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  • Many types of cancer are preventable
  • If you are a smoker, expect to pay a higher premium
  • Some health insurance companies may deny you coverage if you have a pre-existing condition

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The cost of health insurance for cancer is based on the type of policy you have. A supplemental insurance plan’s cost is based on several factors.

They include age, health, and risk factors such as smoking. You should except to pay about $300 a year for just yourself and around $500 for a family plan. If you smoke, you can expect considerably higher premiums.

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What should I look for in a health insurance plan?

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Many health insurance companies offer this type of specialty insurance, but you need to shop around as the details of coverage vary greatly from one provider to another.

It’s also important to only buy health insurance from reputable providers as some companies are well known for offering cheap health insurance but when you need to make a claim, they may not even still be around.

Another extremely important fact about health insurance coverage for cancer are these policies can only be purchased if you have not been diagnosed with cancer.

Once you are diagnosed, it is considered a pre-existing condition and health insurance companies can refuse to write a policy.

Cancer insurance is known as supplemental insurance as it only pays for cancer-related treatments. It also is not subject to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This act will prohibit insurance companies from writing pre-existing condition exclusions in primary policies starting in 2014.

What is cancer insurance?

Cancer insurance is a policy to supplement your existing health insurance in the event you are diagnosed with cancer. It is designed to help pay for expenses not covered by your primary insurance and also assist with deductibles and co-payments.

Primary and cancer insurance pay out differently. Primary health insurance plans will pay claims to the health facility directly because they negotiate prices with them.

Cancer insurance is a supplement so they often pay cash benefits directly to you (which you can use how you see fit) through a lump sum payment or an indemnity plan.

What does cancer insurance cover?

adobestock_106779253-1600x1600Exact coverage will vary depending on the type of plan and provider you choose. Most cancer insurance plans cover both medical and non-medical expenses related to your treatment.

There are also many policies will also help with annual preventive screenings because early detection cuts over all treatment cost usually.

Medical expenses can include things like hospital stays, tests, and medications.

Depending on your plan you may also be covered for certain surgeries, chemotherapy expenses, radiation treatments and extra benefits if you are hospitalized for an extended period.

Non- medical expenses are typically considered items such as loss of income, childcare, and home health care. Specialty foods or equipment is sometimes covered as well.

A few policies cover travel and lodging expenses if treatment is not available where you live.

Not all policies will cover travel. They may also not cover illnesses that are result of treatments or the disease such as pneumonia, diabetes and infections.

Experimental treatments may not be covered either. You should read the policy carefully to understand what, if any, exclusions it may have.

Do I need cancer insurance?

adobestock_75961762-1600x1600Deciding whether you need cancer insurance can be difficult. Statistics say that only three out of ten people will develop cancer but this is a still 30 percent chance which is high.

Cancer insurance can be a great benefit if you are diagnosed with any cancer. The downside is that if you never need it, you may end up wasting a lot of money but this is true of almost any health insurance policy.

Considering your risk factor may help. Does your family have a strong history of cancer? Does your job pose considerable risk factors? Lifestyle choices may also increase your risk of cancer as well.

If you feel you are at higher risk of developing cancer, you may want to consider buying at least some form of supplemental cancer insurance.

Before you purchase cancer insurance, make sure you research what different companies offer. Always check if the policy has exclusions or waiting periods as many providers include a 30-day waiting period after diagnoses before they pay.

You may also want to contact your primary insurance company to see how the supplemental coverage will affect their payout.

Some primary policies will not pay out if you have supplemental insurance that covers a specific condition.

If you are unsure of your risk, you may find the money would be better spent upgrading your primary health insurance plan.

Increased coverage or lower deductibles may benefit you if you develop cancer but also for other illnesses. Some other forms of specialty insurance available include:

  • Critical illness insurance – A type of supplemental insurance that is new to the market. It covers the top three major illnesses in America: stroke, heart attack, and cancer. Some policies will even pay out if you develop all three.
  • Major medical insurance – This coverage costs more than cancer or critical illness insurances but covers more. It covers not only illness but also accidents. These policies will have a deductible to meet before they pay out, though.

The good news is for healthy individuals there are many health insurance options to help prepare for the cost of treating future health problems, but many people wait until it’s too late even to consider buying insurance.

No one can argue we all get older and health problems will appear for many of us so start understanding all your coverage options today while you can still take benefit of lower premiums and be eligible for the best selection of products.

Use of FREE tool to find health insurance quotes in your area!

[su_spoiler title=”References:” icon=”caret-square” style=”fancy” open=”yes”]

  1. https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage/pre-existing-conditions/
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act
  3. http://www.hrsa.gov/womensguidelines/
  4. https://www.medicare.gov/supplement-other-insurance/medigap/whats-medigap.html
  5. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer

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