10 Best Health Insurance for Cancer Patients 2024 in India and their Features

About the cancer insurance policy 

Cancer is a critical disease that is lethal. An insurance policy that is particularly designed to provide coverage against cancer is called a cancer insurance policy. Under this policy, the insured receives a lump sum amount as part of the payout in case the person is diagnosed with cancer. A cancer insurance policy will offer all-inclusive protection against a range of expenses starting from hospitalization, chemotherapy, radiation, and so on.

With health insurance for cancer patients, you not only have monetary security against the disease but also have peace of mind. This policy secures the insured against cancer at early as well as advanced stages. The coverage under such plans is provided as per the terms of the policy as well as the severity of the condition.

What Types of Cancers are Covered by Cancer Insurance Policies in India?

Generally, most insurance for cancer patients in India covers major cancer types like:

Breast cancer
Lung cancer
Prostate cancer
Ovarian cancer
Colon cancer
Bladder cancer
Pancreatic cancer. etc.
However, it depends on the particular policy and the insurer to cover the kind of cancer under a policy. You may discuss the same with your insurer before purchasing health insurance for cancer patients.

List of Best Cancer Insurance Plans, their Features & Waiting Period

Name of the plan	Features	Entry age	Sun insured (INR)	Survival period	Waiting period
Care Cancer Mediclaim Policy	Covers chemotherapy and radiotherapy	5 – 50 years	10 lakh – 2 crore	.	90 days
Bajaj Allianz Criti Care Insurance	Covers early-stage cancers and specified severity cancers	3 months – 65 years	Up to 1 lakh	0/7/15 days	120/180 days
Star Cancer Care Platinum Insurance Plan	Covers existing cancer patients for all stages of cancer	5 months – 65 years	5/7/10 lakhs	.	30 days
Aditya Birla Activ Secure – Cancer Secure	Covers expenses of cancer treatment at every stage	18 – 65 years	5 lakh – 1 crore	7 days	Early stage – 180 days Major & advanced stage – 90 days
Chola MS Critical Healthline Insurance	Covers malignant tumors	5 – 65 years	3/5/10 years	30 days	90 days
Digit Cancer Insurance Policy	Coverage for cancer and hospitalization costs during treatment	91 days onwards	1 lakh to 3crore	30 days	.
Edelweiss Platinum Health Insurance Plan	Coverage for the first diagnosis of cancer	3 months onwards	5 lakh – 1 crore	.	90 days
IFFCO Tokio Family Health Protector Policy	Coverage for cancer of specified severity	3 months – 65 years	1 lakh – 1 crore	28 days	90 days
Kotak Critical Illness Plus Benefit Rider	Coverage for first cancer diagnosis	18 – 65 years	5 – 10 lakhs	–	90 days
Future Generali Criticare Plan	Covers cancer of specified severity	6– 65 years	1 – 50 lakhs	28 days	90 days

 

Health Cover Against Critical Illness for Cancer Patients in India 

Cancer is covered in many health insurance policies offering coverage for critical illnesses. However, you will get coverage under fatal illnesses if you are not yet diagnosed with cancer or any such critical diseases at the time of buying a policy. If a person is already diagnosed with cancer, he/she is deprived of coverage against the disease as well as against the different medical situations arising out of the disease. Thus, there are not many companies offering insurance policies for existing cancer patients.

Additionally, if the policy owner shows any signs of the disease within 90 days of getting the policy, the insurance company terminates the policy for the insured person. In case the insured person is diagnosed with cancer after the period of waiting, they still cannot claim for the disease unless it is in the later stages. This is because even in the case of policies offering critical illness coverage, cancer patients can claim compensation if their disease is at an advanced stage.

Most critical illness plans are available for purchase either as an individual plan or as a support with your health insurance or life insurance policies.

Also Read: Pre-Existing Disease in a Health Insurance Policy

Health Insurance Policy/Plan Specially Meant for Cancer Patients 

From the above information, it can be noted that even a critical illness cover doesn’t meet the specific needs of a patient suffering from cancer. And since for insurance companies offering coverage for fatal diseases like cancer is not a win-win situation, so they tend to pull their hands away from such coverage. Thus, there are limited options available in terms of buying health insurance for cancer patients in India, and so the only option they have is to buy a cancer specialist health policy, which is intended to meet the specific needs of a patient diagnosed with cancer.

