Why insurance is important, and what should I get

If you’ve only got a minute:

• Insurance acts as a safety net for your financial plan. With a suitable insurance policy, immediate bills are covered on top of defraying the cost of daily living expenses in adverse situations.
• Explore health insurance, personal accident insurance, whole life insurance or term insurance according to your priorities and needs in life.
• A rule of thumb is to be insured for 9 times of your annual income for death and total permanent disability.

Juggling your financial commitments sometimes requires zen-like calmness. There’s the mortgage to pay for, a car loan, parents to support, and perhaps even a new-born. With multiple financial commitments, you might find yourself being spread too thin. Getting an insurance plan becomes the last thing on your priority list.

But be warned: this is a major mistake you’ll want to avoid at all costs. Here’s why.

What is insurance, and why is it important?

The benefits of insurance, by definition, is to protect against unwanted events that could occur.

When you’re young, fit, and full of drive, it’s easy to think that “it will never happen to me”. But this is the myth of invincibility. We live in an unpredictable world these days. Thus, there are many legitimate reasons to prepare yourself for those unannounced curveballs.

This is precisely why insurance exists.

Insurance acts as a financial safety net for your financial portfolio. With the right insurance, you can be rest assured that your loved ones won’t be saddled with a pile of bills, should anything happen to you. That’s because a comprehensive insurance policy covers the immediate bills, and can help to defray the cost of daily living expenses in adverse situations.

Endowment is another type of insurance plan that allow you to accumulate your wealth steadily towards achieving a financial goal, such as retirement planning. These plans also offer some protection element, to help ensure that your beneficiary receives financial compensation should the unfortunate happen during the tenure of the policy.

What insurance should I get?

Where should you start? The easiest way is to start thinking about your priorities and needs in life. Here are some questions to get you started:

• Are you looking for higher hospitalisation coverage?
• Are you focused on your family’s well-being?
• Are you trying to save a nice sum for your child’s education needs?

Most people start off with one of these:

• Health insurance: Against a background of rising medical and hospitalisation costs, you might want wider, and higher coverage for medical expenses. You can choose from plans that integrate and complement the basic MediShield Life insurance, or those that cover critical illness or cancer specifically.
• Personal accident insurance: This is for the times when you’re injured. For instance, ankle sprains, back sprains, or if you’re knocked down by a rogue e-scooter rider. There are also kid-specific policies that cover playground injuries and diseases such as Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD).
• Whole Life insurance: Whole Life insurance covers you for life, or usually up to age 99. It is a protection plan that comes with cash value that is accessible upon policy surrender. Depending on your coverage plan, you get a lump sum pay-out if you are permanently disabled or critically ill, or your loved ones receive it if you pass away.
• Term insurance: Term insurance provides coverage for a pre-set period of time, e.g. 10, 15, 20 years. Because of the shorter coverage period and the lack of cash value, premiums are usually lower than life plans.

(Read more: Quick Guide To Life Insurance)

If you are looking for disciplined savings, an endowment policy helps you to save a certain amount each month. When it matures, you will receive a lump sum pay-out. Money for your retirement or children’s education, check.

There are 4 common types of endowment plans:

• Regular endowment plan: A plan that lasts about 10 years, and provides yearly cash benefits on top of a lump-sum amount when it matures. It typically includes insurance coverage against Total and Permanent Disability, and death.
• Education endowment plan: This is specifically geared towards saving for your kids’ education. You can choose to time the payout at the age when your child goes to university.
• Retirement plan: This provides you with a monthly income when you retire, usually on top of insurance coverage.
• Short-term endowment: This is a way of saving for short-term goals or to make your money work harder against the forces of inflation. It provides a lump-sum payout, and you can typically get it with a one-time upfront payment.

How much should I spend on insurance?

Now, you may be wondering how much you should be insured for. How do you put a dollar value to your worth?

A standard rule of thumb is to be insured for 10 times of your annual earnings. However, there are other factors to consider such as:

• Your remaining life expectancy
• The number of dependants you have and their ages
• Any outstanding liabilities such as mortgages
• Any inheritance or assets that you’d like to set aside for your dependents.

But don’t go overboard. While getting different policies will give you more comprehensive coverage, being overly protected isn’t a good thing either. To avoid unwanted financial stress, compare the policies that you have against this checklist.

And if you’re still unsure about what you’ll need, how much, or the type of insurance to get, consult a financial advisor. A good financial advisor will be able to:

• Help you pin down your needs;
• Explain the policies you’ve got – and anything else you’re considering;
• Identify any overlaps in your current financial plan; and
• Devise an action plan that’s within your budget.

Insurance is a long-term commitment. Always be prudent when deciding on a plan, as switching or terminating a plan prematurely usually does not yield financial benefits.

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Disclaimers and Important Notice
This article is meant for information only and should not be relied upon as financial advice. Before making any decision to buy, sell or hold any investment or insurance product, you should seek advice from a financial adviser regarding its suitability.