Health Insurance for Brain Cancer

What Does Brain Cancer Treatment Cost in India?

The treatment cost of brain cancer is expensive in India. A multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists and neuro-oncologists guides the treatment plan depending on the tumour's type, size, location and genetic profile.

The average cost of brain cancer treatment can range from ₹2 lakh to ₹12 lakh. While early-stage brain cancer treatment starts from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh, advanced-stage treatment costs can be ₹40 lakh or more due to multimodality treatment plans.

Here is a breakdown of various expenses incurred during brain cancer treatment:

Note: The cost of brain cancer treatment mentioned above is estimated and depends entirely on the treatment plan doctors have prescribed depending on your tumour.

Moreover, diagnostic test costs are another cost you might have to take care of while treating brain cancer. These tests are usually repeated to check the growth of tumours and how well treatment is working. As these tests are repeated during and after the treatment, they can significantly increase your final treatment cost, especially if you do not have medical insurance.

Let us look at some diagnostics required for brain cancer:

With health insurance plans, you can protect yourself from the financial burden of paying for brain cancer, as it covers the treatment cost so you can focus on getting better.

Does Medical Insurance Cover Every Stage of Brain Cancer?

Cancer insurance plans cover every stage of brain cancer treatment (minor, major or advanced stages). It provides a lump sum payout equivalent to the sum insured, which you can use to cover the cost of cancer treatment or to compensate for loss of income.

On the other hand, critical illness insurance plans cover only advanced or life-threatening stages of brain cancer. It also provides a lump sum payout benefit which can be used to pay healthcare expenses (with or without hospitalisation).

However, not all standard health insurance plans cover all stages of brain cancer. The coverage for hospitalisation, surgery, and diagnostics depends entirely on the policy terms.

Which Type of Health Insurance is Best for Brain Cancer?

A standard health insurance plan, critical illness insurance and a cancer insurance plan provide coverage for brain cancer treatment. However, the best type of insurance for brain cancer depends on your coverage requirements.

Take a look at the table to understand which is the best type of insurance for brain cancer:

Note: The above-mentioned coverage may vary depending on your health insurance policy for brain cancer.

Standard health insurance or family health insurance plans can help you if you are young and have a low risk of developing brain cancer. These protect you from the financial burden of in-patient hospitalisation, surgery including craniotomy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and other treatment costs.

However, if you are at high risk of brain cancer due to family history or a weak immune system, you should also get cancer insurance or a critical illness plan. You can use the lump sum payout to cover the treatment cost as well as provide income replacement.

What is Covered by Health Insurance for Brain Cancer?

Here is a list of expenses covered under a mediclaim policy for brain cancer:

• In-patient hospitalisation including room rent, ICU charges, nursing fees
• Surgical expenses such as surgeon fees, anesthetist charges, and operating theater (OT)
• Pre-hospitalisation expenses
• Post-hospitalisation expenses
• Investigative treatments and in-patient diagnostic tests
• Day care procedures including chemotherapy infusions
• Advanced technology methods such as immunotherapy
• Ambulance charges
• Daily cash for shared rooms
• E-consultations
• OPD charges

Note: The coverage of a mediclaim policy for brain cancer depends on the policy you opt for.

What is Not Covered by Health Insurance for Brain Cancer?

The following expenses are not covered under comprehensive health insurance plans for brain cancer:

• Pre-existing brain cancer
• Experimental or unapproved therapies
• Diagnostic expenses not related to the current treatment of brain cancer
• Non-allopathic treatments

Note: The above-mentioned exclusions may vary based on the health insurance policy you opt for brain cancer.

Benefits of Buying Health Insurance for Brain Cancer

Here are some key benefits that health insurance for brain cancer offers:

1. Covers Expensive Brain Cancer Treatment

   Brain cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and tumour-treating field therapy, is expensive and can increase your overall cost to ₹40 lakh or more. If combination treatment is recommended, the final bill can be substantially higher. With health insurance, you can manage the expensive brain cancer treatments without exhausting your savings.

2. Cancer Relapse Cover

   Some cancer insurance plans also provide coverage for cancer relapse and metastasis, subject to policy terms. Thus, a mediclaim policy financially protects you against the first diagnosis as well as relapses.

3. Lump Sum Payout

   Critical illness insurance plans and cancer insurance plans offer a lump sum payout equivalent to the sum insured. You can utilise the money not only to cover the expensive treatment costs of brain cancer but also to cover loss of income and pay off debts.

Why Should You Buy Health Insurance for Brain Cancer Before Diagnosis?

Purchasing medical insurance for brain cancer before cancer is important. If brain cancer is diagnosed before purchasing the policy, it becomes a pre-existing disease, and you are required to serve a waiting period of up to 3 years.

However, when you buy a health insurance policy before diagnosis, you bypass the strict pre-existing disease waiting period. You can also rightfully file claims for your brain cancer treatment as and when required and ensure better financial protection.

On top of that, when you purchase health insurance for brain cancer before diagnosis, insurers consider you a low-risk applicant. You are less likely to make claims, so insurers offer lower premiums.

Can You Buy Health Insurance After Being Diagnosed with Brain Cancer?

Yes, you can purchase health insurance after you are diagnosed with brain cancer. However, your options in terms of policy, coverage and affordable premiums will be limited. This is because, after a cancer diagnosis, insurers consider you a high-risk applicant who is likely to file a claim.

Thus, the underwriting team will heavily scrutinise your policy application and might offer a higher premium. You may also have to serve a longer waiting period and get very few options for health insurance plans.

How to Choose the Best Health Insurance for Brain Cancer?

Here are a few things you should check before you choose the best health insurance for brain cancer:

• Sum Insured: Brain cancer treatment can reach up to ₹40 lakh (even more with combination therapies). Opt for a mediclaim policy that offers coverage of up to ₹45 lakh to ₹50 lakh.
• Coverage for All Stages: Go for a mediclaim policy that covers all stages of brain cancer (minor, advanced or advanced).
• Policy Inclusions: Check whether your policy provides coverage for brain surgery and day care procedures.
• Lump Sum Payout: A mediclaim policy with a lump sum payout upon the diagnosis of brain cancer must be preferred to cover treatment costs or debts.
• Waiting Period: Choose a policy that has a lower waiting period, offers a waiting period waiver or an option to reduce it.
• Survival Period: Choose a cancer insurance policy that comes with a minimal or lower survival period.
• Cashless Network Hospital: Opt for a health policy that offers a vast network of cashless hospitals, especially cancer hospitals or hospitals near your residence.
• Policy Renewal: Choose a policy that can be renewed after a brain cancer claim is made.
• Sub-Limits: Choose a plan that offers a low or no sub-limit for your room rent or brain cancer treatment.