Life changes can change insurance coverage needs. Periodically assessing insurance coverage can help ensure an individual is not carrying too much or too little to address specific needs according to lifestyle.
“As we age, our lives and insurance needs change. A 30-year-old woman may require comprehensive maternity benefits, but once she’s 60, these needs shift,” says Becky Mills, vice president, Research and Development for Combined Insurance, a leading provider of supplemental disability, health and accident insurance. “Another example – if you are no longer working, do you need disability insurance?”
According to Mills, often people obtain insurance coverage, pay the premiums regularly and forget about it until they need to file a claim. This can lead to carrying and paying for coverage they don’t need and, even worse, not having the protection they may need.
What to look for
When reviewing current insurance policies, think about changes that have occurred since obtaining coverage:
- Employment – a change of employers can mean a change in benefit levels and options; retirement can nullify the need for disability insurance.
- Family – the birth of a child can increase the need for life insurance while an empty nester may be able to stop coverage for an older child.
- Income – if income has risen, one’s lifestyle probably has too potentially signaling a need for higher disability coverage. But if the household has multiple incomes, perhaps less coverage is required.
Supplemental insurance plans can be an affordable option for adding complementary coverage to ensure evolving needs are met. These plans can help fill gaps in coverage, provide benefits that can be used to help cover out-of-pocket expenses not covered by primary medical insurance like co-payments and deductibles or provide cash that can help cover bills and everyday expenses particularly if you are unable to work. Supplemental insurance covers many critical conditions, generally pays benefits directly to the policyholder and can provide flexible coverage options. "The key is knowing what you need for your personal or family situation," says Mills.
For assistance determining insurance coverage needs, visit combinedinsurance.com.
About Combined Insurance
Combined Insurance (http://www.combinedinsurance.com.) is a leading provider of supplemental accident, health and life insurance products and is a member of the ACE Group of Companies. With a field sales force and corporate staff in excess of 10,000 people worldwide, Combined Insurance meets the growing coverage needs of policyholders around the globe. For more information, call 1-800-490-1322 or visit combinedinsurance.com.
About ACE
ACE Group is one of the world’s largest multiline property and casualty insurers. With operations in 54 countries, ACE provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. ACE Limited, the parent company of ACE Group, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ACE) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Additional information can be found at acegroup.com.