However, even in this situation, the precondition for getting the cover remains the same as stated earlier, which means health insurance for existing cancer patients or people already showing conditions of cancer are not getting the coverage under this policy.

But if you buy such a policy for future sake, it will cover you against early and advanced stages of cancer. But sadly there are not many insurance companies that offer cancer coverage policies.

Also Read: 10 Factors to Consider Before Buying Cancer Health Insurance Policy

Why do I Need a Specialized Cancer Insurance Plan?

The utmost reason to buy a cancer insurance plan is that it is spreading widely all across the globe and is regarded as one of the deadliest diseases worldwide. The changing lifestyle of people has been the root cause of the enhanced risk of cancer and this makes it important for everyone to buy a cancer specific insurance plan to get coverage against it.

Having a regular health insurance plan may not suffice your needs in case of cancer diagnosis as it doesn’t cover the particular needs that a cancer plan would offer in terms of coverage and financial security.

Also Read: National Cancer Awareness Day – Theme, History, and Significance

Features Offered by Best and Specialized Cancer Insurance Plans 2024, India:

It provide protection against cancer in all stages of the disease
It allow dual benefit of providing lump sum amount as well as a regular income in the event of final stage diagnosis
Another benefit of a cancer specialized insurance plan is that it allow waiver of premiums in the event of diagnosis of cancer (minor or major stage), while providing coverage
The policy also give liberty to the insured to choose his/her preferred hospital and doctor for cancer treatment
The policy allow greater coverage at affordable premium
Also Read: 10 Cancer Hospitals In India For Free Cancer Treatment

How to Choose the Best Cancer Insurance Plan?

There are certain points to keep in mind while choosing the best cancer insurance plan so that you could secure yourself against cancer in the future.
Claim Settlement Ratio (CSR) – Make sure to check the number of claims that have been settled so far by the insurer whom you are planning to buy the policy from. Ensure that the CSR has been high overall of the company

Pay-Out Terms – Equally important is to consider the pay-out terms and conditions of the insurer as different companies/policies have different pay-out terms and you must opt for the policy with best pay-out terms
Policy Term – Policy term or tenure is another important thing to consider. Always prefer a plan that allow longer duration as they are financially favorable
Premium – Check for a policy offering better coverage at affordable premium
Solvency Ratio – Also, do check the solvency ratio of the company as per IRDA rules to ensure that the insurer is capable to pay your claims
Also Read: 10 Ways to Lower the Risks of Getting Cancer

Best Health Insurance Plans for Cancer Patients

Cancer-Specific Insurance Policy	Description	Features
Aditya Birla Activ Secure – Cancer Secure	This insurance for cancer patients is designed specifically to cover patients in all three stages of the disease, including first, major and final stages	Payment of stipulated sum is offered for all three stages   Offers 7-day survival time Offers cumulative Bonus and tax benefits Coverage for all members of family Wellness coach choice etc.
Bajaj Allianz Critical Illness Insurance	This policy offers coverage to you and your family against 10 dangerous diseases, which include cancer, heart attack, organ transplant, bypass surgery, kidney failure etc.	Cover all family members   Offer coverage against 10 critical diseases Give 30 days survival time Comes with lifetime renewal offer Allow tax benefits etc.
Bharti AXA SmartHealth Critical Illness Policy	This policy from Bharti AXA offer coverage against 20 fatal diseases including cancer, and cover against all the charges that you have to pay for your treatment and the recovery afterwards	Offer coverage against 20 critical diseases   Available for floater packages Recovery benefit Lifetime renew option Additional benefits, tax benefits, etc.
Chola MS Critical Healthline Insurance	This is a customized policy designed to cover against critical diseases like cancer. This plan comes in two types, standard type and advanced type, where standard type covers for 10 deadly diseases and advanced type covers 12 deadly diseases	Cover for family   Survival period – 30 days Lump sum pay Tax benefits Lifetime renewal offer
Digit Cancer Insurance Policy	This policy covers all the medical expenses that you have to pay because of cancer. It includes the cost of diagnosis as well as treatment. This policy give coverage to six different types of cancer, such as, lung, larynx, stomach, prostate, breast, and ovarian	Offers 10 years’ income benefit   Benefit of premium waiver 7-30 days’ survival period Option between increasing sum insured and level sum insured
Edelweiss Platinum Health Insurance Plan	This policy covers cancer and offers compensation for second medical opinion and recovery advantages. It also covers diseases like stroke, paralysis of limbs etc.	Offer coverage to 8 members of family   Compensates for second opinion charges ICU charges without cap Lifetime renew option
IFFCO Tokio Family Health Protector Policy	In this policy, you have to pay an additional premium of 30% for coverage against critical illness, such as cancer. It offers emergency assistance service as well	Coverage for entire family   Cover against critical illness with extra premium Tax benefits Lifetime renewal option Cumulative bonus
Kotak Critical Illness Plus Benefit Rider	This policy allow treatment to the cancer patients without any financial stress as it pays lump sum amount being diagnosed with the disease	Cover against 37 critical illnesses   100% lump sum pay Tax benefits Survival Period – 30 days

