* Early-stage treatment costs ₹5–7 lakh; complex cancer care can go up to ₹30 lakh
* Claims trends indicate need for ₹15-25 lakh Health Insurance cover
On World Cancer Awareness Day, Care Health Insurance highlights the growing financial strain in cancer care across India. Its claims data reveal that cancer treatment is prolonged and costs a significant amount that can push patients and families.
Commenting on the emerging trends, Manish Dodeja, Chief Operating Officer, Care Health Insurance, said, “Cancer treatment is not only medically complex but also involves prolonged and multi-stage care pathways, often extending over several months.”
The findings show that cancer treatment journeys are long and multi-phased, often extending over several months. Patients typically file multiple claims across different stages of care. While chemotherapy and radiotherapy are largely covered as day-care procedures, hospitalisation requirements vary based on treatment complexity, with lengths of stay ranging from three days to as long as twenty days.
The analysis also indicates that financial exposure may differ for different cancer types. Claims related to breast cancer, oral cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer and blood cancers, along with advanced pancreatic and liver cancers and among others consistently record varying claim values and have incidences of coverage limit breaches where the Sum Insured was low, resulting in increased out-of-pocket expenses.
Based on observed claims experience, health coverage adequacy is emerging as a critical gap, with the analysis indicating that a minimum sum insured of ₹15-25 lakh is increasingly required to adequately cover comprehensive cancer treatment, particularly in cases involving advanced-stage disease or prolonged care pathways.
Moreover, having comprehensive coverage plays a key role in reducing financial stress during cancer treatment. Higher sum insured, no-claim bonus benefits, absence of sub-limits, access to a comprehensive, cashless healthcare provider network, and critical illness specific covers significantly help in lowering out-of-pocket expenses and supporting continuity of care.
Manish further added, “This sustained and multi-stage care often translates into prolonged financial pressure for patients and their families. As treatment approaches evolve, and become more accessible over time, it is important for consumers to periodically reassess their Health Insurance coverage to ensure it provides adequate financial security through the course of care.
About Care Health Insurance
Care Health Insurance is a specialized health insurer offering products in the retail segment for Health Insurance, Top-up Coverage, Personal Accident, Maternity, International Travel Insurance and Critical Illness along with Group Health Insurance and Group Personal Accident Insurance for Corporates, Micro Insurance Products for the Rural Market and a Comprehensive Set of Wellness Services. With its operating philosophy being based on the principal tenet of ‘consumer-centricity’, the company has consistently invested in the effective application of technology to deliver excellence in customer servicing, product innovation and value-for-money services.
Apart from numerous awards since inception, in December 2025, Care Health Insurance (CHI) was conferred ‘Smart Insurer’ and ‘Sales Champion’ awards in the Health Insurance category at the ET Now Insurance Summit & Awards 2025; in March 2025, was awarded ‘Best Claim Settlement Company of the Year’ at the 9th Annual India Insurance Summit & Awards 2025 and in December 2024 CHI was accorded the ‘Overall Achievement Award’ (SAHI category) at the ASSOCHAM 16th Global Insurance Summit & Awards.
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