Bupa International has launched health insurance for expats with existing illnesses which, until now, have been excluded.
Customers can apply for cover for over 60 common illnesses they may already have had, including cancer, hypertension and asthma, as well as acne, high cholesterol, hayfever and kidney stones.
Dr Sneh Khemka, medical director for Bupa International, said: "Until now, it has been difficult to obtain health insurance cover for cancer and other illnesses if you have had them in the past. This is particularly difficult for expats who are in an unfamiliar health system that may not provide the treatment they need.
"We've now added cover for pre-existing conditions as an option for customers purchasing our newest individual health insurance product, Bupa Worldwide Health Options. People now have the added reassurance of knowing that they could be covered for a wide range of existing illness they may have suffered from previously."
The news comes as a Bupa International global survey of 12,262 people found three times as many people are worried about getting cancer than dementia or heart disease, with 33% ranking cancer as their number one health concern
Furthermore, when asked what would worry them most if they had a chronic disease, those surveyed said not being able to afford the best possible treatment (16%), followed by a long drawn-out illness (15%), and their family worrying about them (13%) as the top three concerns. Interestingly, being in pain was ranked fourth, and being in hospital came eighth4.
