Mumbai, Aug 4: In a landmark move for employee health protection in India, Howden Insurance Brokers India Pvt. Ltd. has designed a unique Cancer Care Group Policy. Taking a lead, AstraZeneca India has now integrated this unique policy into their employee well-being commitment, intended to deliver comprehensive, future-ready health benefits that go beyond conventional insurance coverage.
Howden market assessment found that dedicated group cancer solutions remain largely unavailable in the market, with insurers often citing concerns around incidence risk, pricing uncertainty, and limited actuarial data.
While the growing burden of cancer has been widely recognised, creating a viable insurance model has remained a challenge due to the condition’s high severity and long-term treatment costs. Through extensive collaboration and iterations with select insurers, Howden helped develop a tailored cancer care group policy that has the potential to serve as a benchmark for future disease-specific, employer-sponsored insurance solutions in India.
Howden’s focus was on designing a sustainable solution that makes cancer protection more accessible. Recognising that cancer treatment often extends far beyond standard hospitalisation timelines, the policy provides dedicated coverage for prolonged treatment pathways, including emerging therapies and oral medications.
The policy offers sum Insured options from ₹15–30 Lakhs with family coverage, including parents, and coverage for all existing cancer-related claims with no waiting period. It also includes extended pre- and post-hospitalisation benefits, along with seamless integration with existing Mediclaim policies.
Commenting on the development, Amit Agarwal, MD & CEO, Howden India, said
“Innovation in insurance is not about creating more products; it is about solving problems that matter. By developing a dedicated cancer care solution, we have shown that complex health risks can be addressed through collaboration, creativity and a willingness to challenge traditional approaches to employee benefits.”
Praveen Rao Akkinepally, Country President & Managing Director, AstraZeneca India, said
“At AstraZeneca, we are driven by a purpose to transform care, and improving access to life-saving therapies is fundamental to realising that. Health insurance is a critical enabler of equitable healthcare access, particularly in addressing the growing burden of serious illnesses, including cancer. As we continue to advocate for inclusive healthcare in India, we believe meaningful change must begin at home. We are proud to introduce AstraZeneca Cancer Care Cover for our employees and their dependents and hope this starts a broader conversation about redefining employee well-being in today’s context and inspires an innovative and progressive approach to healthcare access across the country.”
The Cancer Care Group Policy reflects Howden India’s continued focus on developing innovative, need-based insurance solutions for its corporate clients. Howden will continue to work with insurers and employers to expand access to disease-specific coverage models that address emerging healthcare priorities across the Indian workforce.