Healthy People

New: enhanced Heart and Cancer cover from AXA PPP healthcare

February 6, 2012 at 12:54 pm

Of all the concerns people have in life, it’s perhaps no surprise that cancer is one of the most serious. According to Cancer Research, the disease is the nation’s ‘number one fear’. In a survey carried out by the charity, cancer was found to be the thing people feared the most – above things like Alzheimer’s disease, debt, and old age.

Cancer Research point out that, despite the very real fears people have, things have improved – with long term survival having ‘doubled since the 70s’ thanks to ‘better diagnosis’ and ‘improved treatments’. As Cancer Research UK’s Director of Health Information Sara Hiom points out, “cancer is no longer the death sentence people still seem to dread”.

The statistics for heart disease also show continued improvement over the past few decades. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) – in the foreword to their publication Trends in Coronary Heart Disease, 1961-2011 – state that treatment for heart disease has ‘improved dramatically’ alongside decreased smoking levels and better diets, which have contributed to higher numbers of healthier hearts. The BHF’s statistics show that in 2009, 32% of UK deaths were due to cardiovascular disease, down from 50% in 1961, the year the BHF was established.

And although things have improved over the last few years, it still helps to know that support is available should it ever be needed – which is why our enhanced Heart and Cancer cover has been designed to give increased support to people at a difficult and uncertain time. An essential part of our new enhanced cover is to make sure the changing needs of heart and cancer patients are reflected in the level of cover and care provided, and with our Heart and Cancer Commitment we aim to provide one of the best levels of heart and cancer covers for our members.

The main enhancements to the heart and cancer cover we provide our members include the following:

Cancer treatment is covered at every stage, including if the disease spreads.

New cancer drugs are covered as soon as they’re licensed.

Palliative cancer care is covered.

Our cover now has no time limits for cancer drug treatments used within the terms of their license, and there are also no time limits on follow-up appointments for cancer and heart surgery treatments.

Our Dedicated Nurse Service is now available for members who have been diagnosed with a heart condition. All our members who are diagnosed with cancer already have access to this one-to-one support helpline. Providing help and guidance throughout treatment and recovery, our dedicated nurse service offers an important lifeline, with support just a phone call away.

For more information on our Heart and Cancer Commitment, please visit our heart and cancer information centres;

• Heart Centre
• Cancer Centre

You’re also welcome to leave any questions you may have in the comments section below.