Star Health Launches Platinum Range of Cancer Care

 Star Health Launches Platinum Range of Cancer Care
and Cardiac Care Policies to Provide Enhanced Cover

Ø  Cancer Care platinum offers to cover up to INR 10 lakhs sum insured for treatment of cancer-related and non-cancer-related ailments, and an optional lump sum benefit of up to 5 Lakhs for cancer recurrence.

Ø  Cardiac Care Platinum offers sum insured of up to INR 15 lakh for treatment of cardiac and non-cardiac ailments, and up to 200% of sum insured for Heart Transplant.

Star Health and Allied Insurance, announced the launch of two new variants of their speciality products – Star Cancer Care Platinum Insurance Policy and Star Cardiac Care Platinum Insurance Policy. These products are designed to address the needs of people who are diagnosed with cancer and cardiac conditions.

There are no premedical tests required to avail of these policies. However, the insured should submit the previous medical records of treatment undergone at the time of purchasing the policy. Policies are renewable lifelong and premiums can be paid quarterly, half-yearly and annually as well.

Cancer Care Platinum: A proposition of Health Insurance for Individuals diagnosed and surviving with cancer. Covers persons aged between 5 months and 65 years with a sum insured up to INR 10 lakhs.

Covers expenses incurred due to hospitalization for cancer and non-cancer-related ailments with applicable waiting periods. (Nil waiting period for accidents, 30 days for non-cancer treatment, 12 months for hospice care, 30 months for treatment of cancer and pre-existing diseases)

Lump-sum cover for cancer: 50% of sum insured as optional benefit if the insured person suffers a recurrence, metastasis, and/or a second malignancy unrelated to the first cancer after a waiting period of 30 months.

Cardiac Care-Platinum: A proposition of Health Insurance for individuals diagnosed with cardiac ailments. Cardiac Care - Platinum covers persons aged between 7 years and 70 years with a sum insured of up to INR 15 lakhs

Covers expense incurred due to hospitalization for cardiac and non cardiac conditions after 30 days of policy inception. (Nil waiting period for accidents, 24 months for named aliments and heart transplant and 48 months for other pre-existing diseases)

Dr S Prakash, Managing Director, Star Health and Allied Insurance said, “STAR HEALTH INSURANCE is providing this Insurance Cover for people diagnosed with heart disease and cancer.  As a doctor, I see most of the time people in India seeking health insurance cover after a major diagnosis like cancer / heart disease. Often they are not able to get cover for existing heart disease and cancer. Striving to change this and to include these deserving people as well under insurance cover, Star Health Insurance has introduced these products. These new policies are an endeavour to address a genuine and important need of our fellow citizens."

Key Features of Star Cancer Care Platinum Insurance Policy:

 ·         Sum insured available up to Rs. 10,00,000/- Customer can opt for sum insured of
Rs 5,00,000/-, Rs. 7,50,000/- or Rs. 10,00,000/-

·         Available for persons aged from 5 months to 65 years, diagnosed with Cancer.

·         Covers the - In-patient hospitalization, Day Care treatment, Road Ambulance, Pre & Post hospitalization expenses.

·         Lump-sum Cover for Cancer – if the insured person suffers a recurrence, metastasis, and/ or second malignancy unrelated to the first cancer, then the company will pay a lump sum amount. This benefit is in addition to the Indemnity sum insured.

·         A waiting period of 30 months is applicable for the treatments related to Cancer and for the Lump-sum benefit cover.

·         Hospice Care:: “Hospice care in Oncology is a care that focuses on the quality of life of patients (as well as their caregivers) who are experiencing advanced, life-limiting cancers

Payable up to 20% of sum insured at network providers on the indemnity basis, payable once in a lifetime. Available after a waiting period of 12 months from the policy inception

·         Additional benefits – Hospice care, E-Second medical opinion, Wellness services - Diet & Nutrition Programme, Weight management program, Specialist Consultation - Through Telehealth app. 

·         Renewal benefits:

- The insured will get a Cumulative bonus of 5% of the basic sum insured for each claim-free year up to a maximum of 50% of the basic sum insured.

             - Health Check-up - Insured can avail health check-ups after each claim-free year.

·         Premium: For a person aged 36 yrs for Rs. 10,00,000/- sum Insured, premium (excluding GST) is Rs. 23,605/-  

Key Features of Star Cardiac Care Insurance Policy – Platinum:

 ·         Sum insured is available up to Rs.15,00,000/- ; Customer can opt for sum insured of Rs.5,00,000, Rs. 7,50,000/-, Rs. 10,00,000/- or Rs.15,00,000/-

·         Available for persons from 7 years to 70 years who have been diagnosed with Cardiac disorders.

