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Anna Peter

MUMBAI, Oct. 4

CANCER insurance for Rs 5,000... Hard to believe, yet true. The Cancer Patients Aid Association, a Mumbai-based NGO, provides a policy that is easy on the pocket and an important source of succour for those afflicted by this painful disease.

According to Ms Anita Thevar, General Manager, Cancer Insurance Policy, screening camps are crucial in detecting the disease early. The organisation regularly counsels smokers and tobacco chewers on the harmful effects of their habits and also makes regular attempts to see that they give up. Their campaign is even aimed at children so that they understand the disease and in turn educate their families. The cancer detection centre offers specialised pathological tests, mammograms, ultrasounds and colposcopies at nominal cost to the public and free to those unable to pay.

According to CPAA estimates, there are already three million cancer patients in the country and this number increases by 6 lakh every year. The insurance policy is aimed "at helping as many cancer patients as possible". In men, cancer generally occurs in the head and neck, with the growing incidence of prostrate cancer, while for women breast and cervical cancers are the biggest killers.

With this in mind, in 1994 the CPAA and New India Assurance Company jointly launched a cancer insurance policy for healthy individuals in the event they develop cancer. Some of the more important schemes are the 20-year and the full life schemes. The sum insured can range from Rs 30,000 to Rs 2,00,000, with premia paid at one go or over time.

To avail of 20-year policy, an individual has to be checked up by the CPAA physician, general surgeon, gynaecologist, ENT surgeon, given a basic blood test and pap smear to be declared cancer-free.

Ms Thevar says the initial screening alone detected cancer in 17, otherwise healthy, individuals. Age is no bar. The benefits include reimbursements for treatment, hospitalisation and investigations as specified in the policy document up to the insured amount every year against bills submitted — till the patient is cured or succumbs to his illness.

Depending on the scheme on offer, the policyholder is entitled to up to a maximum of Rs 2 lakh every year till cured. Policyholders are also entitled to free annual screenings and the numbers of those returning for follow-up check-ups is rising every year. Policyholders are also entitled to a cumulative bonus and 50 per cent tax rebate. So far there have been 33 claims, amounting to Rs 27 lakh.

Earlier, in other insurance policies, once a person contracted cancer, he was unable to renew his insurance policy. He would get just the one claim. To overcome this drawback, the tie-up with New India Assurance ensures that a policyholder is covered even if he is later diagnosed with cancer and enjoys a fresh limit every year to cover treatment. The CPAA also makes certain that the claims are processed quickly, even as quickly as two days.

Corporates benefit too. For every 50 persons inducted into the scheme, the company is offered a five per cent discount. Through the personal initiatives of some employees at General Insurance Corporation, about 50 employees have taken the policy and about 100 people attend the screening organised at the office premises. HDFC has taken the cancer policy for over 481 of its employees. Roughly 12,446 individual and corporate employees have signed up for the policy, including such companies as HDFC, TIFR and SICOM.

According to Ms Manju Malkani, Deputy General Manager, Personnel, HDFC: "A representative of the CPAA approached us and explained the scheme's benefits. It seemed a good idea and I put the idea forward to the Chairman and Managing Director and it was approved. We already have a comprehensive policy with New India Assurance, where cancer is also covered. However, this policy provides the policyholder an annual check-up and is also the best way to discover the disease early and nip the problem in the bud".

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