Today, we are talking about income protection insurance and what are the 5 top features that you should look for when shopping for this type of insurance.
Lifestyle choices
Not surprisingly, your lifestyle has a lot to do with how much you are going to end up paying. In other words, the riskier your life choices, the higher your premiums. A smoker or heavy drinker, for example, will have higher premiums than a person who is abstinent, because they run less of a risk of internal organ damage, serious illness or death.
Occupation & recreation
Again, logically, your specific occupation will also influence your premiums. If you work as a miner, you can bet your premiums will be sky-high, and with good reason. Your life is in danger, and you are constantly under risk of work-related injuries that can render you unable to work.
Someone in a corporate environment, who works in a cubicle, however, is less likely to gravely injure themselves and claim the insurance money, so their premiums will be significantly lower.
Age, gender
As with any type of insurance, the younger you are, the lower your premiums are. That is directly related to the state of your health and your increased risk of illness that comes with age. So, as a young person with no vices or a taste for extreme sports, you shouldn’t be charged an arm and a leg. Along the same lines of biological realities we cannot alter, women will have higher premiums than men because they are statistically more likely to retire early. This can be because they are taking care of children, elderly parents or sick relatives.
Period of benefit
How long do you plan on counting on the insurance money, after you claim it? The longer this period is, the higher the premium will be. Of course, this depends on each particular person and their situation, but it must be thought about carefully. A longer period of benefit will be more expensive, but it is an expense that will prove to be well worth it, in the eventuality of illness or injury.
Deferred period
Similarly, how long after you are unable to work do you plan on claiming the insurance money? Waiting for a longer time works for your benefit because you will pay less. The earliest available claim is four weeks after you stop receiving income, but that’s going to cost you. It may be worth it to set up a savings account separately, so that you can rely on it to live for a while, before resorting to claiming the insurance.