Star Health & St. Judes Join Hands to Provide Health and Accident Cover to Cancer Affected Children

Chennai, 20th Novmber 2021: In an important initiative, children supported by St Jude India ChildCare Centres (St. Judes) during their cancer treatment and who are now cancer free for 5 years, will be provided health and accident coverage by Chennai-based Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited. The initiative, launched on November 4th 2021 covers 596 children in its first year [270 children under Health and 326 children under Accident]. Each year at least 500 children are currently expected to be added to this group as part of a new St. Judes programme called St. Judes for Life (Founded in Memory of Mrs Rani Vicaji). 

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St. Judes for Life ensures that the children who have won the battle against cancer can fulfil their potential by offering them continued support. Providing them with health insurance and accident cover is one such vital step in that direction. This is an important milestone by Star Health, and focuses on a much-overlooked gap in health insurance coverage. Dr Prakash, Managing Director, Star Health and Allied Insurance, has been involved in designing innovative new covers in India. He said “We at Star, designed this cover to enable children who were diagnosed, treated and are cancer free for 5 years fulfil their aspirations without worrying about the cost of meeting medical emergencies.”. Cancer survivors who are otherwise healthy are generally not given cover by Health Insurance and in case of a medical emergency or accident it becomes very difficult for them to handle the expenses of hospitalisation. 

Left to Right: Mr. Anil Nair, CEO at St. Judes India ChildCare Centres; Ms Usha Banerji, Team Leader, St. Judes for Life (Founded in Memory of Mrs Rani Vicaji); Dr. S Prakash, MD of Star Health Insurance; Dr Rekha Shetty, Charter President of the Rotary club of Madras Temple City; Ms. Shanta Narayanan, President Rotary club of Madras Temple City; Ms. Gargi Mashruwalai, Chairperson, St. Jude India ChildCare Centres

The Rotary club of Temple City Chennai Coordinated with Star Health insurance to implement this special coverage. "This is an important development in the coverage for children surviving cancer and It has been a privilege working with St Judes in Chennai", said Dr Rekha Shetty, Charter President of the Rotary club of Madras Temple City. Dr Bhuvana Rajendran and Rotarian J. Jagannathan have been closely involved in the project to provide support for children undergoing treatment for cancer in India. 

Mr. V. Jagannathan, Chairman and CEO, Star Health and Allied Insurance said, ‘Children deserve the best always irrespective of their health conditions. We at Star Health are proud to provide insurance cover to children who have survived cancer. This is crucial as these children can live a normal life and have a right to insurance cover just like anybody else. We will continue to endeavor to provide health insurance cover to every section of society through innovative products designed to meet specific needs.”

"Survivors can lead a full life even after treatment and recovery. St. Judes for Life (Founded in Memory of Mrs Rani Vicaji) was set up to support our survivor kids from St. Judes India and enable them to achieve their aspirations after they have been cured of childhood cancer. A major concern for Cancer- survivors as they progress in life is providing for medical emergencies by way of health insurance. Unfortunately, Insurers do not normally cover them. Hence, it is indeed a matter of great pride and happiness to partner with Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited, who viewed our proposal with compassion and empathy. " said Ms Usha Banerji, Team Leader, St. Judes for Life (Founded in Memory of Mrs Rani Vicaji)

“It is a privilege to have helped build the bridge between St Judes and Star Health Insurance" said  Ms. Shanta Narayanan, President Rotary club of Madras Temple City

About Star Health and Allied Insurance Co. Ltd

Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited commenced its operations in 2006 as India’s first Standalone Health Insurance Company (Source: CRISIL Research) dealing in retail health, group health, personal accident and overseas travel insurance. We use our resources to focus on service excellence and product innovation to deliver the best to our customers. We have been providing health insurance products to individuals, families, and corporates directly and through various channels including agents, brokers, corporate agent bank and online channels like interactive applications, web aggregators, etc.

In Fiscal 2021, we had total GWP of ₹93,489.50 million.  As of September 30, 2021 our distribution network had grown to 779 health insurance branches spread across 25 states and 5 union territories in India. Our existing branches are also supplemented by an extensive network of over 562 Sales Managers Stations (“SMS”), which are small individual service centres, and over 6,892 in-house sales managers, as of March 31, 2021 

For more information, please visit: http://www.starhealth.in/ 

About St. Jude India Childcare Centres

St. Jude India Childcare Centres (St. Judes) provides a 'home away from home' for children undergoing cancer treatment. These children, accompanied by their parents, come from small villages and distant towns where medical treatment for cancer is not available. St. Judes provides free accommodation and holistic support to these children to improve their chance of surviving the disease and leading a full, healthy, happy life. The organisation is currently present in nine cities across India, with 37 centres that can accommodate over 460 children and their families. To know more: https://www.stjudechild.org/ 

The mission of St. Judes for Life (Founded in Memory of Mrs Rani Vicaji) is to ensure that timely and appropriate assistance is available to St. Judes alumni to complete their education, maintain good health, and lead successful lives. From the time of their enrolment till they are independent and self-sufficient, St. Judes for Life (Founded in Memory of Mrs Rani Vicaji) is available to provide the appropriate intervention, directly or through experienced partners, to support, mentor and enable them to become upright contributing members of society.

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