Do I need a "CANCER INSURANCE" - Find out why

Why you should consider a cancer insurance policy?

"You been diagnosed with cancer."
 Nobody would want this even in their worst dreams. The fact, however, is that today's lifestyle has increased the chances of getting cancer. Worse, there are over a 100 types of cancers and any part of the body can be affected. Further, anyone can fall victim to this deadly disease.

In fact, a recent study conducted in Britain by the British Journal of Cancer finds that the lifetime risk of getting diagnosed with cancer has increased over time - from 38.5% for men born in 1930 to 53.5% for men born in 1960. The study concluded that the lifetime risk of cancer for people born since 1960 is greater than 50 per cent now.

In India alone, about 10 lakh people are diagnosed with cancer every year and another six to seven lakh die of it. By 2035, these numbers may almost double to 17 lakh new patients and 12 lakh deaths per annum, according to a special research paper on cancer in India published in Lancet Oncology journal sometime ago.

Moreover, while the probability of getting cancer has increased substantially, the cost of treatment has also gone up many-fold in recent years. In fact, treatment costs now have the potential to wipe out a common man's entire life saving. Worse, the cost of treating cancer abroad can be several times that incurred in India, according to a Times of India report.

This is the reason why comprehensive medical insurance against cancer has become the need of the hour. Although most health insurance policies available in the market today cover almost all major critical illnesses, including cancer, but these policies generally pay only for inpatient hospitalization and for treatment at hospitals in India. They do not cover the entire cost of treatment. Also, the policy amount may not be enough as the common man generally does not go for a health policy of more than Rs 5 lakh. Such limitations may be overcome by opting for critical illness (CI) insurance which is designed to help cover medical expenses that your normal health insurance will not cover.

How to buy your right insurance policy?

Yoddhas is a Cancer support NGO (Regt with 80G,12A) Not-for-profit support community formed by patients and volunteers. It is India’s First Online Support Network for patients. It was started in 2013 by 28 year old patient, Rahul Yadav fighting Multiple- Myeloma a rare form of blood cancer.

We at Yoddhas are working to find various Cancer related insurances policies so that one can pre-emtively  insure and safeguard from the financial needs of cancer treatment.

While we tried studying various insurance policy, we explored various different policies which are active right now and being availed by the public. We also referred to many online websites like PolicyBazar.com and insurancepandit.com to do our comparative studies.

We compared many available policies in India to find out which ones would be best suited for Cancer related cover. Based on our studies these are the four insurance policies where we got a good feedback from the people and we enquired from other patients and people who have either been using or have knowledge about such policies. 

	ICICI Cancer Care Plus	National Insurance+ CPAA Cancer Insurance Policy	National Insurance+ ICS Cancer Insurance Policy	Religare Health Insurance
Eligibility	For anyone aged between 20 and 60 yrs who is not suffering from pre-existing cancer	For members of Cancer Patients Aid Association who are not suffering from pre-existing cancer	For members of Indian Cancer Society who are not suffering from pre-existing cancer	For anyone aged between 20 and 60 yrs who is not suffering from pre-existing cancer
Entry-Exit Age	20 yrs – 60 yrs (renewable up to 70 yrs)	Not given	Up to 70 yrs	20 yrs – 60 yrs (renewable up to 70 yrs)
Sum Assured	Rs 5,00,000 – 25,00,000	Rs 30,000 – 5,00,000	Rs 50,000 or Rs 2,00,000	Rs 15,00,000 – 50,00,000
Policy Term	10 yrs	1 yr	1 yr	1 yr
Premium	For a typical 10 lakh cover -4,604 to 8,945 (for men) 8,602 to 14,845 (for women)Minimum single premium - 1,200 per annum	2,400 to 8,000	Rs 496 (for 50,000 cover) Rs 1,157 (for 2,00,000 cover)	Rs 6482 to 9982(for men and women)
Waiting Periods	For Early Cancer - 12 months from the risk commencement date For Advanced Cancer - 6 months from the risk commencement date Should be able to survive for 28 days from the date of diagnosis	Should be able to survive for 30 days from the date of diagnosis	Should be able to survive for 30 days from the date of diagnosis	Should be able to survive for 30 days from the date of diagnosis

Conclusion

Firstly its always good to be planned for whatever happens. After studying the given policies and as Yoddhas Research Team our feedback is general we can state that the Indian Cancer Society’s policy is very cheap and easily available. Also the maturity amount is not big enough as we know the cost of cancer treatment is high but still the return is much higher if we compare with the premium paid. So as per our research all people should get insured under this policy.

