If you have a chronic illness

A chronic illness is a long-term condition that may or may not be life threatening. It is common for it to:

• need ongoing treatment and management
• not get better on its own
• affect your day to day life

Common chronic illnesses include:

• asthma
• arthritis
• diabetes
• heart disease
• cancer
• autoimmune disease
• osteoporosis
• back pain 
• lung diseases like bronchitis and emphysema
• kidney disease
• mental health conditions

Seeing a doctor and getting a diagnosis

Not all chronic illnesses are easy to diagnose.

You may need to see more than one doctor or specialist before you have an answer. 

A chronic illness requires ongoing care to help you treat and manage your condition.

It’s important to find a doctor or health care team you trust and feel comfortable with who can:

• identify your health care needs
• talk about treatment options
• help you create a chronic disease management plan

You don't have to tell your workplace if you have a chronic illness. However, you may want to let them know if it will affect your ability to do your job.

Think about talking to your work if you're likely to need a lot of time off for:

• sick leave
• medical appointments

Even if you do tell your work about your illness, you still have a right to privacy. They can't share this information without your consent.

Your rights at work

You're protected from losing your job if taking time off work because of illness if you've:

• been away less than 3 months in a row (or less than 3 months over a 12-month period)
• taken paid or unpaid leave, or a combination of both
• provided proof of your illness, such as a medical certificate

You may not be protected if you've taken more than 3 months off work, even if you have proof of your illness.

Some chronic illnesses are considered a disability under the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act. This can include temporary illnesses.

If your illness falls under this definition, your employer must make reasonable adjustments so you can keep working. This can include:

• adjustable work stations
• access to car parks, lifts and ramps
• building modifications
• flexible work hours

Flexible work arrangements

If your illness is making it difficult to work, you can ask for a flexible work arrangement.

You can do this even if your illness isn’t considered a disability under the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act.

A flexible work arrangement can include:

• working part time
• working from home
• flexible work hours
• job sharing

Leave and notice

You may need to take a lot of time off work if you have a chronic illness. There are paid and unpaid leave options, depending on your situation. 

Most full and part time workers get paid sick leave when they're too sick to work.

If you don't get paid sick leave or have used it all, you may be able to take unpaid leave. Talk to your work about your options.

If you're too sick to work, let your workplace know as soon as possible. They can ask for a medical certificate from your doctor as proof of your illness.

Having a chronic illness can mean paying more for health care, medication and changes to your home.

You may also have less money coming in if you need to reduce your work hours or stop working.

Government payments

There are different types of financial help available from the government, including:

• Sickness Allowance
• National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
• Disability Support Pension
• Child Disability Assistance Payment
• Mobility Allowance
• Pensioner Education Supplement
• Telephone Allowance
• Rent Assistance

If you're a veteran, you may be be able to get an income support payment from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Help with medical costs

Medicare covers all or part of the costs of some medical services, including:

• doctor or specialist appointments
• tests and scans
• most surgery and procedures by a doctor
• eye tests by optometrists

Check with your doctor or health provider if they bulk bill. If they do, it means you don't have to pay for the appointment. 

If they don’t bulk bill, you can ask in advance: 

• how much the appointment will cost
• how much you'll get back from Medicare

Medicare Safety Nets can also help to keep some of your medical costs down. You get back more from Medicare if you spend over a certain amount in a calendar year on:

• doctor or specialist appointments
• some tests and scans

Medicine costs

You can get cheaper medicine if:

• it's on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Learn more about the PBS at Services Australia
• you have a concession or health care card. Find out if you can get one at Services Australia
• you spend a certain amount on PBS medicine in a year and reach the PBS Safety Net. Find out more about the PBS Safety Net at Services Australia

Equipment and the cost of running it

You may be able to get help with the cost of buying and running medical equipment.

For aids, equipment and rehabilitation appliances, you can get help:

• from EnableNSW
• for veterans from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
• for managing incontinence from Services Australia

For the cost of running medical equipment, you can get:

• an essential medical equipment payment from Services Australia
• a life support energy rebate from Service NSW
• a medical energy rebate from Service NSW

Private health cover

You may be covered for hospital, rehabilitation and medical costs not covered by Medicare if you have private health insurance. You will also usually:

• have shorter waiting periods
• get your choice of doctor

You may want to contact your private health insurance company before having treatment to check if it's covered.

Insurance payments

If you've taken out insurance and are diagnosed with a chronic illness, you may be able to access a payment to help cover living costs.

This insurance could be through your superannuation fund or with a separate insurance provider.

The types of insurance available include:

• income protection
• critical illness (also called trauma cover or recovery insurance)
• total and permanent disability
• life insurance, which can be paid out early for those with a terminal illness

Contact your insurance provider to find out if you are covered and how to make a claim.

Access your super early

You can access your super early if you:

• are in severe financial hardship
• have a terminal illness
• are temporarily or permanently incapacitated
• have less than $200 in your super fund, or
• meet compassionate grounds

Help to manage your money

It is common to take a look at your money and budget after finding out you have a chronic illness.

The Financial Information Service at Services Australia can help you understand your financial options. 

The Budget Planner at Moneysmart is an online tool that can help you work out:

• what you're spending your money on
• where you might be able to save money

Call the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 for free and confidential financial counselling.

The Financial Rights Legal Centre offers advice and advocacy for people in financial stress.

Knowing more about your illness will help you make better decisions about your care and treatment. It can help to:

• find a doctor you trust and feel comfortable with
• ask your doctor for a chronic disease management plan to help you manage your illness, and to assist you to access support from other health professionals who can help you
• talk to your doctor about your medication and the possible side effects
• ask your doctor about support groups in your local area

Pain management

Managing pain is an important part of living with a chronic illness.

This can mean taking prescription or non-prescription pain relief medication, as well as other treatments, including:

• physical therapy
• massage
• cognitive behavioural therapy
• acupuncture
• stress management techniques

Finding out you have a chronic illness can be a stressful and complex time. You may have to cope with:

• physical pain
• physical limitations
• higher health care costs
• changes to your lifestyle
• difficult emotions

After talking with your doctor about options for your health care, it can be helpful to get support so you can start to understand and come to terms with the diagnosis.

There are many types of help available if you have a chronic illness, including physical, emotional and practical.

Depending on how serious your illness is, you may want to make future plans about:

• your health care
• if you want to choose an Enduring Guardian or Power of Attorney
• making or updating your will
• if you have kids, who will look after them if you can't