Best Integrated Shield Plan Riders and Supplementary Coverage for Cancer Protection

Various IP riders have been recently launched to offer higher coverage for cancer treatments. Here are what the top five IP riders offer, and what you should consider before getting one

Cancer remains the top health concern in Singapore. According to the Singapore Cancer Society, an average of 44 people were diagnosed with cancer every day between 2016 and 2020. Furthermore, it is estimated that 1 in 4 Singaporeans would develop the disease in their lifetime.

Given these dire stats, we should all strive to adopt healthier lifestyles and go for regular health screenings. Additionally, getting adequate insurance coverage for cancer is worth considering.

This is especially so with the recent changes that limit cancer benefits provided by MediShield IPs, a move that prompted private insurers to launch cancer-focused IP riders to boost coverage.

In this article, we’ll be delving into these IP riders to evaluate their key characteristics and hopefully give you a starting point in purchasing your own.

Bear in mind that when choosing insurance plans, your individual needs trump all else. If you’re not sure what to prioritise, do consult a licensed financial adviser to help you choose the most appropriate cancer care plan for you.

MediShield IP riders for cancer care

Great Eastern GREAT TotalCare – Overall best IP rider for cancer

GREAT TotalCare, by Great Eastern, provides up to S$250,000 per year for cancer treatments utilising drugs that are excluded from the CDL.

It also provides up to 18x of the MediShield Life limit (MSHL), and “as charged” coverage for cancer drug services.

You may notice that GREAT TotalCare doesn’t have the highest limits on the list. For example, AIA’s rider provides a higher limit of 21x MSHL for CDL claims.

However, when taken in its entirety, this IP rider provides the highest total benefits, which means that policyholders would have the most manoeuvrability no matter if their treatments are on the Cancer Drug List (CDL) or not.

For this reason, we’ve named GREAT TotalCare as the overall best IP rider for cancer.

AIA Cancer Care Booster – Highest claims limits for CDL cancer treatments

AIA’s IP rider is named Cancer Care Booster, and offers the highest claims limits for cancer drugs included in the Ministry of Health’s Cancer Drug List (CDL).

With this IP rider, you can claim up to 21x the Medishield life limit (MSHL) for your cancer drug treatments. Cancer drug services, meanwhile, have a lower – but still generous – limit of 15x MSHL.

For treatments not on the CDL, policyholders can claim up to S$200,000 per year.

Prudential PRUExtra

Next on our list is Prudential’s PRUExtra, which makes up the middle of the pack with 15x MSHL for cancer treatments and services using drugs on the CDL.

For non-CDL treatments, policyholders will be covered for up to S$150,000 per year.

HSBC Enhanced Care Plan – Highest claims limit for non-CDL treatments

The HSBC Enhanced Care Plan, the rider for the bank’s HSBC Life Shield IP, stands out for having the highest claims limit for cancer treatments with drugs not covered in the CDL.

Policyholders can claim up to S$30,000 per month for their treatments, which is significantly higher than its peers.

However, for CDL cancer drug treatments, the rider only offers up to 10x MSHL; for cancer drug services, the coverage is even lower at 5x MSHL.

Income Deluxe Care Rider

Another IP rider worth considering is Deluxe Care Rider, which is available to those holding Income’s Enhanced IncomeShield.

This rider provides up to 10x MSHL for CDL cancer drug treatments as well as for cancer services. As for non-CDL treatments, policyholders will be covered for up to S$15,000 per month.

Are IP riders necessary for every Singaporean?

With all the buzz surrounding the CDL and its potential impact on patients, you may think the new IP riders are a necessary purchase for everyone.

But before you go rushing out to get one, take a moment to consider the bigger picture. Firstly, let’s not forget that your MediShield IP alone already offers some basic coverage for CDL cancer drugs – from 2x MSHL to 5x MSHL – depending on which IP you have.

Secondly, if you already have a standalone cancer care plan, your cancer coverage may already be sufficient. Beyond a certain point, adding more coverage would only give you diminishing returns.

And if you don’t have a cancer plan, it might be worth your while to check them out. Besides providing financial protection, cancer plans can offer useful features such as early-stage payout or multi-pay benefits. Meanwhile, your IP riders only come into play when paying for treatment costs.

It could well turn out that a cancer care plan proves to be a more value-for-money option, especially given the wider flexibility offered by such plans’ lump-sum payout.

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