Julie Crawshay on Understanding PBS and Medication Costs in Australia
Medications can become a surprisingly large part of life after a brain tumour diagnosis, and so can the cost of them. I am Julie Crawshay, a Sydney carer, and I want to share some of what I learned about how the Australian system helps with medicine costs, because understanding it early took a real weight off our shoulders.
How the PBS helps
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, or PBS, is the Australian Government program that subsidises the cost of many prescription medicines. When a medicine is listed on the PBS, you generally pay a set contribution and the government covers the rest. There are lower contribution amounts for concession card holders, which can make a meaningful difference for families managing on a reduced income during treatment.
Not every medicine is listed, and some are subsidised only for particular conditions or stages, so it is always worth asking your treating team and pharmacist what applies to your situation. If a medicine is not on the PBS, they can sometimes suggest alternatives or point you toward other assistance, so please ask rather than assume the first price is the only price.
The Safety Net and staying organised
One part of the system I wish I had understood sooner is the PBS Safety Net. It is designed so that once your family spends a certain amount on eligible medicines in a calendar year, your costs for the rest of that year reduce. The thresholds and amounts are reviewed regularly, so confirm the current figures with your pharmacist or Services Australia, but the principle is worth knowing.
A few habits helped our household:
- Use the same pharmacy where you can, so your spending is easy to track toward the Safety Net.
- Ask your pharmacist about starting a Safety Net record for the family.
- Keep receipts and repeat scripts together in one folder.
- Check whether a concession or Health Care Card applies, since it changes what you pay.
Beyond the PBS, hospital pharmacies, Cancer Council support lines and hospital social workers in NSW can help you understand costs and any additional assistance. If money is genuinely tight, please raise it, because there are often options that families simply do not know to ask about.
I would gently remind anyone reading that managing medication is not only about money. Keeping a clear list of what is taken and when, and reviewing it regularly with your treating team, matters just as much for safety. A brain tumour can affect memory, so a simple written schedule protects everyone.
Everything here is general information, not medical or financial advice. Prices, listings and thresholds change, so always confirm the current position with your treating team, your pharmacist and the relevant service. Julie Crawshay learned that a few good questions at the pharmacy counter can change the whole month, and Julie Crawshay hopes the same is true for you.
By Julie Crawshay, Sydney, Australia