Recently, many friends have asked: ‘Is there any insurance that can be purchased and claimed after being diagnosed with cancer?’
Those familiar with health declarations understand how insurers avoid severe pre-existing conditions. Especially for critical illnesses like cancer, many products simply cannot be purchased, and even fewer allow claims. However, where there’s a will, there’s a way. Beyond the well-known medical insurance, we have identified two types of insurance that can be purchased and claimed, hoping to assist those in need. 1. Medical Insurance Without Pre-Existing Condition Exclusions and Hidden Benefits No health declaration, no exclusions for pre-existing conditions, coverage for medical expenses within the social security catalog, and various cost-reduction measures… It’s fair to say that medical insurance offers hope to countless patients with severe illnesses and their families. For high medical expenses, the insurance automatically triggers a critical illness mechanism. This mechanism is quite user-friendly. For example, if treatment costs 100,000 yuan, with 90,000 yuan covered by insurance and 60,000 yuan reimbursed, the remaining 30,000 yuan exceeding the local critical illness insurance threshold of 12,000 yuan can be further reimbursed. Additionally, many regions offer hidden benefits, such as special outpatient treatments for specific conditions. Common critical or chronic illnesses like malignant tumors, hemophilia, coronary heart disease, and diabetes can qualify for higher reimbursement rates after application. Honestly, if most treatments fall within the social security scope, medical insurance can cover a significant portion of costs for illnesses like cancer, often reimbursing over half. However, many inquire about insurance options post-cancer diagnosis to supplement medical insurance reimbursements. Below, we introduce such options. 2. These Valuable ‘Huimin Bao’ Plans Cover All Pre-Existing Conditions Next, let’s examine the lenient ‘Huimin Bao’ plans. After reviewing 21 city-specific Huimin Bao plans in Guangdong, we found 8 products friendly to pre-existing conditions, requiring no health declarations and covering all pre-existing conditions, including cancer. A friend’s father was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer in late 2023, with no coverage beyond medical insurance. They sought our help for solutions. Fortunately, the local Shantou Huimin Bao was open for enrollment in November, covering severe pre-existing conditions. They secured coverage with a 96-yuan premium. The father underwent over ten chemotherapy sessions in the first half of the year, paying around 4,000-5,000 yuan out-of-pocket after insurance, below the deductible. By the second half, accumulated expenses met the deductible, enabling additional reimbursements of 1,000-2,000 yuan per hospitalization, significantly easing financial pressure.△ Claims records of Shantou Huimin Insurance
However, it is important to note that many Huimin Insurance policies do not cover pre-existing conditions or may reduce the reimbursement ratio for such conditions. Specific terms vary by product. If you are unsure whether your local Huimin Insurance covers pre-existing conditions, follow these three steps to quickly check: Step 1: Search for the keyword “pre-existing conditions” in the official Huimin Insurance public account for your region. Step 2: Prioritize articles with more recent publication dates. Step 3: Search for “pre-existing conditions” within the article to find relevant answers. Additionally, many Huimin Insurance public accounts offer online customer service and consultation hotlines for further inquiries. 3. Commercial Medical Insurance Options That Cover Severe Pre-existing Conditions and Offer Tax Benefits Finding Huimin Insurance that covers all pre-existing conditions is rare, and commercial medical insurance with such coverage is even scarcer. However, we have identified two products that provide this critical support. These products share three key features: coverage for all severe pre-existing conditions, reimbursement limited to expenses within the medical insurance directory, and a reimbursement ratio of 35%~40% with an annual limit of ¥50,000. While the reimbursement ratio is modest, these products offer valuable coverage for high-risk individuals, alleviating some of the financial burden of major medical expenses. They serve as a commendable supplement to Huimin Insurance. Between the two options, “Blue Medical Hospitalization Insurance (Care Edition)” may be more suitable for a broader audience due to its lower claims threshold, affordable premiums, and comprehensive coverage. For instance, its deductible for社保内 expenses is ¥10,000, significantly lower than the ¥20,000 deductible of “Renren Insurance.” A patient hospitalized for a month with ¥10,000 in社保内 out-of-pocket expenses could file a claim immediately with Blue Medical, whereas Renren Insurance’s Plan 3 would require additional waiting time. Premiums for Blue Medical are also more affordable, with a first-year cost of approximately ¥1,400 for a 60-year-old, comparable to typical million-yuan medical insurance. In contrast, Renren Insurance premiums are over twice as expensive, nearing ¥4,000 for the same age group. However, Renren Insurance offers a 5% higher reimbursement ratio, coverage for private hospitals, and additional value-added services like medical green channels, justifying its higher cost. Both products qualify as tax-advantaged health insurance, indirectly reducing premium pressure through tax deductions. For example, a policyholder with a 20% income tax rate effectively receives a 20% discount, subject to an annual tax deduction cap of ¥2,400. Note that the three insurance types mentioned above can be used together for reimbursement, but a strategic approach is required.4. How Much Can Be Reimbursed with Medical Insurance, Hui Min Bao, and Commercial Medical Insurance?
For high medical expenses, it is recommended to first claim reimbursement through medical insurance, then use local Hui Min Bao, and finally utilize commercial insurance for settlement. Here is a simplified example for better understanding: Mr. Wang, a 50-year-old taxpayer from Foshan, only had basic resident medical insurance before being diagnosed with cancer. After diagnosis, he purchased local Hui Min Bao and Blue Medical Insurance Hospitalization Care Edition. Assuming he is hospitalized again after the waiting period, with total expenses of 250,000 RMB (200,000 RMB covered by medical insurance and 50,000 RMB not covered), medical insurance reimburses 150,000 RMB. The two additional insurance policies he purchased for 1,200 RMB reimburse an extra 51,000 RMB, effectively alleviating his financial burden. Typically, Hui Min Bao reimbursements can offset the deductible of commercial medical insurance, but the reverse is usually not possible. If commercial insurance is claimed before Hui Min Bao, the total reimbursement from both policies would only be around 45,000 RMB, approximately 6,000 RMB less than the original plan. This hypothetical example is extreme and involves limited product choices. In reality, product selection depends heavily on individual health conditions. Patients with serious illnesses are advised to exercise caution when purchasing insurance to avoid unnecessary expenses. 5. Final Notes Even with medical insurance, a major illness can still incur significant out-of-pocket costs. Fortunately, those with severe pre-existing conditions still have some “remedial opportunities.” However, due to waiting periods, reimbursement scopes, and ratios, such remedies often leave us with the consolation that having an additional reimbursement channel is better than none. It is highly recommended to purchase insurance while in good health, as this offers more product options, better cost-effectiveness, and superior coverage.
