Best Health Insurance Plans for Cancer Patients

Cancer Insurance

Cancer is a dreadful disease in which the body suffers unregulated cell division and growth. There are over 200 types of cancers. The leading type of cancer among men is lung cancer and among women is breast cancer. Cancer is spreading throughout the world at an ever-increasing pace. As a matter of fact, cancer stands tall as one of the leading causes of death worldwide. This figure is likely to continue rising in the coming years. India is no exception to the increasing cancer prevalence. Cancer care is quite a costly affair whether it's the diagnosis, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or surgery. More often than not, cancer ends up financially draining out the sufferer and his/her family. The bad news is, there's no way, and you can buy a new insurance plan with cancer as a pre-existing condition. That's what makes getting a health insurance plan for cancer patients’ one hell of a job.

The good news is, you are not alone. We know how stressful it is to be diagnosed with cancer but let us tell you, it's not the end of the world, there's always hope. Owing to high-quality health care, the survival rate in cancer patients has gone up. If insured under the right health plan, a cancer patient can set off on his way to recovery and expect to live a normal life again.

Critical Illness Cover for Cancer Patients

Though cancer is covered in most of the critical illness policies here's the catch, the pre-requisite of coverage under a critical illness cover is that it is given to those who are yet not diagnosed with cancer. If you are already a cancer patient, you will be denied the coverage not just on cancer but also on the complications arising due to cancer.

Further, for most of the critical illness plans, if any symptom relevant to cancer occurs within 90 days of commencement of the policy, it will lead to the termination of the cover. Even if you are diagnosed after this waiting period, your critical illness cover will not pay out your claim until your cancer is in the advanced stage (critical illness does not cover cancer which is still at its early stage).

Critical Illness cover can be bought as an individual plan or as a rider with your life insurance or health insurance plan.

Cancer Specialist Insurance Policy

As mentioned above, a critical illness cover fails to meet the specific insurance needs of cancer patients. Moreover, when it comes to giving a normal health cover to cancer patients, most of the insurers pull away from their hands. The reason is obvious, giving a cover to such patients proves to be a lose-lose proposition for them.

In such a scenario, the only option left, is to get a cancer specialist health plan. A cancer care policy is designed to meet the specific insurance needs of a cancer patient. However, the pre-requisite for getting insured remains the same even here, the patients who have a pre-existing cancer condition will not be covered under a cancer specialist policy.

A cancer care specialist policy ideally covers you against cancer, both at the early and advanced stages. Unfortunately, there are not many insurers committed to offering this kind of cover to the needed.

List of Cancer Insurance Plans Available

Disclaimer: The ranking of the insurance companies in this content is not in any particular order. The list is not compiled as per the IRDA ranking.

1. Aditya Birla Activ Secure - Cancer Secure

Aditya Birla Activ Secure – Cancer Secure is a health insurance policy designed to provide financial protection to cancer patients. The plan covers all three cancer stages i.e. early, major and advanced. Under this plan, 50% of sum insured is paid at the early stage, an additional 100% at the major stage or total 150% of the sum insured on detection of advanced stage.

Features:

• Lumpsum payment for all three stages of cancer
• 7 day survival period
• Wellness coach option available
• Cumulative bonus
• Tax benefits
• Second e-opinion option available
• Coverage for the entire family

2. Bajaj Allianz Critical Illness Insurance

Bajaj Allianz Critical Illness Insurance protects you and your family from the financial implications of 10 critical diseases, including cancer. The plan pays 100% of the sum insured on the diagnosis of cancer. Besides cancer, it also critical diseases, such as first heart attack, major organ transplant, coronary artery bypass surgery, stroke, kidney failure, etc.

Features:

• Coverage for 10 critical illness
• Covers the entire family
• 30 days of survival period
• Lifetime renewability
• Tax benefits
• Faster claim settlement by the in-house team

3. Bharti AXA SmartHealth Critical Illness Policy

SmartHealth Critical Illness policy by Bharti AXA provides coverage for 20 critical illness, inclusive of cancer. It covers all the expenses incurred on the treatment of the disease along with the recuperation benefit. The policyholder has the option to choose for reimbursement or compensation payment option. It also comes with additional benefits, such as hospital cash allowance, ambulance charges, children education benefit, home nursing, etc.

