Financial help with cancer: Your guide to support and benefits
21/05/25
6
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
A cancer diagnosis presents those affected and their relatives with immense challenges, including financial ones. This article shows you which financial assistance for cancer you are entitled to and how you can apply for it. Find out more about your rights and options.
The topic in brief and concise terms
Cancer patients are entitled to a range of social benefits such as sickness benefit, domestic help and a reduced earning capacity pension, which must be applied for.
A severely disabled person's pass (from a degree of disability of 50) offers disability-related benefits such as special protection against dismissal and tax relief.
The German Cancer Aid hardship fund offers one-off financial support in cases of hardship, subject to income limits.
Gain an overview: first steps towards financial relief
A cancer diagnosis often leads to loss of earnings and additional costs. Fortunately, Germany has a system of social benefits that provides financial help for cancer. Statutory health insurers, for example, cover the costs of medicines, dressings, treatments and aids. It is important to find out about entitlements at an early stage, because many benefits have to be applied for. The social services department at the hospital or cancer advice centres are the first points of contact for comprehensive advice. This initial guidance helps you plan the next steps.
Sick pay and continued pay secure your income during illness
If you become unable to work due to your cancer, your employer will generally continue to pay your full salary for up to six weeks. This period is a maximum of 42 calendar days. After that, statutory health insurance steps in with sickness benefit. Sickness benefit amounts to seventy percent of regular gross earnings, but no more than ninety percent of net earnings. You can receive sickness benefit for up to 78 weeks within a three-year assessment period. A continuous fit note is crucial to avoid jeopardising your entitlement to sickness benefit. For those with private insurance, the daily sickness allowance arrangements agreed in the respective policy apply. The cancer insurance can provide important additional protection here. These benefits form an important basis for your financial support in the event of cancer and help cover ongoing costs.
Using support in everyday life: household help and travel costs
Cancer patients are often entitled to a household help service if they are unable to continue running their household due to illness. This applies in particular if children under the age of twelve live in the household; in that case, support can be granted for up to 26 weeks. Without children in the household, entitlement exists for up to four weeks. Statutory health insurers also generally cover the travel costs for chemotherapy or radiotherapy, but these must be approved in advance. A co-payment of ten per cent, at least five euros and at most ten euros per journey, is usually payable. These practical forms of support considerably ease the burden on you in everyday life. Also find out about the waiting periods for cancer insurance policies to be as well prepared as possible. Such support is an important part of financial assistance for cancer.
Check long-term provision: disability pension and severe disability
If, as a result of cancer, you can no longer work permanently or can only work to a limited extent, reduced earnings capacity pension may be an option. This can be granted as a full or partial pension, depending on your remaining capacity to work in the general labour market. Applying for recognition of a severe disability is also an important step. From a degree of disability (GdB) of 50, you are considered severely disabled. A severely disabled person’s pass, usually issued for five years, brings various compensatory benefits. These include, among other things, special protection against dismissal, an additional five days’ leave and tax advantages. These regulations provide important financial help with cancer and offset disadvantages. The best cancer insurance can provide additional support here.
Possible compensatory benefits through a severely disabled person’s pass include:
Special protection against dismissal at work
Entitlement to five additional days of annual leave
Possibility of an earlier retirement start
Tax relief (disability lump sum)
Discounts on public transport and facilities
In some circumstances, exemption from broadcasting fees
These long-term safeguarding mechanisms are a cornerstone of financial help with cancer.
Managing co-payments and hardship cases: burden limits and financial hardship
People with statutory health insurance must make co-payments for many services, for example ten per cent for medicines and dressings (minimum five, maximum ten euros). However, there is an annual cap on the financial burden. This is two per cent of the family gross income, and one per cent for people with chronic illnesses. Collect all co-payment receipts in order to apply for an exemption for the rest of the year. For cancer patients who have fallen into financial hardship through no fault of their own, there is the hardship fund of German Cancer Aid. This can provide one-off financial support that does not have to be repaid. Since its establishment, the hardship fund has provided around 140 million euros. Subsequent cancer insurance is often not possible, so taking precautions is important. These mechanisms provide important financial help with cancer in difficult situations.