 

10 Best Health Insurance Plans For Cancer Patients with Features In India

1. Aditya Birla Activ Secure – Cancer Secure

Insurance Company~ Aditya Birla Health Insurance

This insurance plan for cancer patients is designed specifically to cover patients in all three stages of the disease, including the first, the major, and the final stages. If the insured is diagnosed with cancer, the policy pays 50% of the sum insured at the initial stage of the diagnosis. In case the diagnosis is detected at a major stage, a sum insured of 100% of paid while if the same gets detected at the final/advanced stage 150% of the sum insured is paid under the policy.

Features:

The policy provides a pay-out of a stipulated sum for all three stages of the disease
The plan comes with a short-duration survival period of 7-day
The plan also allows a 10% cumulative bonus for every claim-free year
It covers all members of a family
The option of a wellness coach is also there under the plan
You may also go for a second opinion option under this plan
Besides, you can avail of tax deductions

2. Bajaj Allianz Critical Illness Insurance

Insurance Company~ Bajaj Allianz Health Insurance

Cancer is a deadly disease that causes severe financial implications for a family. It makes people fall into the trap of debt. Hence, with Bajaj Allianz Criti Care, you can ensure the security of your family against the financial burden caused by the disease. Under this plan, 25% of the payout is offered to the insured if diagnosed with the disease at an early stage. Depending on the severity of the disease, it pays up to 100% of the sum assured.

Features: 

Over 42 critical conditions are covered under this plan
The plan allows coverage to all the members of a family
The plan provides coverage against reconstructive surgery due to cancer
It comes with the option of lifetime renewability
7-15 days of survival period is also there under the plan
Besides, you can avail of tax deductions

3. Bharti AXA SmartHealth Critical Illness Policy

Insurance Company~ Bharti AXA Health Insurance

This policy from Bharti AXA offers coverage against 20 fatal diseases including cancer. It covers the insured against all the expenses paid for the treatment as well as the expenses during recovery. The plan allows timely compensation for your claims at the time of an emergency and saves you from the financial burden.

Features:

The plan allows coverage against 20 critical diseases
The plan is available as a family floater package
It covers the expenses of recovery under the recovery benefit facility
The plan comes with a lifetime renewability option
You also receive additional benefits and tax benefits under the plan

4. Chola MS Critical Healthline Insurance

Insurance Company~ Chola MS Health Insurance

This is a customized policy designed to cover critical diseases like cancer. This plan comes in two types, standard type and advanced type. Here, the standard type covers 10 deadly diseases whereas the advanced type covers 12 deadly diseases.

Features:

The plan covers the entire family under one policy
It allows a survival period of 30 days
The insured is provided a lump sum pay if diagnosed with a critical disease
You may avail of tax benefits under the plan
Lifetime renewability option is also there

5. Digit Cancer Insurance Policy

Insurance Company~ Go Digit Health Insurance

The Digit cancer plan covers all the medical expenses of the insured against cancer. It includes the cost of diagnosis as well as treatment. This policy gives coverage to six different types of cancer including lung, larynx, stomach, prostate, breast, and ovarian.