Features:

• 20 critical illness covered
• Available in family floater cover
• Recuperation benefit
• Lifelong renewability
• 8 additional benefits available
• 5% renewal discount every claim-free year
• Tax benefits
• Sum insured enhancement option

4. Chola MS Critical Healthline Insurance

Chola MS Critical Healthline Insurance is a customized policy designed to cover the treatment cost of critical illness, including cancer. It compensates for income loss, educational expenses, mortgage repayments, etc. This plan comes in two variants – standard plan and advanced plan. While the standard plan covers 10 critical illness, advanced plans provide coverage for 12 critical diseases along with ambulance cover.

 Features:

• Cover the entire family
• 30 days of survival period
• Lump sum payouts
• No medical check-up for up to 55 years
• Tax benefits
• Lifetime renewability

5. Digit Cancer Insurance Policy

Digit Cancer Insurance policy is a health policy that covers all the medical expenses arising out of cancer, right from diagnosis to its treatment. It covers six types of cancers - stomach, breast, ovarian, lung, prostate and larynx cancer. Under this policy, 25% of the sum insured will be paid at the early stage diagnosis and 100% at diagnosis of the major stage along with income benefit for the next 10 years.

Features:

• Comes with income benefit for 10 years
• Choice between the level sum insured and increasing sum insured option
• Premium waiver benefit
• Survival period of 7 to 30 days
• Option to choose between cancer hospitalization or cancer benefit policy

6. Edelweiss Platinum Health Insurance Plan

Edelweiss Platinum Health Insurance provides coverage for medical emergencies and critical illness that include cancer. It comes with second medical opinion and recovery benefit. Apart from cancer, this policy also covers other critical diseases, such as stroke, open chest CABG, permanent paralysis of limbs. This policy also comes with other benefits, such as compassionate visit, medical evacuation, medical referral, etc.

Features:

• Covers up to 8 family members
• Second opinion available
• No cap on ICU charges
• Lifelong renewability
• No claim bonus
• Restoration of the sum insured
• Health check-up after every claim-free year

7. Future Generali Cancer Protect Plan

Future Generali Cancer Protect plan helps to financially support cancer patients and their family members through the treatment. The policy comes with two variants – lump sum cover or lump sum cover with income benefit (for 60 months). Under this policy, 25% amount is paid on the early stage detection and 100% on diagnosis at the major stage. However, if the major stage is diagnosed following an early stage detection then 75% of the sum insured will be paid.

Features:

• Available with or without income benefit
• Tax benefits
• No pre-policy check-up required
• Coverage for multiple cancer occurrences
• Surrender value on single premium payment
• Covers the entire family

8. HDFC ERGO Critical Illness Insurance Platinum Plan

HDFC ERGO Critical Illness Insurance Platinum plan allows cancer patients to obtain treatment of their disease without worrying about its cost. It provides lumps sum payment on the first diagnosis of the disease.  This policy covers 14 other critical diseases besides cancer, including multiple sclerosis, benign brain tumour, heart attack, paralysis, Alzheimer’s diseases, etc.

Features:

• 15 critical illness covered
• Lump sum payout
• No pre-policy check-up for up to 45 years
• 30 days of survival period
• Lifetime renewability
• 24x7 assistance
• Tax benefits
• Over 10,000 network hospitals offering cashless treatment

9. HDFC ERGO Health Optimal Vital Insurance Plan

HDFC ERGO Health Optimal Vital Insurance plan provides coverage for the treatment of 37 critical diseases, inclusive of cancer. It allows cancer patients to get the second opinion through the e-opinion cover. The patient can also make use of the services of a wellness coach for better recovery. Apart from cancer, it also covers other critical diseases, including brain surgery, kidney failure, major burns, open chest CABG, blindness, COMA, heart stroke, Parkinson’s disease, etc.

Features:

• 37 critical illness covered
• Coverage for the entire family
• 100% lump sum payout provided
• E-opinion available
• 30 days of survival period for cancer
• Sum insured enhancement
• Wellness coach available
• Tax benefits
• Lifelong renewability

10. IFFCO Tokio Family Health Protector Policy

IFFCO Tokio Family Health Protector is a health insurance policy that will cover you in case you or any of your family members are diagnosed with cancer. However, you will have to opt for the critical illness cover under this plan on the payment of 30% additional premium. This policy comes with emergency assistance services, such as medical referral, emergency cash coordination, transportation/ care of the minor child, etc.

