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?...
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Should you claim for that dent?
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....
The difference between medical scheme cover and health insurance
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...
Video: Car Insurance
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...
Video: Travel Insurance
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...
Where to find the cheapest funeral cover
A reader asked about the pros and cons of taking out funeral cover through a burial home versus going directly through an insurance company. Our research found that the pricing tends to be cheaper if you buy cover through an insurer because, in...
Can you take over someone else’s life policy?
If you have an elderly parent who has been paying towards a life or funeral policy for many years but can no longer afford the premiums, it may make sense to take over the policy payments if you are the beneficiary. If the policyholder were to...
Four mistakes to avoid when you’re in a car accident
By Sumarie Greybe, co-founder at short-term insurer Naked It’s the time of year for festive-season parties and holiday travel and, along with them, headlines and awareness campaigns about carnage on South Africa’s roads. The average driver in South...
Can an insurer refuse to pay out for non-disclosure?
Unpacking the recent controversy over Momentum’s refusal to pay a claim due to non-disclosure. Insurance group Momentum came under fire recently after it rejected a claim when a Durban man was shot and killed. The insurer rejected paying out R2.4...
Understand your medical cover when ‘buying down’
With above-inflation price increases announced by medical schemes, many members may be looking for more cost-effective options when it comes to healthcare. But before making a change, ensure you understand what you are ‒and are not ‒ covered for....
Previous Articles
Video: Shopping around for mortgage insurance
When you take out a mortgage or bond, you will be required to take out life insurance. This is so that if something happens to you, the insurance will cover your mortgage repayments. This usually includes death, disability and possibly retrenchment cover. What you...
When poor health saves you money
If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may qualify for a higher income in retirement. When it comes to taking out life insurance, underwriting for the cover usually means that a prior illness results in a higher premium. However, when it comes to...
There is no excuse not to be insured
With third-party insurance available for only R38 per month, not being insured could be the most expensive decision you ever make. A reader wrote recently to complain that a driver had stopped in front of him unexpectedly, causing him to crash into the back of her. As...
When your emergency is not paid by your medical scheme
Don’t rush off to the emergency room too quickly – it may cost you more than you realise. A recent twitter rant by a Discovery Health Medical Scheme member highlighted an often-misunderstood fact about hospital plans: they don’t cover visits to the emergency or...
New car insurance player could reduce your premiums
New short-term insurer Naked challenges the insurance status quo. When it comes to car insurance, ideally you want to be fully insured so that your own car is covered in an accident or theft, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay the highest premium in the market. Car...
Insurance for the self-employed
The biggest risk for the self-employed is being unable to work due to illness or trauma. The growth in the so-called “gig economy” is one of the biggest labour trends globally. This is where individuals with a specific skill set leave mainstream employment to offer...
Survey reveals confusing complexity in medical gap cover products
GTC launches inaugural Gap Cover Survey to rank and categorise all providers in South Africa Sanlam and Absa have emerged as the top-ranked medical top-up ‒ often referred to as ‘gap cover’‒ providers in South Africa, according to the first ever ranking of these...
Your UIF questions answered
Please note that this website cannot answer your questions about your UIF application. You must apply and submit your continuation forms via the UIF website. If you are struggling with the online application process, you can email Ms Ditoro Makgato, Mr Deon van...
Claim statistics reveal our biggest risks
Cancer, car accidents and retrenchment are major risks for younger people. Both Momentum and Liberty recently released their claim statistics, revealing some concerning trends especially relating to cancer and claims among younger clients. Momentum statistics show...
Factors to consider when ceding your life policy
By Lee Bromfield, CEO of FNB Life Many consumers who are eager to finalise the house-buying process often rush into taking out and ceding life insurance without first doing their homework. The ceding of a life policy involves legally transferring a portion of the...