Principle of insurance - share the loss

A policyholder wrote to ask my advise about a dread disease plan for his other who is 55 years old. He said that the premium is high. Term insurance is cheaper, but he will "lose money" on the insurance.

My advice to him is:

- the dread disease plan is not essential for your mother. If she falls ill, the hospital bill can be met by the hospital insurance (which she is already covered)

- if the premium is a burden on your cash flow, you can probably use it better elsewhere, e.g. to save for your own retirement needs.

You should not refer to "losing money" when you buy insurance. You are paying for the cost of insurance, and not "losing money".

Similarly, when we pay a premium to insure our vehicle or home, we are paying for the cost of insuring the risk. In fact, we are happy that we do not make any claim.

The premium that we pay is "not lost". It is used to pay the claim suffered by other people who meet with an accident or loss. We are helping other people.

If we suffer the loss, other people are helping us. This is the principle of insurance - to share the loss.