Sony Life to Begin Offering New Product: Cancer Drug Therapy Rider

October 17, 2011

Sony Life Insurance Co., Ltd., a wholly owned life insurance subsidiary of Sony Financial Holdings, will launch a new product, a Cancer Drug Therapy Rider, on November 2, 2011. By expanding product lineup, Sony Life will meet diverse customer needs.

Launch Overview of the Cancer Drug Therapy Rider

The rider covers outpatient treatment and hospitalization for cancer drug therapy.

Cancer drug therapy benefits are paid to policyholders in the event of their outpatient treatment or hospitalization for prescribed cancer drug therapy.

1. Launch Background
   In the past, the principal means of treating cancer was to surgically remove the diseased portion (surgical procedure). As treatment technologies have progressed, however, treatment has evolved into three main types: surgical procedure, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
   Recent years have seen particular growth in outpatient chemotherapy as a means of providing cancer drug therapy while maintaining patient quality of life. This type of treatment is expected to become even more popular.
   However, the cost of the drugs used in such treatment can place a financial burden on the patient. While the race to develop new types of cancer drugs continues—such as molecularly targeted drugs designed to reduce side effects—the cost of such drugs is on the rise.
   The use of cancer drugs covered by Japan's public medical insurance system limits a patient's monthly out-of-pocket costs for expensive treatments. However, outpatient treatment can require a great deal of time, and continuing to undergo appropriate therapy over an extended period can require economic assistance.
   For this reason, Sony Life has launched the Cancer Drug Therapy Rider, which provides a monthly benefit to cover the cost of treatment employing cancer drugs covered by the public medical insurance system.
2. Product Structure and Features
   
   1. A cancer drug therapy benefit is paid in the event that a policyholder undergoes treatment using cancer drugs specified by the company and that are within the scope covered by the public medical insurance system for the express purpose of cancer drug therapy.
   2. A cancer drug therapy benefit is paid every month during which a reason for payment exists (paid once each month)
   3. Payments are limited to the 120 months of the contract period. (The rider expires after 120 months of cancer drug therapy benefits.)
   4. The rider provides no surrender payment
   5. This rider is null and void in the event that cancer is diagnosed prior to the date on which the responsibility to pay cancer benefits commences.
   6. The coverage period is, in principle, five years.
3. Types of Insurance to Which Rider Can Be Attached
   Comprehensive medical insurance, long-term comprehensive medical insurance, whole-life cancer insurance (08), cancer insurance

Note: This is an English-language summary of a Japanese announcement made by Sony Life on October 17, 2011. The summary was prepared by Sony Financial Holdings Inc. solely for convenience of non-Japanese readers.