Urgent medical expense insurance against breast cancer

87.5% of private health spending comes from out-of-pocket spending and 12.5% ​​goes to private insurance costs, according to information from the Mexican Association of Insurance Institutions (AMIS).

In the case of breast cancerthe treatments have reached 3.2 million pesos and the fact is that the risk factors are diverse, such as: being a woman, obesity, not having had children, not having breastfed, a family history of the disease, the use of hormones such as contraceptives or therapy during menopause, and age, since half of the cases of this type of cancer occur in women over 50 years of age.

Specialists offer treatments according to the stage in which the disease is found and that have the greatest probability of success, so they may suggest: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or targeted therapy and some may be in combination, however, expenses rise.

Breast cancer, in addition to affecting health, also affects the personal finances or family financesaccording to Axa Seguros, breast cancer in stage IV is up to 418% more expensive than one in phase I, 221% than in phase II, and 98% with respect to a phase III and women in phase II it costs 61% more treatment than those diagnosed with phase I.

By having Major Medical Expenses insurance, 8 out of every 10 pesos are paid by insurers directly to hospitals and providers.

Prevention and costs

The breast self-examination It allows detecting a first finding, which can be a nodule or a lump in the breast or in the armpit, or the revision is not the only one, it can also present an increase in the thickness or swelling of the breast, redness or peeling of the skin of the breast or in the nipple area, sinking in of the nipple, pain, discharge from the nipple, changes in the shape and size of the breast.

Between 75% and 85% of cases could be curable if detected early and treated properly. However, currently only 1 in 3 women is diagnosed in the early stages.

“In Mexico, you can treat yourself in public institutions, contract Major Medical Expenses Insurance with national or international coverage with private specialists and that will cover all the expenses contemplated in the policy, or pay it directly out of your pocket,” according to information from a Bupa document.

Mentions that the first step is to confirm whether or not you have breast cancer and for that you must go with a oncologist, who through a physical examination and reviewing the family history will proceed to order clinical studies. The private consultation goes from 1,200 to 2,800 pesos depending on the location of the doctor and blood and urine tests can cost between 1,300 and 2,600 pesos in private laboratories.

They estimate that “more complex studies such as magnetic resonance imaging and tomography in private laboratories cost from 5,800 and up to 11,000 pesos and between 4,000 and 12,000 pesos.” Another routine study, and of special importance, is the mammographywhich has a cost between 700 and 2,000 pesos.

“If unfortunately it is cancer, the costs in the private sector per chemotherapy and radiotherapy session will depend on each specialist and clinic, but they are mostly offered in annual packages. As for medicines, the cost will also depend on what is prescribed individually.

“It is essential to have both medical and financial protection: a SGMM that provides you with immediate medical attention with top-level specialists, periodic treatments, access to the necessary medications and that, in addition, will take care of your pocket. The key here is that you can count on care from routine check-ups, which allow any ailment to be identified early,” concluded Fernando Lledó, general director of Bupa Mexico.

patricia.ortega@eleconomista.mx