Some 1.2 million American suffer the effects of cancer every year, but most health insurance policies do not cover these “specified diseases” or “dread diseases.” Because the cost of cancer treatment is so astonishingly high, it’s important to know that, if you are a newly diagnosed cancer patient, insurance can help ease the financial burden of the medically associated costs of treatment.

Most of us don’t often realize that our regular health insurance policies do not usually cover the cost of treating cancer. Though the health insurance company will likely cover some of the diagnostic testing and some minimal treatment during the initial stages of cancer, it is highly unlikely that they will cover the entire spectrum of cancer care. Additionally, the cost involved with traveling to a cancer treatment center is also not covered. A separate cancer plan can help pay for the transportation you may need as well as the high cost of treatment at a specialized facility.

You may want to consider purchasing a cancer treatment plan, particularly if cancer does run in your family and your finances wouldn’t allow you the luxury of excellent care in the event that you discover you have cancer. There are a number of companies that offer individuals the option of cancer coverage. There are, of course, a number of different types as well. Each type will vary in cost according to the benefits the policy will provide.