Life Protection – Health Status Q & A

How does my health status affect the premiums I pay for Life Assurance?

The premiums you pay for your life assurance policy is partly decided by your current health status.

Knowing your medical history helps the company work out how much you should pay for your cover.

It also lets them give a fairer price to all customers. It is important that you do not leave out any essential information, such as a pre-existing condition, that might have an impact on this.

It is also important to be honest as non-disclosure can render a policy void and the insurance company are not obliged to pay out on the policy.

Your health information is personal and sensitive and all details are confidential to the Life Company.  They are only shared them with the people who manage your plan.

               

Should I still apply for Life Assurance if I have an existing medical condition?

Yes. You might be refused cover depending on your condition but  your medical history and personal details will always be reviewed before any decision is made.

You may be offered life assurance at an increased price or with a medical exclusion.

This means that you may get cover on the understanding that you cannot make any claim for your existing condition.

Why are Life Companies concerned with my medical condition when my doctor may not be?

If you have a medical problem that does not need immediate attention, your doctor may not take any action.

They will only act if and when your condition gets more serious or if there are any complications. In that case, they will start treatment or carry out tests.

However, when your health is being assessed for Life Cover there is only a narrow window of time to consider your condition and predict now it may change in the future.

Do I need to take a medical examination or get a report from my GP and if so, will I have to pay for it?

Medicals reports, examinations and tests help the Underwriters make an informed decision about whether or not you can be offered cover.

If you need to take a medical examination, or get a report from your GP, this is usually arranged by the Insurance Company who also pay for any medical reports, examinations or other tests which may be asked for.

If you would like further information please contact Michael on 086 8440541 or email info@mkfinancial.ie .

Michael Keville T/A MK Financial is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Update 17th November : Life Protection – the Basics

What types of life protection are most commonly offered?

There are four main types of protection to give you and your family a lump sum or a regular income in the event of an illness, accident or death:

·         Life Assurance

·         Mortgage Protection

·         Income Protection

·         Specified Illness cover

You can choose and combine these plans according to your needs

                                                                                                                                                        

What is Life Assurance?

Life assurance gives your family a cash payment if you die during the term of your plan. Your family can use this money however they choose. There are different types of life assurance:

·         Whole of life cover lasts until you die or for as long as you decide to make your monthly payments. Your payments can be increased throughout the life of your plan to make sure you get the lump sum you want.

·         Term life cover is a policy you pay for over a specified period. You can also use it to provide life cover during the term of your mortgage.

·         Mortgage protection is a lump sum paid on your death, or that of your spouse, to help your loved ones pay off the outstanding balance on your mortgage.  Mortgage lenders usually require you to have mortgage protection in place for the length of your mortgage. We offer mortgage protection plans that cover just you, or that include both you and your partner/spouse.

What is Income Protection?

Income protection provides you with a replacement income if an accident or illness affects your ability to work and earn a living, for a period longer than 4 weeks.

You get regular payments that begin after you have been on sick leave for a certain period of time. This is called a deferred period and you choose whether you want to set it to 4, 13, 26 or 52 weeks when you are setting up your policy.

What is Specified Illness Cover?

Specified illness cover is a health insurance plan. It provides you with a cash payment if you are diagnosed with any of a specific list of illnesses, including Alzheimers, cancer, cardiac arrest, multiple sclerosis or stroke.

You can take out specified illness cover alone, or combine it with life assurance to increase your protection

What is Accelerated Specified Illness Cover?

Accelerated Specified Illness cover is life assurance and specified illness cover in a single policy.

If you make a specified illness claim under this type of policy, the amount of money paid out on your death will be reduced by the amount you have already claimed.

If you would like further information please contact Michael on 086 8440541 or email info@mkfinancial.ie .

Michael Keville T/A MK Financial is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Update 9th November - Life Cover – Protect what matters most

Who knows what will happen next in our lives!

We always hope it will be something good, but nothing is certain in life. Fortunately, it’s possible to protect yourself from some of the financial uncertainties that come with unexpected events in your life.

Sudden or untimely death is not as rare as you think

·         Approximately 10,000 people die each year from cardiovascular disease including coronary heart disease and stroke. It’s the most common cause of death in Ireland, accounting for 36% of all deaths**.

·         One in three people in Ireland will develop cancer during their lifetime, and an average of 30,000 cases of cancer are diagnosed each year. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in Ireland, and accounts for over one quarter of the annual death toll.*

                * Cancer.ie, January 2014

                ** Irish Heart Foundation, January 2014

The unfortunate reality is that when you die, taxes, bills, mortgages, loans, education and grocery bills don’t stop and life must go on for your loved ones.

Affordable Peace of Mind

Life Cover is a lot more affordable, flexible and accessible get than you might think. You simply choose the level of cover that fits you and your family’s needs and the level of payments you can afford to make. You choose the length of time you want the cover to last and the amount of the lump sum that your family would receive if you were to die while the cover was in place.

Sample Life Cover Quote (subject to normal underwriting conditions)

€19.41 per month (approx. 64c per day)

20 year term

€200,000 Total Life Cover

Cover for one person, non-smoker, age 37

 Very little money for complete peace of mind!

Update 2nd November - What is income protection?

Income protection provides a replacement income if you cannot work due to illness or injury after a certain period of time.

How it works …

·         You must be in full-time paid work as a self-employed person, an employee or a company director to qualify for income protection.

·         Your occupation, health status and age could also affect your eligibility for the cover.

·         As a company director or employer, you can also offer group income protection to your full-time staff.

·         Decide how much of your income you want to protect. This depends on your salary, your sick pay arrangements and the amount of money you need to pay your bills and maintain your lifestyle. You can insure up to 75% of your normal income up to a maximum benefit of €262,500, less any social welfare payments.

·         Decide when you want your income protection to start.  The time between the start of your sick leave and your first income protection payment is called your deferred period. You decide whether it should be 13, 26 or 52 weeks. For example, if your employer will pay you for 6 months, go for a deferred period of 26 weeks. The longer your deferred period, the cheaper the cost of your income protection policy.

·         Decide how you want to manage your payments

Your options …

Guaranteed Premium

·         Your premium level is set and does not change

·         Your benefit level is set and does not change

Reviewable Premium

• Your premium can be reviewed every 5 years, which will give you an option of an increase in premium or a reduction in benefit

Indexation

·         You can choose indexation on both of these options. This will make sure that your benefit increases as the cost of living goes up. Just remember, if your benefit increases, so will your premium.

Term

Decide how long you want to keep your income protection. Many people keep their income protection until they retire. But you can pick any age between 55 and 70.

What it costs

How much you pay each month depends on:

• Your age
• Your occupation
• Your health status
• Whether you are a smoker
• How much of your income you want to protect
• Deferred period

It won’t increase if you make a claim and you can claim tax relief on what you pay.        

We at MK Financial will take you through all of the above decisions and can then recommend the best plan to suit your circumstances.

If you’d like more information, please give Michael a call on 086 8440541 or email info@mkfinancial.ie.

Michael Keville T/A MK Financial is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland