mycancerdrugs - Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim for cancer drugs for more than one cancer?
Yes, however your overall benefit limit for drugs to treat one or more cancers is £50,000 for the lifetime of each person whilst they are insured by the policy.
What happens when I reach 65?
The cover for mycancerdrugs ceases on the renewal date following your 65th birthday. You may wish to consider a comprehensive private medical insurance plan or critical illness policy as an alternative. Please note when joining a more comprehensive plan if you have had or have cancer the cover is likely to be restricted as pre-existing conditions are generally excluded.
I would like to be treated with a cancer drug which is EMEA approved, but not for my particular cancer. Is this possible?
No. Mycancerdrugs only covers you for EMEA approved drugs where they have been authorised for particular therapeutic indications and approved by WPA and therefore listed here. Drug companies may be applying for additional authorisation for the particular cancer and if approved by the EMEA and WPA this will then be available. To view product information and therapeutic indications for a cancer drug visit www.emea.europa.eu/htms/human/epar/a.htm
What if the NHS does not agree to fund the administration of these cancer drugs covered by the mycancerdrugs policy?
Where it is not possible for the NHS hospital to administer the drug, WPA will fund the customary and reasonable charges for the administration of the drug and any directly related costs in the private sector. This will be funded within the benefit limit of £50,000.
What is WPA?
WPA, Western Provident Association, is a not-for-profit specialist health insurer with a heritage of over 100 years. With customer service based in Taunton, Somerset, our aim is to provide our policyholders with access to the best healthcare and treatment service.
When and how do I make a claim?
If you have been diagnosed with cancer and are being treated as an NHS patient you may be offered a range of treatment options. Where a licensed cancer drug is not available on the NHS but recommended by your NHS cancer specialist, contact WPA. Our Clinical Support Team will confirm directly with your specialist that the drug is being used in a therapeutic indication approved by EMEA, and that it is not available to you on the NHS. The drugs that WPA approve are available here.
Your specialist will prescribe the drug and then together with our Clinical Support Team we will coordinate the delivery and administration of your cancer drug at a hospital or at home, making this as seamless as possible for you.
WPA is a leading specialist health insurer with a history of over 100 years.
As a not for profit Provident Association with our support policyholders can receive treatment that may otherwise be unaffordable and unavailable.
We are passionate in providing exemplary levels of service for our policyholders. We are compassionate in how we do it.
If I have a private medical insurance (PMI) plan that includes benefit for these high cost cancer drugs is it beneficial for me to join mycancerdrugs in addition to this PMI plan?
Probably not - though you should examine your policy and seek further advice if necessary.
mycancerdrugs is not a comprehensive medical insurance policy rather it is an affordable ´NHS top-up plan´ providing benefit for cancer drugs denied within the NHS. In order to benefit from mycancerdrugs you need to have undergone treatment for cancer in the NHS and your NHS specialist needs to recommend the use of these drugs approved by the EMEA.
With health insurance you will usually have the choice of having all eligible cancer treatment such as hospital costs, consultant´s charges, tests, radiotherapy/chemotherapy funded within the private sector. mycancerdrugs specifically indemnifies the costs of the cancer drug and its administration.
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