I for one am very tired of all the life insurance advertisements as they have one purpose in mind; to spread fear into the customer to urge them to purchase a policy. They also like to make us believe that they are our friends and that they are here to help us "but first we must fill your consciousness with fear" as this is the only way they can sell these policies.
Then of course there are those advertisements which tell us that at some point we will all become sick and will not be able to support our families, so you need this other policy to protect your income.
When is a Policy an Asset?
I admit that anyone who is self employed in any manner should have at least a base policy to help them in the event that a claim has to be made. However, you really do need to ask a lot of questions before accepting the policy as everything is not as it seems.
These types of income protection policies are usually tax deductible.
Some things you should know when taking out a policy
Before you take out an income protection policy you need to ask a series of questions to ensure the policy is going to pay you if you need it.
I have personally been involved on both sides of the fence, and whilst these 3 questions are not the only questions you need to ask they are a great place to start. How long is the true waiting period ?What happens if I return part time ?
What effect does my existing skills have on the policy ?
The waiting period before making a claim is significant as sometimes you have to double this period of time. My policy states I have a waiting period of a month, as this is what I choose... But this does not mean I will be paid after the first month of illness or injury. For me this is the qualifying period I must wait before I can claim, then I have to wait another month before I will be paid, as they pay in arrears. So for me I consider I have a 2 month waiting period.
Will you pay me if I return to part time work. A lot of policies will tell you that you can actually return to part time work under doctor advice and they will pay you a difference whilst you are getting back on your feet. However, they also don't make it clear that in some of these cases they mean returning to a part time position in another occupation, not your normal occupation. They may immediately cease payments if you return to your normal occupation for ANY period of time, even 1 hour a day, and even if your doctor clearly states that you cannot return to full time. If you have this type of policy you might be best volunteering in a soup kitchen while you get fit and well.
Your existing skills and education can also be used to get out of paying you. I have a policy that relates only to my current occupation. If I need to make a claim they can only look at whether I can perform my usual occupation, not the other 50 odd occupations I performed over my lifetime. Some policies will do something like this; if I am a carpenter and I damage my back and cannot work in my occupation, but I drove taxi's part time 10 years ago, the insurance company may not pay because they will tell me that my injury does not restrict me driving, and because I have already proven skills in driving a taxi, they will tell me to stop bothering them and go drive a taxi for a living.
Remember
Behind all the advertising and all the social fear you will find a company that exists primarily for themselves only. They are usually not here for us, they are skilled marketers, they exist to make a profit, and if they can find a way not to pay you then this is the choice they will take.
But remember that in a time of a crisis, when illness or injury strikes you might want this protection to save your own butt. Don't let your insurance policy become a liability, ensure that your policy will cover you if you need it.
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