Health insurance for cervical cancer treatment
Find out your health insurance options for cervical cancer treatments.
Expert tips for choosing the right health insurance
Our health insurance expert, Steven Spicer, offers some helpful tips for comparing and choosing a policy.
Steven Spicer
Executive General Manager – Health, Life & Energy
Choose the right level of cover
Everyone has different health needs, meaning the right level of cover will vary from person to person. While it might seem overwhelming at first, taking into account factors such as your health needs, medical conditions, family history and who needs to be covered by the policy goes a long way towards finding health insurance that suits you.
Serve waiting periods sooner rather than later
Waiting periods are the time between when you take out a policy and when you can make a claim. If you don’t have health insurance or are planning to upgrade your policy, you’ll want to keep these waiting periods in mind. The standard waiting time for most inpatient health services is 2 months, but this can increase to 12 months depending on the category the treatment falls under and if you’re claiming for a pre-existing condition. When possible, it’s best to have cover before you’re diagnosed so you’ll have the peace of mind of being covered when you need it most.
Check your current policy and adapt
Your health needs are going to change over time, so regularly reviewing your policy gives you the opportunity to make sure your health insurance meets your needs. It’s also a chance to check if other policies offer a better deal for you.
What is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer happens when cancer cells grow in or on the cervix (the neck of the uterus or womb).1 It’s the most diagnosed cancer in Australian women over 30. However, it can happen at any age.
The most common cause of cervical cancer is an infection of human papillomavirus (HPV), though other factors such as smoking and family history can increase your risk.1 Usually, when someone gets HPV, the body’s immune system will destroy it and the person won’t experience any symptoms. When the virus stays in the body, it can cause changes in the cervix that lead to cancer.
The three main types of cervical cancer are:2
- Cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC): SCC begins in the squamous cells of the cervix and accounts for roughly 6 out of 10 cases of cervical cancer.
- Cervical adenocarcinoma: A less common type of cervical cancer (around 3 out of 10 cases), adenocarcinoma starts in the glandular cells. It can be more challenging to diagnose than SCC.
- Mixed carcinoma: In a small number of cases (less than 1 in 20), there is a mix of both squamous cells and glandular cells.
The good news is cervical cancer is largely preventable and early detection dramatically improves the survival rate.1 Like any cancer, cervical cancer can potentially metastasise (spread to other parts of the body) and this causes serious complications. Therefore, it’s essential to take preventative measures to try to catch the cancer early.
Symptoms of cervical cancer
During the early stages of cervical cancer, there may be very few, if any, symptoms.1 Some common early symptoms include:1Unexpected vaginal bleeding (between periods, after menopause or after sex)
- Heavier and/or longer periods than normal
- Unusual vaginal discharge
- Pain in the pelvis area
- Pain during sex.
More advanced cervical cancer may have symptoms such as:1
- Fatigue
- Leg swelling or pain
- Lower back pain.
These symptoms don’t necessarily mean you have cervical cancer; however, the only way to know for sure is to be checked out by your doctor.
Cervical cancer prevention and diagnosis
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers.1 The National Immunisation Program is an initiative that makes the HPV vaccine free for people between 12 and 25 years of age, with a school-based program focussing on 12-13 year olds. While the vaccine protects against most high-risk HPVs, it won’t protect against every type of HPV. Therefore, it’s still important to get cervical screening tests even if you’ve had the vaccine.
Cervical Screening Tests (HPV test) have replaced pap tests since 2017.2 They’re recommended every 5 years for women between 25 and 74 years old who’ve ever had sexual contact.3 Depending on your clinic and situation, there may be the option of performing a self-collection test, where you can take your own sample.
Cervical cancer screening won’t help detect other cancers like ovarian, endometrial and uterine cancer.3 The rate of cervical cancer diagnoses has reduced significantly since the introduction of the cervical screening program.2
If your cervical screening test comes back positive or you have symptoms of cervical cancer, your doctor may give you a referral for follow-up tests. These may include:1
- Colposcopy: A specialist examines your cervix to look for abnormal cells.
- Biopsy: A sample from your cervix is taken and examined.
- Blood test: This checks your kidney and liver functions and general health.
