4 Reasons To Cover Mortgage Liability With Us Instead Of Mindef Group Insurance
Many friends have asked me this question: “Should I use the AVIVA Mindef Group Insurance to cover for mortgage liability?”.
I have always viewed coverage from group plans (including the Mindef one) as supplementary rather than the main coverage. Getting a personal plan is better for the following reasons below.
In my opinion, mortgage liability coverage is an important exercise.
Remember, covering your mortgage liability is not for you, it is for your family.
Firstly, you CANNOT Nominate your plan
Did you know that the Ministry of Defence (“MINDEF”) and Ministry of Home Affairs (“MHA”) are contractually “The Policyholder” for the Group Insurance Voluntary Scheme?
That means that the plan does not come under the framework of nomination of beneficiaries under the Insurance Act (Cap. 142).
What’s the point of paying for $1m coverage when it may not go to the right place?
NOMINATION for your home loan is really important!
The distribution of this insurance amount will be done with our intestacy law.
This is problematic!
In certain situations, such as you and spouse pass away together in an accident, the money is going to get split all over the place.
The original purpose of insuring to cover the home loan and keep the house will not be met.
If you get this point, you could stop and go to compare premiums now.
Secondly, personal term plans can offer you “Guaranteed Issuance Option”
What is it?
This is a free option given to you if you want to buy more insurance in future for the following life stage events. Even if you are unhealthy, there will be no sub-standard premium loadings, exclusions or counter offers.
- (1) Change of marital status
- (2) Becomes a parent by having a new born child, or legally adopt a child.
- (3) Graduate from tertiary education.
- (4) Purchases a property.
The fourth point is really interesting. That is for you to use if you purchase another property in future.
# Do note that while the extra insurance coverage is fully underwritten and accepted at standard terms, the premiums of that portion will be higher because of age.
Thirdly, lump sum payout if you are down with Total & Permanent Disability (TPD)
With a personal insurance plan, any insurer, the TPD benefit is paid out out in one lump sum (unless it is above $2m sum assured level). If you are claiming for $1m, you will receive $1m.
The Mindef Group Insurance however pays it over 3 years. If you are insured for $1m, you will receive $200k now, $400k the next year and the year after.
These are the AVIVA Mindef Group Insurance policy wordings.
If the sum payable in respect of a valid claim is above S$200,000, the Company will first pay a lump sum of S$200,000 and pay the balance in three (3) equal annual instalments.
You can’t really pay off the mortgage and get the mortgage instalments off your mind.
Fourthly, premiums can be cheaper
Especially if you are young, it is cheaper to do it on a personal plan.
It is not true that the MINDEF group term plan is the cheapest possible option for you.
Try our in-house calculator. Click below.
Besides, it is a subjected to changes on every renewal between MINDEF and the assigned insurance company (currently AVIVA).
What we do for planning your mortgage liability coverage
1) Compare term plans effectively for you. We collaborate with multiple insurers and we have in-house tools
2) Source for the best discounts from insurers based on your coverage size.
3) Preliminary underwriting enquires if you have health conditions
4) Planning if you want to purchase critical illness riders to cover your loan against such an event
5) Will writing and nomination advice
PS: Here’s something that you will really like,
Planning can be complex, there are so many details that I share with my private clients that I can’t list here.
Contact me with the WhatsApp button above to discuss further.
Last updated on February 28th, 2021 at 03:36 pm
