Are Chemotherapy and Radiation
Covered in Health Insurance?
The common understanding of health insurance is that it’s the insurance that pays for hospital bills (up to the sum assured) in case a person is admitted to the hospital. However, the past few years have seen a rise in something known as a cancer cover policy. Two key reasons for the increase in cancer cover policies have been the rising incidence of cancer in India, as well as rising medical costs, particularly of cancer specific procedures like chemotherapy, radiation therapy etc. Most customers have heard these terms but are not very clear about what chemotherapy is, if chemotherapy is covered by their insurance, and what is the difference between radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Before you decide to buy a cancer cover policy it’s a good idea for you to get a basic understanding of these treatments, the process by which they are administered and the incurred cost, both financial and physical. In this article, we will address these basic questions.
- Are chemotherapy treatment and radiation therapy the same?
- What is the cost of chemotherapy and radiation therapy? Which one is cheaper?
- How long do chemotherapy and radiation therapy go on?
- Does a health insurance plan cover chemotherapy and radiation therapy? Do I need a cancer cover policy over and above my health policy?
- How much sum assured should I get in my cancer cover policy?
Are chemotherapy treatment and radiation therapy the same?
Chemotherapy treatment and radiation therapy are both cancer treatments used to eliminate cancerous cells in your body but these are not the same.
As the name implies, chemotherapy uses chemicals ingested as drugs to kill the cancerous cells which are multiplying across your body. For this reason, chemotherapy treatment is considered a “systemic” treatment. The impact of chemotherapy is felt across the body. Many cells in your body like the hair, nails, bone marrow, digestive tract etc. multiply at a faster rate than the rest but are not cancerous. Chemotherapy does not make that distinction and attacks all the cells it sees multiplying fast. That is why hair fall, diarrhea and fatigue are the most common side effects of chemotherapy.
Radiation Therapy uses high-energy beams like X-rays, gamma rays or protons to try and destroy the cancerous cells, usually in a specific part of the body. Hence radiation therapy is classified as a “localized” treatment. For this reason, the side effects of radiation therapy might be lower but it still does have some side effects.
Which of these treatments is recommended for a particular patient depends on the specifics of that case. Sometimes both treatments will be done.
What is the cost of chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy? Which one is cheaper?
Another important question customers have regarding chemotherapy and radiation therapy is the cost. An important thing to understand regarding the costs is that both of these treatments are not a one-time event. They are done in sessions over a period ranging from a couple of weeks to a few months. Hence overall cost should be considered and not just per session. These are financial as well as physical costs in terms of pain and side effects.
In general, per session costs of chemotherapy are around 18-50 thousand rupees while the costs of radiation therapy start at 60 thousand and can even go up to 20 lacs for internal radiation.
How long does chemotherapy and radiation therapy go on?
Chemotherapy is administered in a cycle with several treatments (medicine being ingested in body) per cycle. One treatment can last 15-45 minutes. The cycles repeat in a space of one to four weeks depending upon the circumstances. Overall the treatment can last three to six months. Radiation therapy sessions are shorter but are administered more intensely (5 days a week) than chemotherapy. Overall radiation therapy might last from a couple of weeks to a couple of months.
Does a health insurance plan cover chemotherapy and radiation therapy? Do I need a cancer cover policy over and above my health policy?
Yes, most health insurance plans in India cover chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However, there are two things to note. Firstly, Generic health insurance plans provided by employers or even purchased by customers privately will always have a sublimit on such treatments. They will cover the cost only to a certain percentage of the sum assured. We have found that in most cases that sublimit is far below the actual cost of chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatment. Secondly, general health insurance plans are mostly floater in nature which means the sum assured is shared between members of the family. In expensive treatments like cancer, the sum assured of a general health insurance plan gets exhausted rapidly leaving the rest of the family without any cover.
Given the increasing prevalence of cancer and the low sum assured most customers have on their basic health insurance policy, we highly recommend our customers to consider purchasing a separate cancer cover policy, at least for all the adults in the family.
How much sum assured should I get in my cancer cover policy?
The answer to this depends on
- Understanding how the insurance coverage needs of a cancer patient differ from that of normal hospitalization.
- Analyzing the risk factors of an individual with respect to cancer. These include genetic factors, place of work and residence, lifestyle and habits.
- Asses the kind of treatment that an individual wants and can afford in case they get cancer and accordingly identify the right cancer cover policy.
Cancer has been around since the beginning of time. Our body’s ability to multiply and replace its cells is a fundamental ability to sustain life. One could argue that this process is pretty much what life is about. Unfortunately, sometimes this process goes wrong and results in cancer. In the end it is a game of probabilities. And the modern lifestyle, pollution and socio-economic changes are making the probability of getting cancer higher than before. If risk is going up, so should your countermeasures. That pretty much sums up our philosophy. We at Carepal Secure have an excellent cancer cover policy for our customers.
Conclusion
Secure is designed to provide you and your family with comprehensive, accessible, and affordable healthcare solutions. Whether you’re an individual, a family, or a senior citizen, there’s a plan designed to provide financial security and peace of mind.
Some key reasons why you should choose CarePal Secure are:
Extensive Coverage: Get access to a wide network of hospitals for cashless treatments, covering everything from regular health check-ups to major hospitalisations.
No Waiting Period for Essential Coverage: CarePal Secure offers immediate access to essential healthcare benefits so that yCarePal ou can receive critical medical treatment without long approval delays.
24/7 Medical Assistance & Claims Support: Our dedicated helpdesk is available round-the-clock to assist you with medical emergencies, claim processing, and consultation bookings.
Teleconsultations & Healthcare Discounts: Our seamless teleconsultation services allow you to access specialists across 18+ medical fields. Additionally, you can enjoy significant savings on medicines, diagnostic tests, and outpatient care, making quality healthcare more affordable.
Affordable Plans with Super Top-Up Options: Choose from a range of budget-friendly plans for individuals, families, and seniors. Our super top-up policy for seniors provides additional financial protection, covering larger medical expenses at a lower cost.
Tax Benefits Under Section 80D: The premiums paid toward CarePal Secure health insurance are tax-deductible, helping you save money while ensuring comprehensive coverage for yourself and your family.
With trusted partners nationwide, CarePal Secure ensures that quality healthcare is always within reach. So what are you waiting for? Join 80,000+ satisfied customers who trust CarePal Secure for their healthcare needs.
Get in touch with us to know the right plan for you.
