Learning the Basics of Cancer Insurance When people are diagnosed with terminal illnesses like cancer, they will sometimes reach out in ways to the community to try to receive help. One way that people try to receive help with their cancer is through purchasing cancer insurance. Cancer insurance is a relatively new type of insurance, having emerged in and around the medical field about 50 years ago. Cancer insurance was basically created because there were people who wanted it and needed it. So, insurance companies decided to create a specific type of insurance that covers the cancer disease. Cancer insurance is meant to manage the risks that come with cancer and to provide financial support for the cancer patient and their family. Cancer insurance helps people pay for the costs of cancer treatment. The financial support that a family will receive is based upon the terms that have been decided upon by them and the insurance company.
Similarities to other Insurance Policies Cancer insurance is similar to other types of insurance in the way that it is paid for. The charges for cancer insurance are called premiums, and they change depending on the risk associated with a specific patient’s cancer experience. It is important for consumers to realize that cancer insurance is not meant to replace regular health insurance. Cancer insurance is, in fact, a supplement to regular health insurance premiums. The reason why cancer insurance was invented is because many people, even those who had conventional health insurance, were paying medical bills out of pocket because their medical insurance did not cover these costs. Cancer insurance helped them to better cover these costs.
As stated above, the field of cancer insurance is relatively new and is constantly evolving even to this day. Cancer insurance is currently splitting into specialized branches, so that patients may be better served by their insurance. These branches of cancer insurance are usually based upon the different types of cancer that exists. For example, some examples of branches of cancer insurance include breast cancer, uterine cancer, prostate cancer, brain cancer, etc.
Benefits of Coverage While learning about the basics of cancer insurance, it is important to discuss what the coverage benefits are for those who decide to purchase cancer insurance. Obviously, benefits are going to differ from company to company and from plan to plan. However, here are some overall general benefits that are usually included on cancer insurance plans. One benefit from a cancer insurance plan could be the ways and means available to start living a healthier lifestyle. These benefits could include help to stop smoking, a gym membership so exercise could be more regular, and professionals who can help with diet changes. The reason why this is sometimes included in cancer insurance is because individuals who are not living healthy lifestyles are more at risk for developing diseases, cancer included. The insurance often helps these people to live healthier lifestyles so that their risk of developing cancer is reduced. The benefits of cancer insurance can also include financial coverage for certain cancerrelated medical tests and other procedures that will aide in the treatment and management of the disease. Photo Credit: Alex Proimos, Kevin Morris, Hector Alejandro