FWD Cancer 2.0 Insurance Review (2024): Fuss-free Plan That Pays Out At All Stages

High coverage, no-fuss application and early benefit payout makes this a great plan for those seeking cancer protection.

According to the 2020 Singapore Cancer Registry Annual Report, as many as 2 in 5 Singaporeans could develop cancer in their lifetimes. Hence, getting a protection plan specifically for cancer may be a prudent move, especially for those with a family history of the dreaded disease. 

The traditional concept of insurance has always been focused on protecting loved ones left behind from undue hardship. Take for example cancer, which is widely recognised as a critical illness by many insurers, with the underlying implication that survival rates are not encouraging. This explains why many cancer insurance plans only pay out when the disease is in an advanced stage. 

However, early detection and treatment has been shown to significantly increase survival rates, so being able to afford cancer treatment as early as possible is crucial. In other words, your cancer benefit should be 100% available when you need it most - at the beginning of your treatment. 

This is what the FWD Cancer Insurance plan promises, with 100% payout upon confirmed diagnosis of cancer, at any stage.

In March 2023, following a partnership with MiRXES, a leading RNA technology company, FWD Cancer 2.0 insurance has been launched. The new offering includes a free comprehensive health screening package called FWD-100 Cancer Screening. Apart from the top two cancers - colon cancer for men and breast cancer for women - The package also includes GASTROClear, the world’s first molecular blood test approved for use in early detection of gastric cancer.

Let’s take a more detailed look. 

Pros and cons of FWD Cancer 2.0 Insurance

Key features of FWD Cancer Insurance

#1: 100% benefit payout upon cancer diagnosis

The most useful feature of FWD Cancer 2.0 Insurance is that this plan pays out 100% of its benefit upon confirmed cancer diagnosis, even at early stages. This is crucial as early detection and treatment in cancer has been observed to improve survival rates.  

#2: Designed to focus on cancer care

As a cancer care plan with up to S$200,000 benefit, FWD Cancer 2.0 Insurance is designed for those who are particularly concerned about cancer. It may be treated as a standalone cancer plan or be included as part of a larger suite of critical illness protection. 

#3: No medical check-up required

FWD Cancer 2.0 Insurance plan does not require medical underwriting to qualify. Applicants need only make a simple health declaration to be included in this plan. This makes getting important cancer coverage a snap. 

Important exclusions to note

Like all medical insurance, FWD Cancer 2.0 Insurance comes with its own set of exclusions, although they’re nothing overly restrictive. 

We have highlighted some of the more noteworthy exclusions here. For a full list of exclusions, be sure to refer to the policy documents.

• Cancer benefits will not be paid out for conditions caused directly or indirectly by pre-existing conditions on or before the Policy Issue Date, defined as
  • Presence of signs or symptoms you were or should reasonably be aware of
  • Treatment or medication received from a medical practitioner for the condition, or
  • You have undergone medical tests or investigations

• Notifications of claims must be made within 6 months upon diagnosis or death; barring which benefits may only be paid out upon proof that earlier notification was not possible and/or all reasonable efforts to notify had been made. 
• A waiting period also applies. If you experience the first symptoms of cancer within 90 days from the date of endorsement or policy issuance date (whichever is later), the cancer benefit will not be paid out.

For whom is FWD Cancer 2.0 Insurance best for?

FWD Cancer 2.0 insurance’s main advantage is the ability to make a claim at any stage of cancer, even early stages. This makes the plan a good one to have for individuals who require their cancer benefit to be paid out as quickly as possible upon diagnosis. 

The criteria is that you have to be between 18 and 65 years old (both inclusive), a resident of Singapore holding an NRIC or FIN and have completed FWD's simple health declaration online.

This plan can also be treated as an add-on to other critical illness plans, boosting benefits specifically when cancer is the health challenge encountered. Thus, FWD Cancer Insurance is also suitable for individuals with existing coverage looking to boost their cancer protection. 

What we like is the flexibility to be covered up to age 65, 75 or 85 with a fixed premium, or the option to renew the policy every year up to a maximum age of 85, depending on individual needs.

Plan tiers, premiums and latest promotions

Below, we’ve summarised FWD Cancer 2.0 Insurance plan tiers for a quick and easy reference. The full details are available here.

This is a cancer care plan, made even more simple by its claim-at-any-stage nature. Hence, you only need to decide on two things: 1) the amount of cancer coverage you’d like to receive and 2) whether the premiums fit your budget.   

How much does FWD Cancer Insurance cost?

In terms of premiums, FWD Cancer Insurance is quite reasonable and could be one of the more affordable plans on the market.

For a 30-year-old male, non-smoker seeking cancer benefit of S$50,000 up to age 85, the expected premium is S$21.24 per month or S$275.27 per year (before discount and with 8% GST).

For a female with a similar profile and protection level, the expected premium is S$28.12 monthly, or S$364.43.08 per year (before discount and with 8% GST).

To estimate yearly premiums for your own needs, head on over to FWD’s handy online premium estimator. 

What promotions are there for FWD Cancer Insurance?

If you’re going to sign up for a plan, don’t miss the following promotions. Do note that relevant terms and conditions will apply.

How to claim

Should you need to make a claim under your policy, you may do so at FWD’s personal claims page. Follow the online instructions to sign in and submit your claim.

If you need further explanation, you may refer to the step-by-step guides included on that page. 

Alternatively, you may contact FWD via:

• Email: contact.sg@fwd.com
• Hotline: +65 6820 8888

FWD Big 3 Critical Illness Review

This policy from FWD is called the Big 3, and it refers to the three most common illnesses which make up 90% of all Critical Illness (CI) claims.

But what are the three big critical illnesses?

The three illnesses are cancer, heart attack (of specified severity), and stroke (with permanent neurological deficit).

This Critical Illness insurance plan costs you only one-third the price of a regular CI plan, and its monthly premium can go as low as S$16.75 (with 8% GST).

No medical examination is necessary to get the FWD Big 3 Critical Illness plan. All you have to do is answer a simple health declaration. 

After a one-year coverage, you’ll also be able to renew your policy (guaranteed) up to the age of 85. To top it off, FWD also provides coverage for COVID-19 vaccine side-effects (a S$5,000 lump sum benefit), and an optional cover for 24 additional heart and neurological conditions.

As with FWD Cancer Insurance, the Big 3 benefit will not pay for claims that are directly or indirectly resulting from a pre-existing condition, with the same stipulations mentioned earlier.