Features:

The plans provide income benefits of over 10 years for the insured
It also comes with the benefit of a premium waiver
The plan offers 7 – 30 days survival period
The plan provides the insured with the option of increasing sum insured as well as the level sum insured

6. Edelweiss Platinum Health Insurance Plan

Insurance Company~ Edelweiss Tokio Health Insurance

This critical illness insurance plan covers different critical illnesses including cancer. The claim amount under the policy is paid if the insured is diagnosed with cancer. The plan is available in two variants such as the Gold and the Platinum variant.

Besides cancer, it also covers several other critical illnesses like stroke, open chest CABG, permanent paralysis of limbs, and so on. The policy also offers a second medical opinion and recovery advantages.

Features:

8 members of a family can get coverage under the plan
It allows compensation for a second medical opinion
ICU charges are compensated without a cap under the plan
It comes with a lifetime renewal option

7. IFFCO Tokio Family Health Protector Policy

Insurance Company~ IFFCO Tokio Health Insurance

In this policy, you have to pay an additional premium of 30% for coverage against critical illnesses, such as cancer. It also covers emergency assistance services. Under this plan, the insurer pays a lump sum amount to the insured in case the person is diagnosed with cancer.

Features:

The plan covers the entire family on a floater basis
Cover for critical illness with extra premium
Tax benefits can also be availed under the plan
Lifetime renewability option is available
Cumulative bonus can also be availed under this plan

8. Kotak Critical Illness Plus Benefit Rider

Insurance Company~ Kotak Health Insurance

This policy allows treatment to the cancer patient without any stress of finances by paying a lump sum amount for diagnosis. It covers cancer of a specified severity. As many as 37 critical diseases including cancer are covered under the plan.

Features:

This rider benefit allows coverage against 37 critical illnesses
The plan pays a 100% lump sum in case the patient is diagnosed with cancer
The plan allows the insured to enjoy tax benefits
It also comes with a survival period of 30 days

9. Care Cancer Mediclaim Policy

 

Insurance Company~ Care Insurance 

This is a policy that provides financial protection to cancer patients. It covers expenses against diagnosis and treatment of cancer including OPD charges, cost of hospitalization, chemotherapy charges, and more. This plan compensated for a second opinion outside India under its global coverage option.

Features:

The plans provide coverage against all stages of cancer
It allows cashless cancer treatment at network hospitals
There is no health check-up needed before opting for the policy
Lifelong renewability is available under the plan
The plan also has no limit on the expenses of ICU charges
It covers AYUSH treatment
The plan allows a doctor-on-call facility and annual health check-up facility

10. Star Cancer Care Platinum Insurance Plan

 

Insurance company~ Star Health Insurance 

The exclusive policy covers first-time cancer victims as well as patients who are already suffering from cancer. The plan covers the treatment cost as well as the risk of a second malignancy.

Features:

The plan offers a 50% lump sum amount if there is a second malignancy appears
It offers coverage against cancer rehabilitation
No pre-policy screening is required
A second medical opinion is also available
Free health check-up facility is available after every claim-free year
Allows the insured to avail of tax benefits
Lifelong renewability option is also there
Also Read: Advantages of Family Health Insurance

Few Other Insurance Companies in India Offering Health Policies or Coverage against Cancer Disease

In addition to the above, there are few other insurance companies offering policies or coverage against cancer. They are namely:

ManipalCigna Lifestyle Protection – Critical Care Plan
National Critical Illness Policy
New India Assurance Cancer Medical Expn –  Individual Plan
Raheja Cancer Insurance
Reliance Critical Illness Insurance
Religare Cancer Insurance Plan
Royal Lifeline Elite Health Insurance Plan
SBI Critical Illnesses Insurance Policy
Star Cancer Care Gold Insurance Policy
Tata AIG Critical Illness Policy
United India Criticare Policy
Universal Sompo Critical Illness Insurance Policy
Future Generali Cancer Protect Plan
Niva Bupa Critical Insurance Plan