Many exceptions, expensive

Consumer protection criticizes cancer insurance

For some years now, there have been more and more insurance policies against cancer. The Association for Consumer Information (VKI) has now analyzed these - with sobering results. Many have exclusions and are expensive, said Gabi Kreindl from the VKI.

Cancer is the second most common cause of death in Austria. Around 400,000 people are currently living with a diagnosis and, according to Austrian Cancer Aid, around 44,000 new cases are diagnosed every year. For some years now, corresponding insurance policies have also been on the rise.

However, not all types are insurable. The sums insured that can be agreed are between 10,000 and 100,000 euros. In the event of illness, the money is paid out, which can be used freely for additional treatment, counseling or psychological care, for example.

These policies usually end at the age of 70.

Verein für Konsumenteninformation (VKI)

Premiums depend on age
According to the VKI, premiums are not only based on the sum insured, but also on the age at the time the policy is taken out. The older the person is, the more expensive the premium. "Against this background, taking out cancer insurance makes less sense. This is because these insurance policies usually end at the age of 70," criticized the VKI. This is when both women and men are most likely to develop cancer, although breast cancer can occur much earlier.

"If, for example, breast, prostate, lung or bowel cancer are not insurable, then taking out insurance makes even less sense from a purely statistical point of view," the consumer advocates also warn. These types of cancer are the most common. According to the VKI, precancerous tumors are also usually excluded.

"Better alternatives"
 "Anyone who develops cancer in Austria is treated via the state health insurance system. Even supplementary insurance does not improve the quality or type of treatment," they point out. For consumer advocates, such insurance is "not absolutely necessary."

Better options are, for example, disability insurance or survival insurance, which can also cover other illnesses such as heart attacks and strokes. Anyone who wants to protect their family in the event of death can take out endowment insurance.