Medical Insurance and Cancer Cover
Choosing a private medical insurance policy can be a difficult decision, because there are so many different options to choose from and a lot of terminology to understand. Cancer cover is often one of the main benefits people want when they are looking for a policy, because it brings valuable peace of mind. But there are many things that you need to be aware of when you compare medical insurance quotes, because not all cancer cover is the same.
Limits
Cheap medical insurance policies may put yearly limits on the amount they will pay towards a particular cancer treatment, such as £30,000. This sounds like a lot of money, but cancer drugs are often very expensive. If you go over this limit then you have to meet the rest of the costs yourself. You should always make sure you are happy with your limits before taking out a policy, to prevent an unpleasant shock in the future.
Treatments
Only comprehensive cancer cover will cover the cost of certain treatments like biological therapies, hormone therapies, reconstructive surgery and stem cell transplantation. Basic cover might just pay for chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It is also worth checking to see whether your policy covers the cost of drugs that are not available on the NHS- many insurers will as long as they are used under license.
Experimental drugs
Experimental drugs are those which have not been licensed or marketed and are still being used in the clinical trial stage. Health insurers take differing approaches to drugs like these. Many will not cover the cost of drugs unless they are licensed for use in the UK. However, some will pay for unproven treatments if they are part of a company approved trial.
Aftercare
Health insurance will sometimes cover aftercare, such as private appointments with dieticians and the cost of routine check-ups, as well as reconstructive therapy. But budget policies will not offer additional extras like this, so make sure you know what is covered before you take out a policy.
Of course, the more you pay for your medical insurance policy the more comprehensive your cancer cover is likely to be. However, that does not mean that there aren’t ways you can save a bit of money.
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