World Cancer Day: Cancer Is Rising. Health Insurance Must Catch Up

According to the National Institutes of Health, new cancer cases in India have increased from approximately 13.9 lakh in 2020 to 15.7 lakh in 2025. Every year, an estimated 1,41,342 cases of oral cavity cancer and nearly 1.8 lakh cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in India. The statistics are scary, and since cancer treatment is expensive, it pays to be prepared.

Cancer Cases Rise, Treatment Stretches Months

“Chemotherapy typically involves four to eight cycles, with each cycle lasting days followed by two to three week recovery periods. Total treatment spans three to 12 months, depending on the type of cancer and stage,” says Siddharth Singhal, business head, health insurance, Policybazaar.com.

What we are clearly seeing in India is that cancer cases are rising steadily, and treatment journeys are getting longer. “Better screening means more people are being diagnosed early, which is positive, but it also means patients are staying in treatment for months or even years. Cancer today is less of a one-time hospital event and more of a long-term care journey,” says Sarita Joshi, head, health and life insurance, Probus.

Why Regular Health Insurance May Fall Short 

Relying solely on a regular health insurance plan for a long-term cancer journey is a risky gamble. Standard plans are designed for hospitalisation, but cancer has evolved into a marathon. “With modern treatments like immunotherapy and targeted therapy - often costing Rs 20-30 lakh annually, a basic sum insured can vanish in just one cycle,” says Joshi.

Furthermore, cancer involves massive 'hidden costs' like specialized home care and lost income that standard policies simply don't touch. 

If cancer is diagnosed after policy purchase, insurance companies issue full coverage to customers based on their health at the time of policy purchase. The standard health policies only provide coverage for the inpatient department (IPD) & the outpatient department (OPD) upto sum insured for customers. “There is no lump-sum amount provided to customers in case of cancer in standard health policies. Hence, it is advisable to opt for a higher sum insured along with a critical illness coverage to ensure comprehensive coverage,” says Singhal.

Why Cancer Specific Plans Are Crucial 

Unlike indemnity plans that reimburse actual bills, cancer-specific plans often provide a lump-sum amount upon diagnosis of a specific stage (early or major). “This flexibility allows patients to pay for non-hospitalisation expenses like specialised, costly, or experimental treatments. Some plans provide 20-30 per cent of the sum insured for early-stage cancer and 100 per cent for major-stage cancer,” says Singhal.

“Unlike regular insurance that only pays for hospital bills, this money is yours to use for anything - from experimental treatments not covered by standard policies to paying off your home loan while you take time off work,” says Joshi.