WORLD CANCER DAY : Tips on buying cancer insurance by Ankur N, CEO, AXA France Vie

“Cancer remains one of the top 5 causes of death in India. Unfortunately, the financial burden of cancer care treatment is also one the highest compared to other diseases. Considering the huge expenses for cancer care treatment, people must have dedicated cancer coverage, especially if there is a family history of cancer. Health insurance policies in India cover hospitalization costs associated with cancer treatment as a standard benefit. However, these plans might not cover every expense related to cancer, which can add up to a sizable sum. It’s recommended to choose specific cancer insurance policies that offer broader coverage specifically for the treatment of this illness.

While choosing the level of coverage for your insurance policy, one should take into consideration the cost of diagnostic tests, chemotherapy, biopsy, and other necessary treatments. This will help customers wave off a large sum of the expenses and avoid undue financial stress. Additionally, it's crucial to review the policy's coverage exclusions and restrictions, which is often scurried and ignored.  It's vital to read the policy and comprehend the terms and conditions before signing up, since some plans may have restrictions on specific treatments.

While buying health insurance, one can also buy cancer coverage insurance as a top-up with a top-up premium rate on a regular policy. This is one way to make it more affordable, as a stand-alone cancer policies might have heavy premium rates. Additionally, having a separate sum insured for cancer in insurance policies, apart from the general sum insured, can also help in tailoring the coverage to the prospective needs of the policyholder. Even insurance plans specifically designed to cover cancer may have a pre-set list of malignancies that are covered, as specified by the insurance provider. It’s strongly suggested to carefully examine the exclusions list to ensure that any malignancy that is particularly concerning to you is not excluded while buying insurance for yourself or your family members. Before enrolling in a plan, it's wise to consult the insurance provider with all the queries you may have to avail the best solution for you.”