*All savings are provided by the insurer as per the IRDAI approved insurance plan. Standard T&C Apply
*Tax benefit is subject to changes in tax laws. Standard T&C Apply
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.
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.
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.
Insurance Plan |
Suitability |
Entry-Exit Age |
Sum Assured ( in Rs.) |
Policy Term |
Waiting Period |
Aditya Birla Activ Secure- Cancer Secure |
Covers the family & children above the age of 6 years |
18 years and above |
50% of SA for early stage 100% for major 150% for advanced stage |
N/A |
7 days of survival post-diagnosis |
Bajaj Allianz Critical Illness Insurance |
Covers 10 critical illnesses and life-threatening conditions |
91 days to 80 years |
1 lakh -50 lakhs |
1 year |
30 days survival period |
Bharti AXA Critical Illness Insurance Plan |
N/A |
3 months-55 years |
N/A |
1 year |
60 days waiting period & 30 days survival period |
Chola MS Critical Healthline Plan |
First time purchase up to 65 years |
18-65 years |
3,5, & 10 lakhs |
1,3,5 years |
90 days |
Digit Cancer Health Insurance |
N/A |
20-65 years |
10-50 lakhs |
10-30 years |
Waiting period: 60 to 180 days Survival period:7-30 days |
Edelweiss Platinum Health Insurance |
Standalone plan |
N/A |
Up to 1 Crore |
N/A |
N/A |
Future Generali Cancer Protect Plan |
Covers self, children, spouse, brothers, sisters, parents, and in-laws, all on an individual basis |
Adult:18- 65 years Children 1-17 years |
Adult:10- 40 lakhs Children 10 lakhs |
5 years |
180 days waiting period and 7 days survival period |
Iffco Tokio Family Health Protector Policy |
11 critical illnesses covered including cancer |
18-65 years |
1.5 lakh- 5lakhs |
N/A |
N/A |
Kotak Critical Illness Plus Rider Benefit |
Available as a rider plan |
18-65 years |
Up to 5 lakhs |
N/A |
N/A |
Liberty Health Insurance |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Max Bupa Criticare Health Insurance Plan |
Individual cover is provided |
N/A |
3 Lacs to 2 Crore |
1-2 YEARS |
48 months |
Manipal Lifestyle Protection - Critical Care Health Plan |
The Basic plan covers 15 critical illnesses and Enhanced covers 30 critical illnesses |
N/A |
Up to 25 Crores |
N/A |
N/A |
National Critical Illness Policy |
Self, Spouse, parents and dependent children can be covered |
18 -65 years |
1 - 75 lakhs |
1 year |
Should be able to survive for 30 days from the date of diagnosis |
New India Assurance Cancer Medical Expn-Individual Plan |
Provided to members of Indian Cancer Society only |
Up to 70 yrs |
50,000 -.2 lakhs |
1 year |
N/A |
Oriental Insurance Company |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Religare Cancer Insurance Policy |
Offers international second opinion cover |
5-50 years |
10 lakhs- 2 Crores |
1/2/3 years |
PED- 48 months Initial: 90 days |
Raheja Cancer Insurance |
People less than 50 years of age need to submit self-declaration of good health |
1-70 years |
1- 10 lakhs |
N/A |
48 months |
Royal Lifeline Elite Health Insurance Plan |
Covers worldwide emergency hospitalization |
18 years above |
25 lakhs-1 Crore |
N/A |
90 days |
Reliance Critical Illness Plan |
Covers 10 major critical illnesses and surgeries including cancer |
18- 65 years |
5, 7, & 10 lakhs |
N/A |
3 months |
Star Cancer Care Gold Insurance Plan |
Individual coverage is offered |
5 months- 65 years |
3-5 lakhs |
N/A |
48 months |
SBI Critical Illness Insurance Policy |
N/A |
Up to 65 years |
Up to 50 lakhs |
1-3 years |
N/A |
Tata Tata AIG Critical Illness Health Insurance Plan |
N/A |
18-65 years |
2.5-15 lakhs |
N/A |
90 days |
United India UNI Criticare Health Insurance Plan |
11 Critical illnesses are covered including cancer |
21- 65 years |
1, 3, 5 & 10 lakhs |
N/A |
90 days |
Universal Sompo Critical Illness Health Insurance Plan |
N/A |
5-65 years |
2.5-20 lakhs |
N/A |
48 months |
Disclaimer : *Policybazaar does not endorse, rate or recommend any particular insurer or insurance product offered by an insurer.
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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.
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