Insurance is key to you being able to focus on the important things in life, because it will ensure financial security for you and your family should anything unfortunate happen. When large financial burdens like hospital bills or medical charges arise, insurance helps meet the costs, allowing you to pursue your dreams.

Here’s how:

1. Health insurance helps pay your bills should you develop certain illnesses or suffer from injury or disability.
   
   
2. Income protection safeguards your salary by replacing it should you become unable to work.
   
   
3. Life insurance provides financially for your loved ones should you become unable to work. Having this type of insurance enables them to continue enjoying a comfortable lifestyle with minimum worry.
   
   
4. Education and retirement plans allow you to achieve what is important to you – be it an overseas education for your children or a comfortable standard of living during your retirement years.
   
   
5. Endowment plans do more than help you build up savings to pass on to your spouse or children. They can also be used cover medium- to long-term goals, such as a property upgrade, higher education, and perhaps fund a break from work.

Now you know why you need it – here’s some more important advice:

What is the best time to start thinking about insurance?
The sooner, the better! The moment you receive your first paycheck is the best time to start building your health and lifetime protection. Getting coverage early will give you peace of mind for the lowest premiums possible. Choose the cover and premium that best suits your needs and budget, and you will be able to adjust the level of coverage that suits your needs as they change over time.

What type of insurance should I buy?
Safeguard your health and that of your family first, and then look at life insurance to protect the household finances in case something happens to you. Finally, consider insurance that will give you and your family savings for the future.

How much insurance is enough?
There are health, life and savings plans to suit every budget and need. In choosing what suits you, it is important to manage your finances well and ensure you set aside a portion of your income for a rainy day or an unexpected health crisis. The amount varies, and it is good to seek a financial consultant who can advise on the best approach for your situation. There are various factors to consider, such as your life stage, budget and what you would like to achieve in your lifetime.

What is the first type of insurance coverage I should think about?
As a first step towards getting protection, you should begin with personal health insurance to cover your most important needs. This would include protecting yourself against accidents, and getting coverage for costs related to hospitalisation, surgical and other medical expenses.

What should I do to protect my family’s future? 
It is important to protect yourself first. Then protect your family by ensuring that they have the money to pay for all necessities. These expenses could include paying for your children’s education, clearing your mortgage, contingencies for foreseeable emergencies that could arise, and providing for dependents such as aged parents.

Will I be rejected for insurance if there is a history of illness – such as cancer, diabetes or high blood pressure – in my family?
Such a family history may incur a loading charge 25–50% higher than the standard case. That is why it is so important to be insured as early as possible – as long as you are reasonably healthy. The chances are that you would be able to obtain insurance coverage despite your family history. In fact, the loading could even be waived. Don’t delay in signing up for health insurance, as, with a family history, any symptoms that develop could increase the loading or disqualify you altogether. At the end of the day, paying a higher premium is better than having no insurance when the illness strikes.

What if I am not able to pay my premiums due to financial or health difficulties?
There’s a range of options available to help you through this difficult period. One option is to take a temporary premium holiday or premium loan. Another option has been designed to provide you with a monthly income benefit in the event you are unable to work. Some education savings plans have included a thoughtful supplementary benefit that kicks in, in the event that the parent falls ill or passes away, to waive the future premiums on the child policy and ensure that the tuition fees are fully paid for in advance.

I financially support my parents. Do plans exist that will take of them in case something happens to me?
Yes, there are numerous insurance plans in which you can nominate your parents as beneficiaries of a lump sum payout in case something happens to you. This payout helps to take care of your parents’ financial needs. You could also sign them up for insurance plans that will reimburse expenses related to hospitalisation, surgery, physiotherapy and even traditional Chinese medicine treatments. These offer monthly benefits or a lump sum payout in the event of disability.

Why should I spend my spare money on insurance rather than a high-interest fixed deposit account or a fund for my children’s education?
Insurance is multi-dimensional and takes care of many scenarios. Indeed, fixed deposit accounts offer perceived security with high interest rates, but insurance savings plans have been specifically tailored to provide guaranteed payouts at pre-determined educational milestones in your child’s life, so you do not have to worry about rising costs. And should something happen to you, rest assured that your family’s financial security has been taken care of.

Having some savings in the bank is a good start, but to make your money work harder for you – and supplement your savings – insurance is the way forward: it offers a better yield and better prepares you for rainy days. Your needs depend on the stage of life you are at, and insurance gives you choices based on those needs. Whether you are young and single, responsible for children, or nearing retirement, insurance offers you valuable benefits and peace of mind. There are a variety of insurance plans that provide conveniences such as guaranteed coverage, payouts and long-term wealth accumulation – all of which grant you financial security affordably. 

Now that you better understand what insurance is and how you benefit from it, have a chat with your distribution representative and look at the plans that meet your needs.