In a News24 article from 2012, a study published by medical journal Lancet predicted that “South Africa could see an increase of 78% in the number of annual cancer cases by 2030. From a global perspective, a 75% increase is expected, increasing the total incidence of all new cancer-cases from 12.7 million in 2008 to 22.2 million by 2030.” This statistic was confirmed in a recent 2022-article in InDepthNews, and closed off with a statement by Medical Brief, an academic e-newsletter published in Cape Town: “cancer’s high mortality rate shows no signs of abating. On the contrary, it now surpasses other highly prevalent local non-communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/Aids, and malaria”.
Discovery confirmed in a 2020-article in Business Tech, that according to their 2020 DHMS Oncology Claims Tracker:
- From 2011 to 2018, there was a 24% increase in new cancer diagnoses;
- Among members older than 65 years, cancer prevalence has increased significantly since 2011 – In 2018, 8.3% of all members between the ages of 65 and 80 were treated for cancer. This age group also experienced the highest incidence in 2018.
- Rates of new cancer diagnosis are 17% higher in men than women.
- Women aged 36 to 55 have higher rates of new cancer diagnoses than men in that age group.
- From age 56 on, men have a significantly higher rate of new cancer diagnoses than women.
A new study in August 2022 by actuaries and public health experts from the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) predicted that there will be 121 000 incidences of cancer by 2030, compared to 62 000 in 2019; as a “result of increases in the age-specific incidence rate of cancer, as well as the growth and ageing of the population”.
The propensity is unfortunately not limited to South Africa. In an recent article in the Telegraph (UK) on the true impact of Covid on cancer patients, it is reported that experts are concerned that, as new figures show that hundreds more people than expected are dying each month in England from the disease, the cost of the pandemic for cancer sufferers is starting to emerge. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS),
- deaths involving heart complaints or diabetes have been on the rise since spring, but it is only in recent weeks that the number of patients dying from cancer have been above the five-year norm.
- latest figures have shown that 38,000 fewer patients received a cancer diagnosis in England during 2020 – a 12% drop from the previous year.
- analysis suggests that at least 22,000 fewer patients have undergone cancer treatment than would have been expected since the start of the pandemic.
- it is a well-known fact that early detection is key to enabling effective treatment and a better chance of recovering from cancer (https://cansa.org.za/screening-services/). However, it has been recorded that several patients delayed screening for a variety of reasons during lockdown. For some, this may unfortunately have led to a more advanced stage of cancer developing, with the associated complications.
Although this is a very stark reality, not all cancers kill. According to Cansa,
- some cancers have survival rates of more than 90% and
- early stage cancer also does not kill which makes early diagnosis is vitally important – it is during early stage cancer that treatment is likely to work best.
Severe Illness insurance can provide the financial support necessary to ensure employees get the early or advanced treatments they need. Even if a medical aid covers all their medical expenses, there are often many unforeseen and therefore unexpected costs for employees diagnosed with severe illnesses, which include:
- Travelling expenses to medical treatment centres;
- Funding alternative and/or advanced medical treatments;
- Private nursing not covered by their medical schemes;
- Employing additional help to assist with taking care of children and home duties, while the employee is dealing with their illness;
- An unplanned reduction in income if the employee decides to delay returning to work in favour of a speedier recovery; or
- The financial setback resulting from an employee working reduced hours after an illness (e.g. heart attack), in an attempt to better manage stress.
In order to assist out-of-pocket medical costs and unforeseen non-medical expenses, a lump sum benefit is paid to an employee on diagnosis of one of a defined list of serious conditions or on undergoing one of a defined list of surgical procedures.
Sanlam’s Severe Illness insurance offering is tailored not only to offer comprehensive insurance against the most prevalent diseases, but also
- to be more cost effective, because pay-outs are based on the actual impact the illness has on the employee’s health and finances (including early treatment); as well as
- to allow the employee the ability to claim multiple times up to 100% of the insured cover amount for related and/or bundled claim events, or unlimited times if you suffer multiple claim events that are medically unrelated.
Click here to read more on Sanlam Group Risk’s Severe Illness insurance: Impact Range.