The hidden tax for those living outside Australian capital cities: 'A big strain'
Phil Leahy, from Port Douglas in Queensland's far north, was diagnosed with p16-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) earlier this year. It's a type of throat cancer that typically starts in the tonsils or base of the tongue and is commonly linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV).
The Queenslander was forced to leave his home and relocate to Brisbane to embark on an eight-week treatment plan that involves both radiation and chemotherapy. Phil founded his own business MedCart five years ago — a marketplace for medical, healthcare and pharmacy supplies — but was forced to take a major step back when he received his diagnosis.
His wife Annabel has taken over the reins from Phil as CEO while he's out of action, and, since falling ill, has also become the primary caretaker of the home.
Speaking to Yahoo News, Phil said that because their property is located within a rainforest, it requires regular maintenance, meaning Annabel isn't able to join him in Brisbane for treatment. He said between the cost of travelling back and forth, paying for everyday expenses — including food and transport — and the emotional toll of being separated from your partner, Australians living regionally face a much tougher challenge when it comes to accessing life-saving healthcare.
"Because Cairns doesn't offer dual treatment of chemo and radiation, I was forced to go to Brisbane," he said. "So in Far North Queensland, we're at a disadvantage there. And then you've got to think about all those extra costs of going interstate.
"There's the accommodation challenge. We were lucky to get an Airbnb that was quite cheap — I think it was $70 a night. But it can be anywhere from $200 a night to $335 or $400 a night for a 49-night stay. My wife is acting as CEO, she's got to manage the house and also the business without me there, so it's a big strain."
Phil said he initially opted for private care, thinking it would offer better flexibility and access. But he was surprised to learn that public hospital admission could have covered nearly all his treatment and support, something he only discovered after experiencing substantial out-of-pocket expenses. "I'm 60 years old, and I've been paying for private healthcare from the age of 18 — and I've been thinking twice about that now, if I could roll that back — it's very expensive."
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With private health insurance in Australia, patients can choose their own hospital and specialist and may avoid long public waitlists. But many costs still aren't fully covered. As an outpatient staying nearby during treatment, Phil had to cover expenses like accommodation, meals, transport, and medications out of pocket, despite having paid for private health insurance for decades.
In contrast, the public healthcare system offers broader coverage if you're admitted as a public patient in a public hospital. Under Medicare, most hospital-based treatments — including accommodation, chemotherapy, radiation, and medications — are fully covered.
Phil later realised that had he gone through the public system and been admitted to a hospital, the majority of his expenses may have been taken care of. He believes many regional Australians aren't fully informed about how public and private care differ in practice, especially when it comes to serious illnesses like cancer.
According to data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), people living in rural and remote areas have higher rates of hospitalisations, deaths, and injury compared to those in major cities. These Australians often need to travel long distances or relocate to access health services or receive specialised treatment.
Phil's now calling for clearer guidance, better support systems, and improved access to life-saving treatment for those living outside metropolitan areas. "I'm meant to be at the end of treatment — they said after seven to 10 days, things should start to get better. But at the moment, they're getting worse. So I'm hoping I don't have to go back, but I might have to," Phil said.
"[People should] have a good think about whether they want to declare that they're going private. They might want to just go with public and get everything covered.
"I'll tell you that the doctors and nurses going down the private road were fantastic, and I wouldn't change that. But I didn't know what the other side was like either."
A fundraiser to assist Phil and his family with costs has been established and can be viewed here.
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