·         Waiting period for Cardiac disorders:  30 days.

·         Covers the - In-patient hospitalization, Day Care treatment, Road Ambulance, Pre & Post hospitalization expenses

·         Expenses for Heart Transplantation are covered up to 200% of the Sum Insured ( after 24 months waiting period)

·         Expenses related to Cardiac devices are covered up to 50% of the Sum Insured.

·         Additional benefits: E-Second medical opinion, Tele-health services, Wellness Services - Nutrition & Diet Consultation, Counselling (For Stress Management). 

·         Covers the Outpatient medical expenses from day one.

·         Automatic Restoration of Basic Sum Insured once by 100% upon exhaustion of the sum insured and no claim bonus during the policy period

·         Discount on Renewal Premium - Insured can avail 10% discount on the renewal premium, if he/she submits ECHO, Lipid Profile and HbA1c reports and are normal.

·         Renewal Benefits -

-  Health Check-up benefit on completion of each policy year

- Cumulative bonus of 10% of basic sum insured for each claim-free year up to a maximum of 100% of the basic sum insured.

·         Premium: For a person aged 50 yrs for Rs. 10,00,000/- sum Insured, premium (excluding GST) is Rs.31,035/-

Star Health Study reveals reduction in

 Star Health Study reveals reduction in mortality, ICU stay and treatment cost among vaccinated patients

 Ø  First of its kind study among COVID-19 patients done 42 days after introduction of vaccination drive in India to understand the benefits of the vaccination

Ø  Vaccination reduced ICU stay by 66% and mortality by 81%

Ø  Mean hospital expense was 24% less in vaccinated patients

A first of its kind retrospective cohort study on impact of vaccination among Covid-19 patients by Star Health and Allied Insurance, one of the leading standalone health Insurance company in India, unveiled the significant impacts of vaccination among individuals 45 years and above. The study concluded that there was a marked reduction in the total hospitalization expenses by approximately 24%, the average length of stay (ALOS) by a mean of 2.1 days, ICU requirement by 66% and a reduction of approximately 81% in mortality among patients who had completed two doses of vaccination.

 The study was conducted during the second wave (March & April 2021) and considered a sample size of 3,820 hospitalized patients from across India who were 45 years and above. The cohort study revealed that the average cost of hospitalization of the unvaccinated group was Rs.2.77 lakh while the vaccinated group recorded an average cost of Rs.2.1 lakh. The reduction is cost was due to factors like reduced need of ICU requirement and reduction in the length of hospital stay from an average of 7 days among unvaccinated to an average of 4.9 days for the vaccinated group.

 Speaking on the study, Dr. S Prakash, Managing Director, Star Health and Allied Insurance said, “The beginning of 2021 saw a breakthrough in vaccine discovery against COVID-19 making it the fastest vaccine discovery till date. Our aim was to measure and understand in exact terms the impact of Covid-19 vaccination in patients who contracted the illness 14 days after the second dose versus unvaccinated patients, thus making it a unique research in its own right.“

 In the wake of COVID-19, most of the studies conducted so far have reported an impact of vaccination among the common public while Star Health Insurance’s cohort study gives 

exclusivity to patients diagnosed with COVID-19. The main purpose of this study has not only been to understand the medical benefit but also financial implications.

 Dr. Madhumathi Ramakrishnan, Joint Vice President Star Health and Allied Insurance said, “Our study covered pan India data of the patients affected by COVID-19. The aim was to assess the medical and financial implications of vaccination. Our study concluded that, the ones who had taken the vaccination had a clear advantage over the non-vaccinated as we witnessed a significant difference in parameters like hospital stay, cost of treatment and death due to infection."

  The cohort study surveyed customers of Star Health and Allied Insurance Company who were admitted for Covid-19 treatment in 1,104 hospitals across the country and found that the ALOS, need for ICU and reduction in costs also holds true for patients with comorbidities as well. While the need for ICU for patients with comorbidities fell from a whopping 9.4% to 5% amongst those vaccinated, the treatment cost also reduced by nearly 15%.

 “However, the study also revealed that over 57% of patients among the unvaccinated group were hesitant to take the vaccine due to fear, ignorance or more worryingly, social factors and disinterest! There is an urgent need to address this and we hope that through this study we will be able to highlight the benefits of the vaccine, educate and motivate the public to get vaccinated soon,” added Dr. Prakash.

Conducted and concluded during the early stages of vaccination drive, the study noted that nearly 86% amongst those surveyed had not taken the vaccination and amongst these 43% did not have any valid reason for not taking the jab.

 Star Health believes that the only way to mitigate a third wave is to increase vaccination among the population, host active demystification programs and campaigns through community engagement to reach rural and urban population alike.