According to a joint analysis by KPMG and FICCI, barely 27% of Indians have appropriate health insurance policies. As a result, they are unable to insure the price of cancer treatment in India.
Cancer not only affects your health, but it also has an impact on your finances. Several economically unstable people suffer to meet their daily requirements while spending on pricey cancer care. As a result, it is often a prudent decision to guarantee a better tomorrow and receive the best healthcare without jeopardizing your family’s economic stability. According to data given by KPMG and FICCI, a sizable portion of the world’s population receives no financial assistance when undergoing cancer medication. Particularly when people’s lives are always fluctuating and intricate. Therefore, the necessity of a cancer protection plan is high today.
Why buy Cancer Insurance Policy
Insurance coverage is a highly necessary need today. In reality, medical coverage is intended to keep the insured economically secure in the event of a catastrophe. You must pay for all hospital bills with your own money if you do not have health insurance. The medical expense may force you to face bankruptcy because of the high medical expenditures of cancer treatment. Alternatively, if you have cancer insurance plan, you will get a lump sum payment from your insurance provider if you are diagnosed with cancer.
Find the best cancer hospitals
In India, there are nearly as many hospitals as there are health care institutions. Each hospital and doctor has its own consultation price. Because you don’t have health insurance, it’s critical to know what the typical rate is for a doctor or clinic in your area. Keep in mind that not all clinic or doctor is equipped to manage every cancer medical condition. As a result, if you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, you should exercise extreme caution while selecting a hospital.
Request Lower Prices
Inform the doctor or healthcare institution that you are not financially rich. It’s possible that they’ll charge you less. You can also opt to pay your costs in advance. Perhaps the hospital or doctor you’ve chosen is willing to treat you at a lesser cost. There are certain doctors that would charge you less if you pay for the therapy in advance.
Save On Medicines
When your doctor writes you a medication, ask for complimentary medication samples. For cancer sufferers, doctors have an infinite amount of samples at their disposal. You can also ask your doctor to provide cheaper equivalents of the drug, which are less expensive. Look for reductions at a drugstore as well. Many medical establishments in India are dedicated to providing substantial savings on medications.
Saving Account For Medicines
Because you do not have health insurance, you must plan ahead of time to cover medical bills if they arise. Create a savings account to meet your medical expenditures. It is recommended that you save at least Rs. 3,000 every month to meet the price of doctor’s bills and prescriptions. If you are diagnosed with a serious condition, such as cancer, you may be required to borrow funds or arrange for a bank loan. If you do not plan ahead of time for any medical crisis, the condition will deteriorate.
Get Treatment At a Government Hospital
It is preferable to receive treatment for cancer at a public hospital rather than a private one. Although receiving care in a public hospital is difficult, cancer care prices are low and you can manage it. Yet, unlike at a private hospital, you are unlikely to receive proper care and world-class care in a public hospital.
Why Insurance is Essential?
Despite an increase in desire for health insurance policies, India is set to have the world’s greatest levels of under-penetration, with just 0.16 percent of the overall people insured for health, according to Irda. It’s no surprise that 70% of medical costs are paid for out of pocket. Because cancer treatment is a long-term commitment, it is also an ongoing expense. This has a high financial impact on the family, necessitating the purchase of insurance. The insurance sector is launching new plans with specific features and higher coverage to keep up with the rise in cancer occurrence.
You may choose between a standard health plan that includes hospitalisation costs, a critical illness insurance that covers a variety of illnesses, particularly cancer, and specialist cancer care packages.
Cancer treatment cost in India; Government hospitals vs. Private hospitals.
What is the cost of cancer treatment in india? Let’s explore! The Central Government complements state government attempts to improve health and wellness, particularly cancer protection, diagnosis, and therapy. Currently, the National Programme for the Prevention and Control of Cancer, Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes, and Stroke (NPCDCS) is implemented under the National Health Mission (NHM) for interventions up to the district level, which includes cancer preventative measures, monitoring, early diagnosis, and referring patients to a suitable level hospital for therapies. The emphasis is on three types of cancer: breast, cervical, and oral. State governments have been given screening guidelines to adopt. Suspect patients must be forwarded for confirmation testing, including histopathology biopsies.
The Government of India would contribute to the establishment of 20 State Cancer Institutes (SCI) and 50 Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCC) across the nation under the aforementioned plan (NPCDCS). The maximum help for SCI, including the state contribution, is up to Rs.120 crore, while the maximum support for TCCC is up to Rs.45 crore, subject to qualifying under the plan parameters and the allocation of money.
The medication and therapy for cancer at public hospitals seems to be either free or subsidised. In addition to cancer detection and therapy provided by state public health institutions, the following central government institutions offer cancer care and prognosis.
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences
- Safdurjung Hospital
- Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
- PGIMER Chandigarh,
- JIPMER Puducherry,
- Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, etc.
- The overall expense of cancer treatment in private hospitals was projected to be Rs 1,41,774, but it was significantly cheaper in government hospitals, at Rs 72,092.
- As per the state-by-state breakdown, the entire cost of cancer care in India ranges from Rs 74,699 in Odisha to Rs 2,39,974 in Jharkhand.
- Cancer therapy cost less than Rs 1 lakh in eight states: Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Haryana.
- Cancer sufferers in Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, on the other hand, spent between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh on therapy.
- Cancer care costs more than Rs 1.5 lakh in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, and Jharkhand.
Why Should you buy a Cancer plan?
Most consumers are perplexed by the decision to purchase a cancer policy and are troubled by queries such as, “Why should I obtain a cancer insurance policy?” In particular, it has been seen in India that people disregard the early signs of cancer, resulting in cancer being identified only in the later stages, which may be both lethal and expensive. Genetics is recognised to play a significant impact in the development of some types of cancer. Cancer incidence is also influenced by one’s lifestyle choices. In reality, excessive cigarette usage is responsible for around 40% of cancer occurrences. Everyone desires to be well and never have to deal with the anguish and suffering that cancer brings.
Final Thoughts
It is clear that the majority of cancer treatment costs in India are paid for out of pocket. Another reason of worry is significant disparity in cancer care cost among states as well as between government and private healthcare institutions. How could the expense of cancer treatment vary so much among states, even now in government hospitals? This should be researched at further.
