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The costs of cancer insurance

21 Apr 2015

Cancer insurance and other disease-specific types of insurance often spark debate around whether they are useful or even necessary. Keeping this in mind, Lancet Laboratories, a leading pathology laboratory in South Africa, recently published an article in a medical journal, indicating that they expect a 78% increase in the number of cancer cases in South Africa by the year 2030. At the moment, the stats for South Africa show that one in every six or seven people will get cancer, regardless of age, gender, or race.

Keeping this in mind, it might become clear that cancer insurance is going to become not only a convenient insurance policy, but a necessary one. There are different cancer care policies available on the market from a variety of insurance providers, and AIG has one that covers not only the diagnosis, but also a six-month recovery period. Premiums for this policy can range from R52.50 to R161.50, and within this range, the policies can payout anywhere between R99,000 to R348,000 in total.

When you break the costs down to a monthly premium as mentioned above, it becomes affordable, and thus it makes sense to have that extra protection as a necessary precaution. The AIG Cancer Care Plan offers a payout upon first diagnosis, and also a monthly benefit payout for each of the first six months after the diagnosis. This monthly benefit payout is designed to help pay for any other recovery costs you may encounter. There is also a lump sum payable in the event that you may need cancer-related removal or reconstructive surgery.

Cancer is a disease that can develop easily from excessive smoking or drinking, an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, or genetic composition. It is a disease over which we do not yet have full control, and for that reason, it might be better to be prepared, and to be rather safe than sorry. It is an easy step towards being better prepared for a situation that nobody really wants to face, and it is a small price to pay in the greater scheme of things.

Sources:
Resolution Health
Health 24
AIG