When you’re looking to sort out insurance for you and your family it can be tempting to keep everything in the same place, under one roof. Many people’s employers offer insurance as part of contracts or promotions. While this can seem an easy option in the short term you might actually find you are poorly covered or paying more than you should be. So why exactly are corporate insurance policies not always the best option?
Since life insurance is one of the most important financial products on the market today, it’s not uncommon to pay a small percentage of your wage towards a life cover policy that’s part of your contract. Sadly, what many people don’t realise is that this policy becomes void should you leave you job, be made redundant or even change departments. Taking out an independent policy outwith your job allows you to retain a sense of freedom and also means that you are fully covered regardless of what happens, making every payment count!
Although employers advertise health insurance as a company benefit, sold to you at a heavily discounted price, this may be far from the case. Company health insurance packages are prone to much greater market fluctuations than free standing polices taken out independently. As the department who organises your insurance work to keep employee policies up to date and competitive, you may also find the small print to your package changes without your knowledge or consent; a scenario that could prove risky if you require treatment that is no longer covered.
Finally, payment protection insurance is steadily becoming one of the country’s most popular forms of insurance. Protection your loan, credit card and mortgage repayments should you find yourself out of work or unable to make a living through ill health, PPI is a favourite form of insurance by employers. Recently, however, PPI has come under intense scrutiny as policy holders find their insurance does not cover them, was missold or is extremely costly. Shopping around or contacting a financial advisor is the best course of action when ensuring what you’ve taken out is right for you.
Be wise, shop around and don’t jump at the first policy that comes your way are all good pieces of advice for people looking to take out insurance but are well aware of the pitfalls associated with corporate insurance. Big names like Aviva, BUPA and Patient Choice are all reputable companies to go for if you’re looking for a recognisable name as well.