- Imaging scans: A CT scan or MRI scan can help determine whether the cancer has spread.
Treatments for cervical cancer
There are several possible treatments for cervical cancer, including:1
- Cone biopsy: For early-stage cancer, a cone-shaped piece of tissue can be removed with a scalpel.
- Trachelectomy: This procedure involves removing the upper part of the vagina or the entire cervix. You can still potentially have children after this procedure.
- Hysterectomy: A procedure involves removing the uterus, cervix and the top of the vagina and is the most common surgery for treating cervical cancer. If you have this procedure, you won’t be able to become pregnant.
Chemotherapy or radiation therapy (radiotherapy) may be used if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.1
The following factors will determine the best treatment for you:1
- The size and stage (how far it has spread) of the cancer
- Your age
- Your overall health and any other health problems you have
- Whether you’ve been through menopause
- Whether you want to get pregnant in the future.
How much does cervical cancer treatment cost for Australia?
The total cost of your cervical cancer treatment will depend on your specific case. The table below shows figures for the most common treatments for cervical cancer. These figures are sourced from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care’s Medical Costs Finder.
| Type of procedure | Typical specialist fee | MBS item number | Amount of specialist fee paid by Medicare | Typical amount of specialist fee paid by insurer | Typical out-of-pocket costs (amount patient paid) | Typical hospital fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cervical excision | $1,400 |
35647 35539 35648 |
$550 | $480 | $350 | $960 |
| Vaginal hysterectomy | $3,300 | 35657 | $1,300 | $1,200 | $580 | $6,400 |
| Laparoscopic hysterectomy | $3,800 | 35753 | $1,400 | $1,200 | $850 | $6,600 |
|
Source: Australian Government Department of Health’s Medical Cost Finder3,4,5 |
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The cost of your cervical cancer treatment will vary depending on the following factors:
- The severity of your cancer diagnosis
- Whether the cancer has spread
- Any existing health conditions that complicate treatment
- The medical procedures you require
- Where in the country you receive your cancer care
- Your choice in specialist/ healthcare provider.
Every cancer case is different, so the only way to get an accurate, personalised quote of your potential costs is to speak to a healthcare professional.
Private health insurance for cervical cancer treatment
While there is not a dedicated clinical category for the treatment of cervical cancer, private health insurance can pay benefits towards cervical cancer treatment when you’re treated as a private inpatient. For most cervical cancer treatments, you’ll need the ‘Gynaecology’ clinical category as part of your policy to be able to make a claim. This is a minimum requirement for all Bronze-tier policies and above, regardless of your health fund.
If you do require chemotherapy or radiotherapy as part of your treatment, you’ll need to have the ‘Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy for cancer’ clinical category as part of your cover. This is also a minimum requirement for Bronze, Silver and Gold policies.
If the cancer has spread, you may require additional clinical categories to be included on your policy. It’s a good idea to check with a health insurance expert if you are unsure.
There are many benefits to being treated as a private patient in a private hospital, including:
- Choice of specialist and clinic (depending on availability)
- Avoid public hospital waiting times
- More flexibility with booking time for procedure.
Does Medicare cover cervical cancer treatment?
Medicare can cover the cost of your cervical cancer treatment, provided you’re treated as a public patient in a public hospital. You’ll also have less choice regarding who performs your surgery and when the procedure takes place.
Meet our health insurance expert, Steven Spicer
As the Executive General Manager of Health, Life and Energy, Steven Spicer is a strong believer in the benefits of private cover and knows just how valuable the peace of mind that comes with cover can be. He is passionate about demystifying the health insurance industry and advocates for the benefits of comparison when it comes to saving money on your premiums.
Want to learn more about health insurance?
1 Health Direct – Cervical cancer. Accessed March 2025.
2 Cancer Council Victoria – Cervical cancer. Accessed March 2025.
3 Health Direct – Cervical cancer screening. Accessed March 2025.
4 Medical Costs Finder: Cervical Excision. Accessed March 2025.
5 Medical Costs Finder: Vaginal hysterectomy. Accessed March 2025.
6 Medical Costs Finder: Laparoscopic hysterectomy. Accessed March 2025.