6 Crucial Things to Remember About Health Insurance for Breast Cancer
In India, one of the main causes of death for women is cancer. One in two women with breast cancer dies from it, according to some shocking statistics released by the National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research in May 2021. But this terrible illness affects us in other ways as well! Cancer treatment is difficult and time-consuming, requiring various screening tests, oncologist visits, and pricey attentive therapies like radiation, chemotherapy, and invasive operations. Breast cancer treatment costs can go up INR 10-15 lakhs across major cities of India, causing a deep hole in one’s pocket. But a health insurance policy can cover the seemingly tall cost with no fuss. We will talk about the role of health insurance for breast cancer.
First, Let’s Understand What Breast Cancer is
It is a malignant tumour that develops in the breast due to the breast cells' undetected proliferation. This tumour may also spread through other organs to the rest of the body. Most breast malignancies are found in the milk ducts or ductal carcinomas. However, lobular carcinomas or milk glands account for 10% of breast cancer cases.
Here are a few signs of breast cancer that a woman may experience
- Discharge coming from your breast's nipples.
- Alterations in the nipple's form.
- Itchiness and discomfort in the breasts.
- Changes in the skin's texture, such as puckering, dimpling, etc., may also be visible.
- Breast enlargement issues may arise.
- Skin pigmentation may also develop.
- Moreover, you might also notice that your skin is peeling off.
For most people, it can be challenging to put together the cash needed to pay for cancer treatment out of their own pocket. A comprehensive health insurance plan that includes cancer treatment will help you prevent this.
6 Things You Need to Know About Breast Cancer Health Insurance
1. Breast Cancer Cover Falls Under Critical Illness Insurance
Coverage for breast cancer can be availed through a critical illness rider on a standard health insurance plan or a separate critical illness insurance policy. When opting for the former, the coverage amount for breast cancer cover can be lower compared to what’s available in the latter. You will get a fixed lump sum amount upon the diagnosis of breast cancer and other covered critical illnesses.
2. Expenses May Have to be Borne Out of Your Own Pocket
While receiving treatment for breast cancer, an insured person must cover various costs out of his/her own pocket, like the expense of getting to the area where your treatment is taking place. Additionally, there will be costs for purchasing medical supplies, developing nutrition programmes, etc. Under your regular insurance plan, the insurer will not cover any of these costs. However, if you choose a critical illness plan, you can obtain coverage against these expenses through a lump sum payment from your insurer.
3. Critical Illness as a Rider or an add-on cover
Although most standard health insurance policies cover breast cancer, the covered amount remains less if purchased with a critical illness rider. Nevertheless, this rider will be offered for an additional premium charge.
4. Waiting Period Has to be Considered for Breast Cancer
You must wait until the waiting period has passed before you can utilise coverage against breast cancer. This is regardless of the health insurance plan you purchase – whether you buy it as an add-on cover with a standard plan or as a critical illness plan. Additionally, even if you file a health insurance claim during the waiting time, the insurer will deny it. In both scenarios, the minimum amount of time one must wait before receiving compensation for breast cancer is 90 days plus a survival clause of 30 or 60 days, as mentioned explicitly in your policy.
5. Survival Period under Critical Illness Insurance
Under critical illness insurance, insurers also consider the survival period. According to the insurer's rules, breast cancer is subject to a 30-day waiting period. Therefore, before receiving payment for breast cancer coverage, the insured must wait until the end of the surviving period. When the insured has made it through the survival term, the insurer will pay a lump sum to compensate for the treatment. However, the insurer will not pay any claim payments if the insured passes away from the sickness within the first month of diagnosis.
6. One May Avail Preventive Health-care Check-ups free of cost
If you choose a plan that entitles you to a free annual health checkup, you can take advantage of it to detect breast cancer early. Furthermore, since you already know how expensive it is to screen for certain disorders, you can save money by getting a free health checkup.
Conclusion
Today, breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer in women. It is advised to purchase critical illness insurance coverage due to the high expense of treating breast cancer. Simply remember the items mentioned above before purchasing the best health insurance for breast cancer. Additionally, have a breast cancer screening every year to detect the disease early.
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Your standard health insurance policy might not cover breast cancer. Keep in mind that these are indemnity policies that only cover hospitalised costs. Breast cancer is one of the serious illnesses that are typically not covered under standard health insurance.
Breast cancer surgery typicaly costs between INR 1.9 lakh and INR 4.2 lakh. The aggregated cost of diagnostic tests, surgery, and radiation therapy for breast cancer treatment in a private hospital could reach INR 5–6 lakh. Similar to that, six cycles of chemotherapy in India might cost up to INR 20 lakh.
Depending on the policy's scope, it may cover the expense of surgery, radiotherapy, hospitalisation, chemotherapy, ICU fees, pre-hospitalization, diagnostic testing among others.
Breast cancer will be covered by all critical illness insurance policies after a 90-day waiting period. You must also consider the extended 30 to 60 days survival clause, which is mentioned in your critical illness insurance plan.
Expenses like travelling for treatment appointments, medical equipment and supplies, diets, will be policyholder’s liability.