{"id":6318,"date":"2022-11-07T08:19:02","date_gmt":"2022-11-07T08:19:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/turnberry.co.za\/?p=6221"},"modified":"2024-01-10T08:08:18","modified_gmt":"2024-01-10T08:08:18","slug":"the-nightmare-of-a-childs-cancer-diagnosis-gap-cover-can-help-ease-the-financial-strain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/turnberry.co.za\/2027\/the-nightmare-of-a-childs-cancer-diagnosis-gap-cover-can-help-ease-the-financial-strain\/","title":{"rendered":"The nightmare of a child\u2019s cancer diagnosis \u2013 gap cover can help ease the financial strain"},"content":{"rendered":"

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7th November 2022 – Baby and Beyond<\/p>\n

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While relatively rare, a childhood cancer diagnosis can be emotionally devastating for the patient and their family, who often also have to deal with the additional stress of the financial burden that comes with the cost of treatment and hospitalisation.<\/p>\n

According to the\u00a0Cancer Association of South Africa<\/a>, between 800 and 1 000 children in South Africa are unfortunately diagnosed with cancer annually. However, many childhood cancers are treatable with a high treatment success rate of between 70% and 80% in well-resourced countries.<\/p>\n

Despite this, the financial impact of having to fund cancer treatment \u2013 either fully or even partially \u2013 can become a nightmare, as experienced by Deolinda Delcarme, whose daughter, Gemma, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at the age of nine, in December 2016.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor any family going through this, it is a nightmare. No one expects a cancer diagnosis, so no one has money stashed away in case they suddenly need to pay for treatment. That is exactly what happened to us,\u201d says Delcarme.<\/p>\n

Financial strain<\/strong><\/p>\n

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is a cancer that invades the blood and bone marrow, reducing the body\u2019s ability to fight basic infection. Delcarme recalls that the diagnosis came at a time when she had just been retrenched from her job. To make the situation worse, Gemma\u2019s father did not earn an income at the time, which added even more stress and financial worry.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a treacherous situation. We basically had no money, I only had my retrenchment package and could only find temporary contract work, which did not pay much,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

However, she managed to save enough to get a hospital plan, but that only covered hospitalisation. All other treatments and procedures had to be paid for by Delcarme, who was lucky enough to raise funds through her personal and professional network.<\/p>\n

\u201cPart of the stress is not knowing where you\u2019ll get the money. Gemma\u2019s treatment plan was so extensive \u2013 it wasn\u2019t just an in-hospital surgery but included a number of additional procedures that medical aids normally cover.\u201d<\/p>\n

Delcarme found fulltime employment in 2019 and could eventually afford medical aid cover. While she also applied for gap cover, she would only qualify for it in 12 months\u2019 time, due to Gemma\u2019s existing condition.<\/p>\n

Gap cover cannot be neglected<\/strong><\/p>\n

Turnberry CEO Tony Singleton explains that gap cover is a short-term insurance product that helps protect patients from medical expense shortfalls, which can occur when doctors charge more than the medical aid rate for in-hospital treatment, or there are co-payments charged by the Medical Aid.<\/p>\n

\u201cGap cover has become an essential component of any financial portfolio to protect people against potentially crippling medical expense shortfalls. Often, it is the unforeseen that can result in the most significant shortfalls, and gap cover can save a patient\u2019s financial wellbeing along with their physical health,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is essential that you consult your Financial Adviser to assist you with selecting the correct health care products to suit your own specific circumstances\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

As part of Gemma\u2019s journey, she has also been receiving emotional support from Machi Filotimo Cancer Project, through which she also sells her artwork, with part of the proceeds going to the project. \u201cWe are here to help support patients via our navigation projects, as we know how hard it is to think clearly and make sound decisions in the midst of a cancer diagnosis. We have navigators that can support patients and their parents through their journeys,\u201d says Evy Michalopoulos, founder and CEO of the project.<\/p>\n

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FA https:\/\/babysandbeyond.co.za\/health\/the-nightmare-of-a-childs-cancer-diagnosis-gap-cover-can-help-ease-the-financial-strain\/<\/em><\/p>\n

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The nightmare of a child\u2019s cancer diagnosis – gap cover can help ease the financial strain<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n