Claim care benefits: support for care needs
If need for care arises as a result of cancer, long-term care insurance covers the costs of care at home or in a facility. Since the Care Strengthening Act II, care needs have been assessed on the basis of five care levels that evaluate independence. All people in need of care who are cared for at home receive a relief allowance of up to €125 per month. This amount is earmarked for specific care and relief services. The benefits of long-term care insurance are an important component of financial assistance for cancer.
Long-term care insurance offers various types of benefits:
Care allowance for care support arranged privately
Care services in kind for professional care providers
Combined benefits of cash and in-kind benefits
Partial inpatient day or night care
Full inpatient care in a care home
Subsidies for measures to improve the living environment
Care aids
A cancer insurance without health questions can be an option for securing cover at an early stage. The right planning and use of these benefits can significantly reduce the financial burden.
After acute treatment, cancer patients are entitled to rehabilitation measures. These usually last three weeks and aim to alleviate the physical and psychological effects of the illness. The costs are usually covered by pension insurance providers or health insurance funds. For returning to work, the “Hamburg model” can enable a gradual return to work. During this period, you remain signed off sick and generally receive sickness benefit or transitional allowance. Occupational integration management (BEM) is another tool employers must offer if an employee has been off sick for more than six weeks. These measures are an important part of financial support for cancer, as they pave the way back into working life. You should also consider specific cancer insurance. Careful planning of rehabilitation is crucial for long-term recovery.
Expert tips for your applications: what you should look out for
Care is required when applying for financial assistance for cancer. Our expert tip: Always submit applications in writing and keep copies. Ask for confirmation that it has been received. For the hardship fund of German Cancer Aid, for example, you need an application form and a medical certificate. Processing usually takes four to six weeks. When applying for severe disability status, all health impairments should be listed, not just the cancer diagnosis. Make use of advice services from social services, health insurance providers or cancer counselling centres to avoid mistakes. Good preparation makes the process of financial assistance for cancer considerably easier.
Your next step: personalised advice for your situation
A cancer diagnosis and the associated financial aspects can be overwhelming. There are many different points of contact and benefits available to support you financially with cancer. Personal advice is often the best way to find and apply for the support that suits your personal situation. Do not hesitate to seek support. At nextsure, we understand that every situation is unique. We help you keep an overview and assert your entitlements. Contact us for a personalised risk analysis. Request a personalised risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation reviewed free of charge and receive specific suggestions for improvement.
More useful links
The Deutsche Rentenversicherung offers comprehensive information on reduced earning capacity pension, which may be relevant in the event of permanently limited ability to work due to a cancer condition.
The VdK Germany provides detailed information on social law issues in the context of a cancer diagnosis and offers guidance on entitlements and assistance.
FAQ
What does health insurance cover in the event of cancer?
The health insurance fund covers the costs of medical treatment, medication, remedies (e.g. physiotherapy), aids (e.g. wigs, wheelchairs), hospital stays, travel costs for certain therapies, household help under certain conditions and sick pay after the end of continued pay.
Can I get financial help from the government if I have cancer?
Yes, state financial assistance for cancer is available in the form of social benefits such as sickness benefit, reduced earning capacity pension, care allowance, citizen's allowance (formerly unemployment benefit II/social assistance) in cases of need, housing benefit and tax relief.
How do I apply for the German Cancer Aid hardship fund?
You must submit an application to Deutsche Krebshilfe with personal details, income/expenditure information (confirmed by a public authority/public institution) and a medical certificate. The forms are available on their website.
What benefits does a severely disabled person's pass bring if you have cancer?
A severely disabled person's pass (from GdB 50) offers, among other things, special protection against dismissal, additional holiday entitlement (five extra days), tax relief (disability tax allowance), earlier retirement and discounts on public transport.
As a cancer patient, can I get household help paid for?
Yes, under certain conditions you are entitled to household help if no other person living in the household can run the household. If children under twelve live in the household, the help can be granted for longer (up to 26 weeks).
What is the cap on co-payments for cancer patients?
The cost-sharing limit for co-payments for people with chronic illnesses (including cancer patients) is one per cent of annual gross family income. For other insured persons, it is two per cent. Once this limit has been reached, you may be exempt from any further co-payments for the rest of the year.
