Managing your money

Whether you’re living with or after leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, or any other type of blood cancer:

• Insurance can help. We have information about how to find the right life insurance, home insurance, travel insurance and more.
• Support is available if you're in debt.
• Many workplaces have an employee assistance programme (EAP) which may offer counselling. This could help if money worries are making you anxious or panicky, and should still be available to you if you’re working from home or are on sick leave.

Talking about money isn’t always easy. Lots of people find it hard to admit that they are worried about their finances, or that they can’t afford something they need.

If you’re struggling, you don’t have to suffer alone. There is lots of help and support available online, which you’ll find links to on this page. You could ask a loved one to help you look through the information and talk about your options, or set aside some time yourself to read everything and take notes.

If it’s difficult for you to get online, or you do want to speak to someone, you can get free and confidential financial advice over the phone from the following organisations:

• Acas
• Citizen’s Advice
• Macmillan Cancer Support

Remember, benefits and grants are there to help people just like you. There is no shame in claiming a benefit that you are entitled to, and which will help you live well and offset some of the hidden costs of blood cancer.

You might find that the cost of insurance goes up when you have blood cancer. This can affect things like your car insurance, home insurance, holiday insurance and life insurance. You may end up having to pay more to stay covered, and it could be more difficult to find a provider to cover you.

Here are some tips for taking out or renewing any kind of insurance:

• It’s best to shop around. Look at comparison websites like MoneySupermarket or use an insurance broker to see what different providers can offer. You may be able to find a cheaper deal with a new company, rather than renewing with your usual provider.
• Be aware that the cheapest policy may not always offer the level of cover you need. Always check the policy details and read the full terms and conditions to see what's included and what isn’t.
• If you are refused cover, contact the provider and ask why. Sometimes providers will ask for more information about your condition so that they can understand your situation better. This may end up with them offering you a policy after all.

Insurance providers have to have a good reason to refuse to cover someone. This should be based on reliable evidence that the person's condition puts them at higher risk. They should not have blanket policies which apply to all people with blood cancer, as everybody is different.

If you’re looking for travel insurance, we’ve partnered with Staysure, who aim to make it easier for people with blood cancer to get covered. Find out more and get a quote.

Some life insurance policies will pay out a lump sum if you get diagnosed with cancer. They may also be able to waive or lower your premiums. Speak to your provider if you have one, and see what they can offer.

If you have critical illness cover or income protection insurance, you might be able to make a claim against these as well. Check the specific terms of your insurance policy and speak to your insurer or a financial adviser to understand your entitlements.

It’s important to know that claiming any money from insurance like critical illness cover may invalidate other insurance policies you have. Always check with all of your providers to see if you need to update anything if you make a claim.

If you’re in debt, or worried about going into debt, help is out there.

Being in debt can be complicated and overwhelming, and lots of people say they don’t know where to start finding support.

Step Change provides free and confidential advice about debt that is tailored to you and your individual circumstances. You can contact them about debt relief orders, debt management plans, bankruptcy, mortgages and equity release, and more.

If you’re in England and Wales, you can get free debt advice from the National Debtline. The UK Government website has more information about debt advice in Scotland and debt advice in Northern Ireland.

Citizen’s Advice and Shelter also provide information and support about debt free of charge.

Here are some things that could help during the cost of living crisis and beyond:

• Free prescriptions – Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In England, there is a medical exemption certificate that allows people with cancer to get all their prescriptions for free. Ask your GP surgery for the form.
• Help with health costs – You may be able to get help with health costs. It takes just three minutes to check online.
• Help from your local council – Local councils can sometimes provide emergency grants to people in urgent need. Check with your council to find out more.
• Speak to your employer – Many employers offer staff benefits and discounts that can help you save money. Some are also giving one-off payments to help with the cost of living.
• Check for other sources of support – The IncomeMax Self-Help Check-list is a tool to help you find sources of help and support during the cost of living crisis, and MoneyHelper offers free webchat, Whatsapp and phone advice on all money matters, including managing your money in uncertain times.

If you need financial support for any reason, contact Citizens Advice on 0344 411 1444.

Moneywellness also provides free advice on debt management, claiming benefits, budgeting, taking out insurance and more.

The following pharmaceutical companies have funded this information but have had no input into the content or direction of the project: Janssen-Cilag Ltd

Read about how we work with the pharmaceutical industry.

The information on this page was checked for accuracy by the Director of Finance and the Head of People and Organisational Development at Blood Cancer UK. Last reviewed May 2025. Next full review due May 2028. We may make factual updates to the information between reviews.