A Shopper's Guide to Cancer Insurance

Should You Buy Cancer Insurance?

Cancer Insurance is Not a Substitute for Comprehensive Coverage.

Caution: Limitations on Cancer Insurance.

Prepared by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners

Ref: Section Ins 3.47 Appendix 1 (http://www.legis.state.wi.us/rsb/code/ins/ins003.pdf [opens in new window])


Cancer insurance provides benefits only if you get cancer. No policy will cover you for cancer diagnosed before you applied for the policy. Examples of other specified disease policies are heart attack or stroke policies. The information in this booklet applies to cancer insurance, but could very well apply to other specified disease policies.


Cancer treatment accounts for about 10% of U.S. health expenses. In fact, no single disease accounts for more than a small proportion of the American public's health care bill. This is why it is essential to have insurance coverage for all conditions, not just cancer.

If you and your family are not protected against catastrophic medical costs, you should consider a major medical policy. These policies pay a large percentage of your covered costs after a deductible is paid either by you or your basic insurance. They often have very high maximums, such as $100,000 to $1,000,000. Major medical policies will cover you for any accident or sickness, including cancer. They cost more than cancer policies because they cover more, but they are generally considered a better buy.


If you are considering cancer insurance, ask yourself three questions: Is my current coverage adequate for these costs? How much will the treatment cost if I do get cancer? How likely am I to contract the disease?

If you have Medicare and want more insurance, a comprehensive Medicare supplement policy is what you need.

Low-income people who are Medicaid recipients don't need any more insurance. If you think you might qualify, contact your local social service agency.

Duplicate Coverage is Expensive and Unnecessary. Buy basic coverage first such as a major medical policy. Make sure any cancer policy will meet needs not met by your basic insurance. You cannot assume that double coverage will result in double benefits. Many cancer policies advertise that they will pay benefits no matter what your other insurance pays. However, your basic policy may contain a coordination of benefits clause. That means it will not pay duplicate benefits. To find out if you can get benefits from both policies, check your regular insurance as well as the cancer policy.

Some Cancer Expenses May not be Covered Even by a Cancer Policy. Medical costs of cancer treatment vary. On the average, hospitalization accounts for 78% of such costs and physician services make up 13%. The remainder goes for other professional services, drugs, and nursing home care. Cancer patients often face large nonmedical expenses which are not usually covered by cancer insurance. Examples are home care, transportation, and rehabilitation costs.

Don't be Misled by Emotions. While three in ten Americans will get cancer over a lifetime, seven in ten will not. In any one year, only one American in 250 will get cancer. The odds are against your receiving any benefits from a cancer policy. Be sure you know what conditions must be met before the policy will start to pay your bills.


Cancer policies sold today vary widely in cost and coverage. If you decide to purchase a cancer policy, contact different companies and agents, and compare the policies before you buy.

Here are some common limitations:

Some policies pay only for hospital care. Today cancer care treatment, including radiation, chemotherapy, and some surgery, is often given on an outpatient basis. Because the average stay in the hospital for a cancer patient is only 13 days, a policy which pays only when you are hospitalized has limited value.

Many policies promise to increase benefits after a patient has been in the hospital for 90 consecutive days. However, since the average stay in a hospital for a cancer patient is 13 days, large dollar amounts for extended benefits have very little value for most patients.

Many cancer insurance policies have fixed dollar limits. For example, a policy might pay only up to $1,500 for surgery costs or $1,000 for radiation therapy, or it may have fixed payments such as $50 or $100 for each day in the hospital. Others limit total benefits to a fixed amount such as $5,000 or $10,000.

No policy will cover cancer diagnosed before you applied for the policy. Some policies will deny coverage if you are later found to have had cancer at the time of purchase, even if you did not know it.




If you are considering a cancer policy, the company or agent should answer your questions. If you do not get the information you want, discuss the matter with the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, P.O. Box 7873, Madison, WI 53707-7873, (608) 266-0103 or toll-free 1-800-236-8517.

For information on how to file insurance complaints:

(608) 266-0103 (In Madison) or
1-800-236-8517 (Statewide)

Mailing Address
Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
P. O. Box 7873
Madison, WI 53707-7873

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