Features:

• Covers the entire family
• Critical illness cover on extra premium payment
• Tax benefits
• Lifelong renewability
• Over 5000 network hospitals offering cashless treatment
• Cumulative bonus add-on

11. Kotak Critical Illness Plus Benefit Rider

Kotak Critical Illness Plus Benefit Rider allows cancer patients to get the best treatment without any financial stress. It provides with lump sum payment on the diagnosis of cancer. However, this rider needs to be opted along with a basic health insurance policy. Besides cancer, this rider also provides coverage for diseases and surgeries, such as open chest CABG, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, brain surgery, third degree burns, angioplasty, benign brain tumour, etc.

Features:

• 37 critical illness covered
• 100% lump sum payout
• Tax benefits
• 30 days of survival period

12. Max Bupa Criticare Insurance Plan

Max Bupa Criticare is a critical illness insurance policy that safeguards you and your family against 20 critical diseases, inclusive of cancer. It provides individual as well as floater cover and comes with worldwide coverage. It gives you the option to choose a 100% lump sum payment with or without staggered payout. The policy provides coverage for hospitalization following an accident. Besides cancer, the policy also covers other critical diseases, including fulminant viral hepatitis, open chest CABG, major burns, permanent paralysis of limbs, end stage liver disease, coma, etc.

Features:

• 20 critical illness covered
• 100% lump sum payouts
• Both individual and floater cover available
• Covers accidental hospitalization
• Cashless claim settlement within 30 minutes
• Long-term policy discounts
• Lifetime renewability
• Tax benefits
• Worldwide coverage
• Cashless medical check-ups every year
• 10% online discount

13. ManipalCigna Lifestyle Protection – Critical Care Plan

ManipalCigna Lifestyle Protection – Critical Care plan helps to provide cancer patients with the required financial support while obtaining treatment. It is available in two plan variants – basic and enhanced plan. The policy provides the option of 100% lump sum payment or 25% lump sum along with 75% staggered equal payment plus 10% extra for 60 months. It also provides coverage in case you want to obtain the second opinion.

Features:

• Up to 30 critical illness covered
• Second opinion available
• Option between a lump sum or staggered payment
• Customized wellness program
• 30 days of survival period
• Tax benefits
• 10% family discount for ensuring more than 2 family members
• Long term policy discounts
• Lifetime renewability

14. National Critical Illness Policy

National Critical Illness policy has been designed to cover the expenses incurred on the treatment of critical illness, including cancer. It comes with two types of plans – Plan A and Plan B. While Plan A provide for 11 critical illness and Plan B covers 37 of them. In addition to cancer, this policy also covers critical illness, such as coma, brain surgery, kidney failure, third degree burns, heart attack, blindness, end stage lung failure, etc.

Features:

• Up to 37 critical illness covered
• Covers the entire family
• 30 days of survival period
• Early entry discount for people up to the age of 42
• No pre-policy health check-up for up to 45 years
• 10% family discount
• Lifetime renewability

15. New India Assurance Cancer Medical Expn – Individual Plan

The Cancer Medical Expn- Individual is an insurance policy for members of the Indian Cancer Society. It is an additional benefit provided to the members of the society and the policy premium is included in the membership fee. This policy will pay for the diagnosis, treatment cost as well as rehabilitation of the cancer patient.

Features:

• Available for Indian Cancer Society members only
• Covers the entire family
• Cumulative bonus
• Coverage for allopathic treatment only

16. Raheja Cancer Insurance

Raheja Cancer Insurance is a comprehensive policy that covers the treatment cost involved at all stages of cancer. Under this policy, up to 50% of the sum insured or Rs 2.5 Lakh will be paid on the detection of the disease. In addition, it will also pay for the reasonable medical expenses incurred on the diagnostic investigation or the treatment of the disease.

Features:

• Covers individual cancer patients
• Lump sum payouts
• No pre-policy check-up for up to 50 years
• Tax benefits
• Cumulative bonus

17. Reliance Critical Illness Insurance

Reliance Critical Illness insurance policy enables cancer patients to get the best treatment by covering their treatment and recovery expenses. This policy covers 10 critical illness divided into two categories with cancer following in the first category of life threatening diseases. The second category includes lifestyle disabling diseases, including coma, heart valve replacement, total blindness, etc.

Features:

• 10 critical illness covered
• Lump sum payouts
• 30 days of survival period
• No pre-policy health check-up
• 5% discount for every claim-free renewal
• Tax benefits
• Lifelong renewability

18. Religare Cancer Insurance Plan

Religare Cancer Insurance plan is an extensive policy that provides financial protection to cancer patients. It covers expenses involved in cancer diagnosis as well as the treatment, such as OPD cost, hospitalization cost, chemotherapy, etc. The policy offers global coverage and covers the second opinion taken outside India.

