipment
• Child care costs through Tax Credit
• Free school meals
• School clothing
• Educational Maintenance Allowance for your child

Help with transport costs

One of the extra costs that cancer patients face is the cost of travel to and from hospital for treatment. Depending on what benefits you receive you may be entitled to some help with these costs, for example, bus or train fares to hospital, some petrol costs.

If you need someone to travel with you to hospital for medical reasons, you may be able to get a refund on their travel costs too. For more information speak to staff at the Cash Office in the hospital.

There are special rates for bus, coach and train travel for eligible older people and people with disabilities. Check at your local bus, coach or train station for details, or call Translink on 028 9066 6630, or visit www.translink.co.uk.

If you have problems using public transport there may be community transport services in your area that can help.  Contact your local council for more information.

If you are disabled or get the mobility component of certain benefits you may be able to get free road tax and may benefit from the Motability scheme.

Insurance

If you have had cancer or you are living with cancer, you can sometimes face higher premiums, special conditions or refusal when buying life insurance and some types of health insurance.

• Travel – It is possible that if you have, or have had, cancer you might find it difficult to get more affordable travel insurance.
• Health: Having cancer can influence the decisions you need to make when you are buying health insurance.
• Car: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is responsible for deciding whether you are medically fit to drive. Provided the DVLA has issued you with a license, you should normally be offered car insurance on standard terms.
• Life: When you are buying life insurance there are some things that it might be helpful to consider.

For more information, contact the Macmillan Benefits Advisers on 0300 123 3233 option 1, or visit the financial support tool on the Macmillan Cancer Support website.