Precision CancerCare GAP: Expanding access to treatments abroad
Hannover Re has partnered with Further Group to help life and health (L&H) insurers bring Further’s innovative healthcare solutions to market. The Precision CancerCare GAP solution provides insurers with a new opportunity to bridge protection gaps and enable policyholders to access newer cancer treatments abroad when these drugs are not yet approved locally.
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Background
Delivering the right treatment at the right time is the cornerstone of effective medical care. For serious conditions like cancer, early diagnosis and tailored treatment are critical.
Yet, in many cases, the most suitable therapies, particularly those at the forefront of precision medicine, may not be approved for use locally. Healthcare systems face budget constraints, making it challenging to adopt high-cost treatments. Thorough cost-benefit evaluations are essential, though they can extend approval timelines.
Description of solution
Precision medicine is evolving rapidly, but access remains limited for the average L&H insurance customer. Further Group has addressed this challenge by creating a new category of healthcare that can make advanced, personalised cancer treatment accessible, even when treatments are not available in a policyholder’s home country.
Upon diagnosis, customers are supported by Further Group to undergo genetic testing that identifies appropriate treatment protocols. If the recommended therapy is not approved locally, the insurance benefit covers the associated cost of overseas travel and treatment, as per the product policy. The patient’s treating physician is involved throughout, supporting continuity of care and informed decision-making. The service provided includes both testing as well as reports support to interpret results, enabling a tailored treatment recommendation.
Further Group manages the logistics of treatment abroad, including travel and coordination with medical providers, offering an end-to-end support service that is invaluable during a difficult time for patients and their families. This benefit is typically offered as a rider and can be added to a wide range of life and health insurance products. It enables insurers to stand out in the market and appeal to health-conscious consumers who value access to state-of-the-art medical care.
Based on regulatory requirements and insurer preferences, the treatment abroad benefit can be structured flexibly. The benefit can be structured as either an indemnity or lump sum and benefits can be selected to include genetic testing with the involvement of the patient’s treating physician. Medical underwriting is essential for new business to mitigate anti-selection risk. Underwriting is typically aligned with the base product and is strengthened by a waiting period. The benefit can also be extended to existing policyholders without additional underwriting, making it a versatile tool for both acquisition and retention across individual and group channels.
How Hannover Re can support you
This product offers added value by providing personalised support for insured individuals diagnosed with cancer. However, specialised cancer treatment can be expensive, and costs are increasing due to the latest medical advances. This means that claims for cancer treatment abroad, though low in frequency, are typically high in severity and therefore a claim is usually very costly with a high volatility for insurers. For this reason, Hannover Re provides reinsurance capacity and specialised pricing support for the solution as way to deliver risk protection to our clients whilst empowering them to stay focused on a differentiated insurance proposition.
Through its collaboration with Further Group, Hannover Re offers this solution as a turnkey benefit for life and health insurers, streamlining implementation and operations. As insurance evolves beyond traditional indemnification, insurers are increasingly focused on delivering enhanced care and wellbeing.
Together, Hannover Re and Further Group offer a powerful combination of financial protection and access to advanced medical science. We are ready to support insurers to close protection gaps and deliver innovation to their customers.
Disclaimer:
The information presented in this case study, as well as in any other descriptions of projects or cooperations, is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, regulatory guidance, medical advice, or any form of professional advisory service. To avoid any wording that could be interpreted as implying medical effectiveness, this document must not be understood as containing, asserting, or suggesting any medical efficacy claims. Nothing in this document shall be construed as a legally binding offer to enter into any contract or agreement of any kind. All results, performance indicators, and outcome descriptions reflect the specific conditions and parameters of the referenced project(s) or product launch(es). They are not guarantees, promises, or assurances of comparable or future performance in any other context. No warranty is given – whether express or implied – particularly that comparable or similar results can or will be achieved elsewhere. Any potential success of comparable initiatives critically depends on the lawful and compliant ability to contact policyholders, including the validity of any required consent under the applicable legal framework. All third‑party entities mentioned in this document, including insurtech companies, are independent businesses and operate separately and autonomously from Hannover Re. Their services, solutions, or technologies are neither endorsed nor guaranteed by Hannover Re and are subject to their own terms and conditions, unless explicitly stated otherwise. References to third‑party trademarks or brands are made solely for descriptive purposes and remain the property of their respective owners. No affiliation, sponsorship, approval, or endorsement by those owners is implied. Statements in this document regarding benefits, compliance requirements, risks, risk assessments, or business cases are based on our subjective experience, judgment, or interpretation. They do not replace - and must not be relied upon as a substitute for - independent assessment, verification, or due‑diligence activities by customers or other stakeholders. In particular, all aspects relating to data protection requirements (including but not limited to GDPR considerations) and AI‑related regulatory obligations must be independently assessed, verified, and evaluated by interested parties in light of their own legal and operational frameworks. The use of the terms such as “partner” or “partnered” without further qualification solely indicates that we cooperated on specific activities or exchanges with third parties; it does not imply a legal partnership, joint venture, affiliation, or any form of shared corporate structure. Each party acts independently and on its own behalf. Hannover Re and/or affiliated companies of the Hannover Re Group assume no liability for the accuracy, completeness, or future applicability of the information provided in this document.
