Despite having credit shortfall insurance, many policyholders find themselves out of pocket when it comes to claiming because they don't properly understand how the cover works. In its 2019 annual report the Ombud for Short-Term Insurance (OSTI)...
How new drunk-driving law will affect your car insurance
Guest AuthorJun 22, 2020
The days of having a beer after work and driving home will soon be over – and that’s not just because of the lockdown restrictions. Once South Africa’s strict new drunk-driving laws have been passed, drivers won’t be allowed to drink alcohol at...
Financial products leave self-employed in the cold
Maya Fisher-FrenchJun 18, 2020
One of the things to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis is that the financial industry needs to innovate in order to keep up with a rapidly changing workforce that is increasingly comprised of self-employed people. Most financial products remain...
Premium relief on medical schemes unlikely
Maya Fisher-FrenchMay 18, 2020
Don’t expect a blanket premium relief, but if you are struggling, contact your medical scheme for options. If you are struggling to meet your medical scheme contribution this month, don’t hold out for a blanket offering of a premium waiver. Medical...
Video: What does travel insurance cover?
Maya Fisher-FrenchMar 24, 2020
This video was done when travel operator Thomas Cook collapsed last year, however it is just as relevant for holiday-makers facing COVID-19 cancellations. Travellers may not be aware of the limits around travel insurance which has exclusions...
Listen: Tips to cut that insurance bill
Maya Fisher-FrenchFeb 7, 2020
One of the ways to find that extra cash to start saving is to review your fixed costs, like short-term insurance. In this episode Maya (@mayaonmoney) and Mapalo (@womanandfinance) discuss some of the new insurance players in the industry that are...
Video: Joint life insurance
Maya Fisher-FrenchJan 21, 2020
A recent survey found that middle-class households are cutting back on insurance and medical cover as their budgets come under pressure. However, if you have a family, life insurance is essential to provide for them if something happens to you. If...
The real cost of death
Maya Fisher-FrenchJan 13, 2020
Funerals are big business in South Africa, with an estimated R10bn a year spent on funerals and related services. Insurance companies have found a lucrative product offering in funeral policies, with around 15 million such policies currently held...
Find medical cover that fits your pocket and your needs
Maya Fisher-FrenchDec 12, 2019
It is that time of year when you will receive a letter from your medical scheme confirming your benefits and premiums for next year. This year the average scheme increases were between 8% and 12%. According to Alexander Forbes Health, these price...
Video: Understanding credit insurance
Maya Fisher-FrenchNov 26, 2019
If you have taken out credit, you mostly likely have a credit life policy linked to that loan for which you are paying a monthly fee. While it has many names such as credit life, credit protection insurance or payment protection insurance, it is...

Previous Articles

Does joint life cover make sense?
Sep 2, 2019
The recent Old Mutual Savings and Investment Monitor found that middle-class households are cutting back on insurance and medical cover. However, if you have a family, life cover is essential to provide for them if something happens to you. If you can only afford to...

Why motor insurance claims are disputed
Jul 1, 2019
When the Ombudsman for Short-Term Insurance (OSTI) released its annual report recently, it was unsurprising that complaints around motor vehicle insurance are the most common, at over 48%. Of these complaints, 18% of motor vehicle insurance disputes were resolved in...

Listen: Why a blood test could save you money
Jun 21, 2019
By having a blood test you can significantly reduce your life cover premium. So why are people so reluctant to do so? Maya Fisher-French (@mayaonmoney) and Mapalo Makhu (@womanandfinance) chat to Liberty expert Lisa Gibbon to understand what risk factors are...

Listen: Why do insurers turn claims down?
Jun 17, 2019
Media coverage around disallowed claims by life insurers has tarnished the industry. In this podcast, Maya Fisher-French and Mapalo Makhu chat to Dr Thabani Nkwanyana, lead specialist medical officer at Liberty on why a claim would be turned down – your rights and...

How much are you paying for credit life insurance?
Jun 10, 2019
If you have any credit facility or a loan, there is a good change you have credit life insurance. This is an insurance which settles the loan should you die or become disabled, and in some cases covers your repayments for a period of time if you are retrenched....

Listen: Jargon busting life insurance
May 31, 2019
Life insurance is the easy part – you die, you get paid. But what about all those other insurances that we are told we need, like income protection, disability lump sum insurance and critical illness? What do they mean and when do we need them? Maya (@mayaonmoney) and...

Should you claim for that dent?
Apr 24, 2019
Many people wonder whether they should claim from their car insurance after an incident that causes minor dents or scratches on their vehicle. Sumarie Greybe, co-founder at Naked Insurance takes a look at when it makes sense to submit a claim. After the annoyance and...

The difference between medical scheme cover and health insurance
Apr 11, 2019
By Riaan Oosthuizen, Alexander Forbes Health consultant As financial intermediaries we are often asked why medical scheme cover is so expensive compared to health insurance. Three main factors influence this. Underwriting and open enrolment The legislation governing...

Video: Car Insurance
Apr 2, 2019
The main reason we take out car insurance is so that we are covered in the case of an accident. However, if your car was not in a roadworthy condition at the time of an accident, or you were under the influence of alcohol, your policy might not pay out. So don’t drink...

Video: Travel Insurance
Mar 12, 2019
An unavoidable expense when planning a holiday, particularly if you're going overseas, is travel insurance. If you have booked your flight using your credit card, you might have automatic travel insurance benefits. However you need to read the fine print. Free basic...