February 4 is World Cancer Day. The number of cancer patients in the world is increasing every year, and the need for service selection for treatment and health protection is also increasing. For example, it is important for the medical system to create methods to protect the population from critical diseases, as well as to make treatment in commercial medical institutions more accessible to the majority of Russians.
According to the latest public data of the Herzen Institute, more than 624 thousand cases of malignant neoplasms were detected in Russia in 2022. This corresponds to an increase of 7.6% compared to 2021. The paradox of the increasing incidence of oncology in Russia and the world is that the quality of medical care and diagnostics has increased significantly. Early-stage cancers began to be detected more frequently in Russia. This is a big plus because cancer in the first and second stages can often be cured.
In addition, people began to undergo more frequent health checks and examinations and spend more time on sports and their general health. Plus, life expectancy in the country is increasing, and subsequently statistics on critical diseases are increasing.
In five years in Russia, the number of oncology beds increased from 59.4 to 63.2 per 1 thousand cases. But the resources of any medical system, whether in Russia or abroad, are limited. The Ministry of Health also warned that the burden on the healthcare system will increase significantly.
The question arises: How can we ensure high-quality and timely treatment for cancer patients in the future, considering all socio-economic and demographic factors? This question arose quite a long time ago, so let’s turn to international experience. In the 1980s, many people who could not afford treatment were admitted to hospitals in South Africa. One of the surgeons, whose name was Marius Barnard, persuaded South African insurance companies to offer a new type of insurance in 1983. This is how critical illness insurance was invented. Now this product is successfully developing in different countries of the world. However, in Russia this type of insurance is still rarely used, and in principle insurance is used as a means of financial assistance in difficult situations.
For example, the penetration rate of life insurance in Russia is approximately 0.4% of GDP; In foreign countries, for example, the US, the penetration level of life insurance alone is estimated at 32% of GDP, while in India it is estimated at 4% of GDP. In Japan, 80% of the population has three or four insurance policies.
Although the critical illness insurance policy in Russia is quite affordable – the average annual price of such insurance is 10-15 thousand rubles, which can be paid in installments. Additionally, the price depends on the content of the program (availability of services, insurance limits, insurance exclusions, etc.). Typically, protection against the risk of critical illness is also included in life insurance programs such as endowment life insurance. This insurance covers not only the risks of cancer but also other critical diseases such as heart attack and stroke. Insurance coverage ensures that the person with the disease receives financial protection against unexpected expenses and also provides treatment and rehabilitation at the best clinics.
Today in Russia there are all the prerequisites for the development of the insurance industry, including insurance in such an important area as critical diseases. The problem is simply the lack of insurance literacy of the population. Moreover, Russians are afraid to buy such products, including out of superstition. Many people think that if they don’t talk about problems, they will never happen. However, in practice, these deep-rooted attitudes are refuted. Therefore, the strategic task of the entire insurance market is education, increasing the level of insurance literacy and information about insurance against serious diseases, which is an effective means of protecting yourself and your loved ones.
This approach will also have a positive impact on the healthcare system. The development of insurance will increase the detection of the disease, increase the number of people who can receive quality care in the early stages of the disease, and thus overcome the disease. In addition, if the demand for such products increases, insurers will also contribute to the development of modern medical centers for the treatment of patients there.
Thus, critical illness insurance can become an effective tool to provide quality medical care to cancer patients and further promote the development of medicine and healthcare system in the country.