Star Health
Cancer Care Platinum
Star’s Cancer Care Platinum is one of the very few health insurance policies available in the industry that have been crafted to cater to cancer patients. Now, the policy has a few downsides, including a mandatory copayment for those who are 61 years or above (during purchase and/or during renewal), no restoration benefits, a very low No-Claim Bonus (5% up to 50%), and disease-wise sub-limits on both modern treatments and cataracts. And yet, this plan is widely popular considering its niche target pool of potential policyholders and a lack of comprehensive policies for cancer patients across the market. On the other hand, Star Health could do with an upgrade across its overall operational performance.
What's good here?
Short waiting period for Pre Existing Diseases
If you’re already dealing with diabetes, cardiovascular problems or any such illnesses, the insurer will cover all costs arising out of these pre-existing problems after just 2.5 years. It’s probably the best deal you can get to be honest.
If you’re already dealing with diabetes, cardiovascular problems or any such illnesses, the insurer will cover all costs arising out of these pre-existing problems after just 2.5 years. It’s probably the best deal you can get to be honest.
Day Care treatments covered
If you’re hospitalized for less than 24 hours in lieu of a minor procedure, then the insurer will cover these costs too. Think dialysis, chemotherapy or minor surgeries.
Covers Alternative Medicine
Think of getting Ayurvedic, Homeopathic or other alternative treatments to cure an illness? Your insurer will cover you fully, up to the sum insured.
Free Health Checkups every year
If you’re planning on getting a full body checkup every year just to make sure you’re in fine working condition, the insurer will cover the costs.
What's bad here?
Has disease wise sub-limits
Your insurance cover won’t be fully available in case you are treated for Cataracts, Modern treatments, Hospice Care and a few other diseases. Meaning the insurance company has a cap on the total amount they’ll pay out if you are treated for these specific illnesses.
No coverage if you are forced to hospitalize at home
The insurer will not cover the costs if you are forced to hospitalize at home due to a medical condition. In insurance lingo, they call this a policy with no domiciliary cover.
What's okay here?
You most likely don't have to split the bill
If you bought this policy, you have to pay 10% of the bill every time you make a claim after you turn 61 or above. Otherwise, you are good to go. The insurer will pay all costs up to the sum insured.
If you bought this policy, you have to pay 10% of the bill every time you make a claim after you turn 61 or above. Otherwise, you are good to go. The insurer will pay all costs up to the sum insured.
You can pick a Single Private room but nothing fancy
You can share a room or you could have a single room for yourself. But if you are looking for anything slightly fancy, be ready to foot a part of the bill.
Underwhelming bonus feature
Your sum insured increases by 5% each year, so long as you make no claims during this period. But before you get too ahead of yourself, do note that they’ll stop offering you the bonus when your sum insured increases by 50%. And while this is a decent deal, most insurance companies offer a much higher bonus. But hey, it's still a bonus.
Pre & Post hospitalization expenses covered up to a certain limit
No worries if the doctor had to run a host of diagnostic tests before or after hospitalizing you. The insurer has your back. They will cover this amount upto 2% of sum insured for about 30 days before you are hospitalized and 60 days after discharge. This includes the cost of medication by the way.
What's lacking here?
No Restoration Benefit
Some policies will tell you - Even after you claim part of the cover on one occasion, you will have the full cover restored, if you are hospitalized another time during the same year. So if you have a family cover and multiple members of the family are hospitalized in the same year, this feature will come in handy. Unfortunately, this policy offers no such benefit.
Some policies will tell you - Even after you claim part of the cover on one occasion, you will have the full cover restored, if you are hospitalized another time during the same year. So if you have a family cover and multiple members of the family are hospitalized in the same year, this feature will come in handy. Unfortunately, this policy offers no such benefit.
Add-on
Lump Sum Cover for Cancer
With this add-on, a Lump sum amount is provided for the recurrence of cancer, metastasis, and/or a second malignancy unrelated to the first cancer. This benefit is provided in addition to the base Sum Insured. The Sum Insured offered under this add-on is 50% of the base Sum Insured.
Frequently Asked Questions
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