Features:

• Covers all stages of cancer
• International second opinion available
• Cashless cancer treatment at network hospitals
• No pre-policy health check-up
• Lifelong renewability
• No ICU charges limit
• AYUSH treatment covered
• Doctor on call
• Quick recovery counselling
• Annual health check-up after 1 year
• No claim bonus
• Value-added services

19. Royal Lifeline Elite Health Insurance Plan

Royal Lifeline Elite Health Insurance plan is a comprehensive policy that covers the treatment cost of 11 critical diseases, which includes cancer. The policy comes with international treatment, a second opinion on the case and worldwide emergency hospitalization cover.

Features:

• 11 critical illness covered
• International treatment available
• Both individual and floater cover
• Second opinion
• Worldwide hospitalization
• No claim bonus
• Annual health check-ups
• Cashless treatment facility available
• Lifelong renewability
• 20% co-payment on international treatment

20. SBI Critical Illness Insurance Policy

SBI Critical Illness Insurance policy provides financial coverage to people diagnosed with a critical illness, inclusive of cancer. It will pay the policyholder a fixed amount of money on the diagnosis of the illness. The other critical illness covered under this policy are kidney failure, paralysis, major organ transplant, stroke, multiple sclerosis, coma, heart valve surgery, etc.

Features:

• 13 critical illness covered
• 28 days of survival period
• Tax benefits
• No medical health check-up for up to 45 years

21. Star Cancer Care Gold Insurance Policy

Star Cancer Care Gold policy provides health insurance coverage to people diagnosed with cancer. It not only covers the cost of cancer treatment but also covers the risk of metastasis, recurrence and unrelated second malignancy. It also covers medical expenses arising out of accidents and other diseases.

Features:

• 50% lump sum payment on recurrence/ second malignancy/ metastasis
• No pre-acceptance medical screening required
• Tax benefits
• Lifelong renewability
• Over 9900 network hospitals offering cashless treatment
• 10% co-payment for people above 60 years
• 24x7 helpline

22. Tata AIG Critical Illness Policy

Tata AIG Critical Illness policy is an ideal policy for people suffering from 11 critical illness, including cancer. It also covers the cost of getting a second opinion concerning the treatment of cancer. Besides cancer, it also covers other critical illness diseases, such as heart attack, permanent paralysis, stroke, major burns, kidney failure, coma and total blindness amongst others.

Features:

• 11 critical illness covered
• Lump sum payouts
• Second opinion covered
• 30 days of survival benefit
• Tax benefits
• No pre-policy medical check-ups required
• Sum insured enhancement
• Lifelong renewability

23. United India UNI Criticare Policy

UNI Criticare policy by United India is a health insurance plan designed to provide coverage against 11 critical diseases, including cancer. As soon as cancer is detected, a lump sum payment will be paid to the policyholder for the treatment. Other critical illness covered under this policy are coma, stroke, heart valve replacement, bone marrow transplant, first heart attack, multiple sclerosis, etc.

Features:

• 11 critical illness covered
• 30 days of survival period
• Lump sum payments
• Covers the entire family
• Tax benefits
• Lifetime renewability
• No prior medical check-up below 45 years

24. Universal Sompo Critical Illness Insurance Policy

Universal Sompo Critical Illness Insurance policy is a customized policy designed to enable cancer patients to get the best treatments without worrying about the money. This policy also covers 10 other critical illness besides cancer, such as multiple sclerosis, first heart attack, major organ transplant, coma, stroke, kidney failure, permanent paralysis of the limbs, etc.

Features:

• 11 critical illness covered
• Covers the entire family
• No pre-policy health check-up up to 55 years
• 30 days of survival period
• Tax benefits
• Long-term policy discount
• Sum insured enhancement
• Cashless claims at network hospitals
• 15% /20% occupational loading

We would also like to mention Health Swastham, a healthcare package offered by Health Impetus which is a renowned healthcare organization based in Mumbai. Health Swastham gets you discounts on health expenditures. But what makes this package relevant to cancer patients, is that it offers insurance covers to those cancer patients who are denied coverage from insurance companies because of their pre-existing condition.

A wise man once said 'prevention is better than cure'. This quote very well applies to cancer and its dreads. The most viable cure to cancer is curing it before it happens. Adopting a healthy lifestyle, being proactive and getting an early detection, while the cancer is its preliminary stage, saves the patient from incurring heavy costs on its treatment.