Questions to Ask: Cancer Health Insurance

Choosing health insurance for cancer is not as simple as it may sound. This is because there is a very varied offering when it comes to private medical insurance for cancer. Some companies provide very basic levels of cancer cover whereas others offer very full cancer cover. It is important to ask the right questions in order to get what you want from your health insurance.

Will I be covered for all stages of cancer treatment?
Some cancers can be treated and will never return. Others can return and be treated. When cancer cannot be removed altogether patients can have treatment which keeps their symptoms at bay and prolongs life.

Some policies offer cover for all stages of cancer. Others do not. Often when cancer cannot be removed then the patients condition is considered to be 'chronic' and therefore not covered by many health insurance policies.

Most policies will not cover patients in the final stages of cancer, during palliative care.

Are any treatments excluded?
Some policies exclude some types of treatments. Experimental treatment for example are only covered by some health insurers. Some drugs are not covered by some private health insurance companies. Herceptin, Velcade and Sutent, are examples of drugs that have been the topic of debate in the press.

At what point do benefits stop?
Different policies have different levels of cover. The number of treatments given, the total cost of treatment and the length of time the treatment may last are all considerations.

Where will I be treated?
What hospitals and consultants are on the health insurers approved list.

Does the cover include a holistic approach to cancer?
Some companies provide cover that takes into account the general wellbeing of the client. They may offer counselling and complimentary therapies and provide cover for wigs, steroids and anti-sickness drugs.