For some selective people who have higher risk of cancer in their family should go for the higher premium policy because of the cost of the cancer treatment. They should get insured under ICICI Cancer care plus Or Religare Health insurance.

Please Note: This is a basic study based on patients and public feedback and secondary data from the various sources. We are not in any manner promoting any particular thing over another. Please do your research to make an informed decision.

Co-Authored By:

Rohit Banka 

Research and HR Consultant

Rahul Yadav 

Founder- Yoddhas and a Blood Cancer Fighter

Thanks for reading and please keep visiting our blog to discover and appreciate more Yoddhas. Do subscribe 
Feel free to contact the Yoddhas team at team@yoddhas.com 
Join our free patients group https://www.facebook.com/groups/yoddhathewarrior/

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References:

www.policybazar.com

www.insurancepandit.com

www.indiancancersociety.org

http://www.cpaaindia.org/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/yoddhathewarrior/ (Yoddhas Patient Group)

5 REASONS THAT CURB PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT CANCER AND 5 TIPS TO OVERCOME THEM!

Every 1 in 10 cancer patients feel reluctant in talking about cancer and related symptoms which can be stern most of the time. Here are reason and tips so that there is a good way to bring in confidence and be the one you want to be!

       WHY NOT TALKING ABOUT CANCER? 

• People expect that they are never getting this disease 

Most of the people in the world think that they are the last ones to procure this disease.  In the gender category of men, almost a quarter of men have never told to their relative or a friend about the cancer in them 

• The word Cancer is believed to be a ‘Taboo’

Even in the 21^st century taboo still exists and one of taboos would be cancer (which is a myth) and when they are diagnosed with the disease, they tend to freak out because they think they are ‘unclean’.

• It is my body and what happens to it is my business

      This attitude might bring in the selfish element whereas in reality it results in depression. There is a no-use-talking-to-anyone feeling that gives birth in some people because everyone around them seems useless to them.

• Fear of being isolated

      Most of the cancer patients do not talk to others about cancer because they fear that they would never be understood instead be judged.     
  

• Fear of posing as a sympathy figure in the society

There is always a fear that they would be figured as a sympathy symbol and that he or she will not be able to lead a normal life ahead.

WHY IS THERE A NEED TO TALK ABOUT CANCER?

1.       None of us are immune to cancer

There wouldn’t be anyone who is completely immune to the disease and accepting that fact would bring a confidence and positivity.

2.       Talk about it and the taboo will be diluted

Only by opening up a dialogue can the taboo surrounding it be diluted and can get more people will feel like talking more about and be aware of those facts.

3.       Everyone will help you, just give it a try!

Talk to the people who you trust and believe in (can also be someone who is in the same state) .

4.       Need not always be a hero

Even when people look up to you as a hero, there can be times when you have to remove the mask of being a hero and let your feelings flow. Be who you are because sometimes we all need a support and be proud to accept it!

5.       Ignorance is never bliss!

Ignoring symptoms will not help you in any way; it can only push you down. Talk about symptoms and how you feel every day.

Silence always comes in with fear and being a hero is not to be silent but talking about it and bringing up a change. It doesn’t matter if you don’t talk…..but imagine if your one talk can make even a small difference…..it will even save a life…BE THE CHANGE!

Thanks for reading and please keep visiting our blog to discover and appreciate more Yoddhas. 
Feel free to contact the Yoddhas team at team@yoddhas.com 

Lastly,

Praise the Yoddhas; Support the Yoddhas ; Love the Yoddhas!

Cheers!

Author: Shruti Manmadhan Nair                                         Co-authored by Rahul Yadav