Yahoo Finance Here’s Why You Still Need to Buy Insurance Instead of Just Relying on MediShield Life
Ever since MediShield Life took effect on November 1st, every Singaporean Citizen and PR (whether you even live in the country or not) is now covered by it. But just in case you’re tempted to think that means there’s no need to worry about your health anymore and that insurance agents are now all out of work, be sure not to make one of the biggest mistakes of your life.
But first things first… what is MediShield Life?
If the words “MediShield Life” have crossed your Facebook news feed so often this week that your brain is now registering it as spam, feel free to skip this section. But if you’re not quite sure exactly what MediShield Life does for you, read on.
1. MediShield Life is the upgraded MediShield – wider coverage, better benefits
MediShield Life is the new basic health insurance plan that all Singaporean Citizens and PRs are now covered by. You’re automatically included, and no, you can’t opt out. But why would you want to?
Compared to the old MediShield, which was so basic that you probably needed to buy other health insurance policies just to feel more secure about falling sick, MediShield Life promises better benefits, such as higher subsidies for your hospital bill.
2. Better benefits come with higher premiums
Yes, MediShield Life is going to cost you more. An improved nationwide health insurance plan needs to be funded somehow, and if you think the Government was going to pay for all of it then please excuse me while I laugh like a hyena.
But in all seriousness, the premiums will never be so high that they’re unaffordable. Even for the less well-off and the elderly, the government will be providing subsidies and support if they’re unable to pay the premiums. No one on MediShield Life will lose coverage because they can’t afford it.
3. Who will benefit from it?
Any Singaporean Citizen and PR who falls seriously ill or needs hospitalisation. So really, the only people who should be complaining about paying higher premiums for MediShield Life, are those who never, ever get cancer, need kidney dialysis or get hospitalised for the rest of your life. And if that’s the case, then you really should have no reason to complain.
4. But MediShield Life isn’t enough on its own
MediShield Life is a health insurance policy. It doesn’t cover death, or total permanent disability. For that, you’ll need life insurance.
What is life insurance and why is it different from health insurance like MediShield Life?
Life insurance protects you and your loved ones if something serious happens to you like death or total permanent disability. More importantly, good life insurance policies also cover critical illnesses like cancer, heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. In all, there are 37 critical illnesses in the common insurance industry definition.
But wait… didn’t you say MediShield Life covers cancer treatment and kidney dialysis?
Yes, but MediShield Life only helps you by subsidising your treatment costs. When you have major illnesses like cancer, there are a lot more factors to consider than just your treatment.
For example, as a consequence of the ongoing treatment, you may find yourself needing to take time off from work or change your lifestyle in order to adjust to your new situation. This can result in a loss of income and may affect your cashflow if you’re not prepared. Good critical illness coverage will immediately pay you a lump sum when you are first diagnosed in order to help you through these difficult times.
Okay, this is all easy to say, but wouldn’t such insurance policies be expensive?
Not if you get term insurance. Term insurance is the most basic of all life insurance policies. Not many people consider it because it doesn’t give you anything back in return. Simply put, it doesn’t double up as a long-term investment. Supposedly, not many insurance agents push it to their clients either, because it doesn’t earn them much commission. But, as a result, it’s significantly more affordable compared to whole life insurance.
Say you need a term insurance that covers death, total permanent disability and critical illnesses for 20 years. The premiums would only set you back by as little as $300 a year. That’s definitely value for money for peace of mind.
So ideally, I should get term insurance on top of MediShield Life?
Essentially, yes. MediShield Life will help subsidise your inpatient and outpatient treatment and day surgery costs. For life, with no lifetime limit. And everyone is covered, even those considered “uninsurable” by insurance industry standards.
It’s a really bold move that far surpasses the old MediShield plan, but ultimately, MediShield Life doesn’t help you much if you’re dead or suffering total permanent disability or a critical illness. So give your insurance agent a call and find out what policy you’re currently covered by.
How do you feel about MediShield Life? Let us know.
The post Here's Why You Still Need to Buy Insurance Instead of Just Relying on MediShield Life appeared first on the MoneySmart blog.
MoneySmart.sg helps you maximize your money. Like us on Facebook to keep up to date with our latest news and articles.
Compare and shop for the best deals on Loans, Insurance and Credit Cards on our site now!
More From MoneySmart
