Leukaemia Levy
The Leukaemia Levy is a campaign by Leukaemia Care to highlight the hidden financial cost of a leukaemia diagnosis. While treatment on the NHS is free, many patients face increased living costs and a drop in income. The campaign calls for greater recognition and support to ease this burden.
The hidden cost of a leukaemia diagnosis
People living with leukaemia often experience a sudden loss of income, especially if they need to stop working. At the same time, daily living costs can rise due to increased energy use, travel to hospital appointments, and other unexpected expenses. We call this combined pressure the Leukaemia Levy.
You get a diagnosis… then deal with the fact that we’re having a cost-of-living crisis, yet there’s no actual help and you have to seek other options to get help.
What our research shows
Our surveys found that:
- 43% of patients stopped working completely after diagnosis
- 21% had no income at all during treatment
- Nearly 90% reported a rise in living costs
- Applications to our financial hardship fund tripled in one three-month period
These figures show that the Leukaemia Levy is affecting real families in real time.
What the campaign highlights
Leukaemia Care’s Leukaemia Levy campaign shares real patient experiences and calls for targeted action, including:
- National help with hospital travel
- Continued support with energy costs
- Access to discounts on essential bills like gas and electricity
Why this matters
Nobody should face financial crisis because they’ve been diagnosed with leukaemia. The Leukaemia Levy campaign helps shine a light on this issue – ensuring the emotional, physical and financial challenges of leukaemia are all understood.
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