In a first-of-its-kind initiative for employee health protection in India, Howden Insurance Brokers India Pvt. Ltd.has developed a dedicated Cancer Care Group Policy, with AstraZeneca India becoming the first company to integrate the specialised cover into its employee well-being programme.

The policy has been designed to address the growing burden of cancer and the limitations of conventional health insurance, which often does not adequately cover the long-term nature and complexity of cancer treatment.

According to Howden, dedicated group cancer insurance solutions have remained largely unavailable in India due to concerns among insurers over incidence risk, pricing uncertainty and limited actuarial data. Working closely with select insurers, the company developed a customised employer-sponsored cancer insurance solution that could serve as a benchmark for future disease-specific group health policies.

The Cancer Care Group Policy offers sum insured options ranging from Rs. 15 lakh to Rs. 30 lakh, covering employees and their families, including parents. It provides coverage for all existing cancer-related claims with no waiting period, extended pre- and post-hospitalisation benefits, support for prolonged treatment pathways including emerging therapies and oral medications, and seamless integration with existing mediclaim policies.

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,” added Rao.