Cancer is one of the most dreaded and misunderstood medical conditions. Unfortunately, breast cancer has become much more prevalent than it was before. According to the Union of International Cancer Control (UIIC),
female breast cancer has become the most commonly diagnosed cancer across the world. Even in India, it is reporting a rapid rise among women of all ages. One thing that is certain about cancer is the amount of havoc it can play in the life, finances, and the lifestyle of those who go through it, which makes it imperative for everyone to start thinking of taking a health cover as soon as possible.
There are different treatment options for breast cancer including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy.
Types and Cost of surgery in India
If you want to know how much does a breast cancer surgery cost, you need to remember that surgeries to remove breast cancer are of different types. Some common surgeries include sentinel node biopsy, mastectomy, axillary lymph node dissection, contralateral prophylactic mastectomy, and lumpectomy. The average cost of treatment will range between Rs 5-6 lakhs which includes investigation, surgery and radiotherapy. In the case of targeted therapy, there will be an average of six cycles of chemotherapy that can cost around Rs 20 lakh. The breast cancer surgery cost will vary based on the age and condition of the patient. The cost of a radical mastectomy can be as high as Rs 3.5 lakh. If not planned well, the surgery could drain your finances.
Other factors impacting surgery cost
There are other factors which affect breast cancer surgery cost in India. These include:
The type of hospital you choose,The fee to the group of physicians,ICU, Room rates,Type of surgery,Medicines,Chemotherapy periods demanded,Diagnostic process and regular evaluation,If radiotherapy is required.
How does health insurance help?
A
health insurance plans can make a huge difference to your finances in case of a critical illness. The plan covers the cost of medication and hospitalization. Many insurance companies in the market cover cancer but they only provide inpatient hospitalization. These
health insurance plans will not provide for the entire cost of treatment. The impact of cancer is much more than physical. It can put you in a pile of debt and if the patient is the breadwinner of the family, there could be several financial difficulties. This is where a
critical illness cover makes all the difference. It is a special plan that covers critical illnesses and it provides a lump sum amount at the time of diagnosis so that the cost of medication is covered. It comes with a bigger coverage and helps pay for the expensive treatment. Additionally, daycare health insurance covers the treatment which requires hospitalization for less than 24 hours. It includes procedures like chemotherapy, radiation, dialysis and more. You must ensure that your health insurance has a daycare cover as it does not require hospitalization to make the claim. The right medical insurance
policy will make it possible to afford the best treatment and ensure a better recovery.
FAQs
1. How should I choose a health insurance plan?
There are some things you need to keep in mind when buying a health insurance plan. It includes the members to be covered, type of coverage, the sum insured, sub-limits, network hospital list, cashless facility and inclusions and exclusions of the policy.
2. Can I have more than one insurance policy?
Yes, it is possible to have more than one policy.
3. Will the cost of treatment be covered in the policy if the hospitalization was for less than 24 hours?
Yes, known as daycare health insurance, it will cover the cost of treatment and 24-hour hospitalization is not a requirement. The claim procedure is the same as well.
