Cancer. Possibly the most worrying word when discussing health care. We all know someone who has had cancer and it estimated that one in three of us will have cancer at some point in our life.
The vast majority of Private Medical Insurance covers cancer treatment in full which means there are no limits on the cover provided. However, if you are considering, or have Private Medical Insurance, and cancer is your main concern you need to be aware of the finer details of each providers cancer policy. For example only two company’s cover all stages of cancer including palliative care whilst other companies have limits on the use of new drugs.
If you have already suffered from cancer and would like to consider starting a Private Medical Insurance scheme the cancer and any related condition would not be covered until you have been cancer treatment free for a minimum of two years. However, every time you visit a specialist for a check up on the cancer the two years extends which in most cases last five years, therefore a minimum of seven years would be required before you will be considered for cover.
If you have had cancer in the past, there is only one provider in the country who guarantees to cover all cancer and related conditions after a two year period irrespective of when you were originally diagnosed, or most importantly, even if you are undergoing treatment NOW.
When considering alternative providers in this situation you need to be cautious and fully informed at every stage. In the vast majority of cases you would not be able to transfer from one provider to another without losing cover for cancer and any related condition. In these circumstances we would usually advise staying with the existing provider and we would try and negotiate a lower premium on your behalf.
However, it is possible to transfer from one provider to another lowering the premium whilst maintaining cover for cancer. But this needs to be handled by an independent healthcare specialist and the clients best interested is always the main focus.
Great time to have a review on the options available. As mentioned previously some providers have substantially better cover for cancer in comparison to others and if cancer is a major concern reviewing your options now is excellent timing. You will be able to compare your present cover against the best to ensure you have the most suitable scheme for your circumstances.
