Private health insurers are failing to cover vital cancer treatment

Aug 25 2004

Private health insurers are failing to cover vital cancer treatment, says cancer information charity CancerBACUP.

According to a report released by the charity, most PMI policies do not cover cancer patients throughout the course of their illness. This means that funding for vital cancer treatment is being suddenly withdrawn, often at a critical time, when patients are at their most vulnerable.

Fourteen PMI insurers were surveyed by CancerBACUP. Of the eight who responded, which included all the UK’s largest insurers and covered more than two thirds of the PMI market, the charity found that only BUPA covers cancer patients throughout the course of their illness.

In a separate mystery shopping exercise, CancerBACUP discovered PMI sales staff are providing misleading information to consumers buying policies over the phone. Sales staff of three of the eight insurers reassured callers that their policies would pay out for any type of treatment, when in practice they do not. In other cases, sales staff from the same company gave out contradictory information.

Survey results contained in the report show that the majority of private health insurers are unclear about if and when cover will be withdrawn. Many use the phrase 'active treatment' to explain the extent of their cancer coverage, but the phrase is neither defined by them nor easily understood by consumers, leading to inconsistencies in cover.

"At present most insurers are able to be vague about the level of cover they provide and can decide whether or not to fund cancer treatments on a case by case basis", says Joanne Rule, Chief Executive for CancerBACUP. "This cannot be allowed to continue."

"The patients we speak to are shocked and distressed to discover that their private insurance company is refusing to pay for cancer treatment at a time when they are most vulnerable. We believe that insurance companies should fund cancer treatments which are given to slow progression of the cancer, when a cure is not possible. At the very least, they should make it crystal clear what they cover and what they do not so people can make an informed decision when purchasing private medical insurance."

http://www.cancerbacup.org.uk