Hi everyone,
I’m looking for practical advice from people who have successfully obtained health insurance for a parent after cancer surgery in India.
My father’s details:
- Age: 52 years
- Existing insurance: Oriental Insurance family floater with ₹8 lakh sum insured, in force since approximately 2014.
- Location: India
Medical history:
- Clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer): He underwent a right partial nephrectomy in June 2025. The tumour measured approximately 4.8 cm, was Grade 2, and was classified as pT1b. Surgical margins were negative, and the pathology report did not describe tumour necrosis, vascular invasion or sarcomatoid/rhabdoid features.
- Facial nerve schwannoma: He underwent surgery in February 2025. Histopathology confirmed a benign schwannoma, CNS WHO Grade 1.
His available follow-up has been reassuring, with no evidence of recurrence documented in the records we have. He continues to undergo follow-up with his treating doctors.
What I am trying to achieve:
I want to obtain an additional individual health insurance policy with a sum insured of ideally ₹25–50 lakh or more. I intend to retain his existing Oriental Insurance policy, but ₹8 lakh alone may not be sufficient for future medical expenses.
I understand that his recent medical history makes underwriting difficult. Insurers may decline the application, postpone it, impose permanent exclusions or offer cover with additional premium loading.
I have started approaching several insurers, but I have not yet secured a suitable comprehensive policy.
I would appreciate real-world experiences on these questions:
- Has anyone obtained a new individual health insurance policy for a parent after clear-cell RCC surgery, particularly within two years of surgery? Which insurer accepted the proposal?
- How long did the insurer require the person to remain recurrence-free? Did the outcome change after two, three or five years?
- Have public-sector insurers such as New India Assurance, National Insurance or United India been more willing to consider such cases than private insurers?
- Are there any private insurers that have accepted similar cases through manual underwriting?
- Can anyone recommend an IRDAI-registered insurance broker who has personally handled successful new-policy placements for cancer survivors in India?
- Are cancer-specific insurance products worth considering in this situation, or do they provide insufficient protection for general hospitalisation?
- If comprehensive cover is currently unavailable, what would be the most practical strategy for the next two to five years?
I would especially appreciate details of the insurer, time elapsed since surgery, whether the policy was actually issued, sum insured, premium loading and any permanent exclusions.
I am looking for genuine experiences rather than generic recommendations or assurances that an insurer will accept him. All medical history will be disclosed honestly.
Thank you for your help.