Having life insurance is the ultimate Plan B to protect your family from the mortality protection gap.
It’s typical for a healthy breadwinner with a steady income stream to think of himself as a “superman” who will always be around to provide for his family. However, the possibility of serious illness, disability, or even premature death constantly looms over this “superman” idea—and ignoring these threats will not make them go away.
There are about 75 percent of families in developing countries like the Philippines are vulnerable to both emotional devastation and loss of income when a family breadwinner or income‐earner passes away, according to Swiss research firm Swiss Re Institute. And this is identified as the mortality protection gap. Without a Plan B in the form of proper financial planning and a risk management plan, households are left vulnerable to financial ruin.
“A lot of Filipino breadwinners, especially those in the middle class, know that if anything unpleasant happens to them, their families will be severely affected. How will their family pay for housing? Utility expenses? How will their children continue their schooling? How will they pay for their daily needs? Unfortunately, many do not face this reality or prepare for the worst. Doing so underestimates the potential financial impact on their families,” said Renato Vergel De Dios, President and CEO of BDO Life.
Based on the findings of a United Nation’s study, there are four key factors that threaten a family’s financial security. And any one or more of these factors could happen to any person. Vergel De Dios pointed these out and how the coronavirus pandemic proved how financially vulnerable Filipino families are :
- unemployment or underemployment
- sickness and disability
- death of a spouse or the separation of a couple
- old age and death
“In the past two years, we’ve all lost a relative or a friend to COVID-19. One day, they’re okay. A few days later, we hear that they were rushed to the emergency room. We next learn that they’ve been hooked up to a ventilator. A few days later, they’re gone. This pandemic has served as a wake-up call to the fact that we need to be financially prepared for such contingencies,” Vergel De Dios explained.
To protect families from financial vulnerability, Vergel De Dios advised that aside from saving money to fund emergencies and future plans, it’s most important to have a Plan B aka life insurance. “Life insurance is the ultimate Plan B. When the breadwinner passes away, it provides funds to family members and buys them time—from a few months to a few years—to readjust their lives. It’s hard enough for family members who are grieving over the death of a parent or a spousE”. said Vergel De Dios.
In his financial literacy podcast, The 80 percent, licensed financial adviser Fitz Villafuerte gave an example of how life insurance can protect and preserve a family’s financial security.
“When my client’s father died, the family did not suffer much financially. The father was insured, so he left behind enough money so that the family had the income to live on as they adjusted to their new situation. The father even left behind money for the youngest child’s education,” said Villafuerte.
“We all assume that we will always stay healthy, that we will always be around to bring home the required family income month after month. But life makes no guarantees. A high-paying job, a successful business, and reasonably good health—these are no assurances that our family’s financial security is assured, without a Plan B. Just ask the family members of individuals with those same qualities yet who lost their lives during the pandemic,” added Vergel De Dios.
Filipinos are known for placing their loved ones first among their priorities. Yet for some reason, many procrastinate and defer their decision to acquire the very financial instrument that, in the direst situation, can help preserve the lifestyle that they have accustomed their family to enjoy. Life insurance is the only financial solution that makes a grieving family’s emotional distress more bearable by shielding them from day-to-day financial worries.
BDO Life is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BDO Unibank, the largest banking network in the country. BDO Life provides easy and reliable access to a Plan B with its wide range of life insurance products and extensive network of Financial Advisors stationed in BDO branches nationwide. Having life insurance is the ultimate Plan B to protect your family from the mortality protection gap.
May Plan B ka na ba? See how BDO Life can help you prepare for life’s what if’s here: www.bdo.com.ph/bdolife/we-protect. For any inquiries, speak to a BDO Life Financial Advisor at the BDO branch nearest you.
Mrs.Enero – Angel Enero is a former IT System Administrator and now a full-time SAHM to her #littleEneros. She’s a domesticated / hands-on mom who loves baking and gardening.
MRSENERODIARIES blog is an online diary of Angel Enero. Formerly a travel blogger and now a lifestyle mommy blogger. Blogging about EAT. PRAY. LOVE. TRAVEL.
Health insurance and having a backup plan is so important. I agree that COVID times has lead to so many hardships in so many people’s lives. Thank you for this important reminder & recommendation
Insurance gives security and a peace of mind
Malaking tulong talaga ang magkaroon ng insurance in case of emergency may maaasahan Ka kaya great decision talaga ang kumuha ng insurance
wow maganda yan mommy life insurance secured ba secured ang kinabukasan
Mahalaga talaga na may Life Insurance para hindi tayo nagwoworry kapag may nangyari sa atin na di inaasahan. Malaking tulong din ito para sa mga mahal natin sa buhay.
Life and health insurance is very important to make sure that your family is secured incase something happens. We dont want to put all our savings to waste.
I had a tie in my life where I was not insured… and it is an awful feeling. I hope they do something for everyone that does not have insurance.. it should be available for all.
Wow magnda yan may insurance for some incase na mangyare sa tao laking tulong nito
I think it’s always beneficial to know your options. That is why just go and sit down with a financial advisor could be an eye-opening experience.
Having a health insurance is really important in a lot of ways. Securing your families future is a must.
Ang Ganda naman po niyan. Secured na secured talaga
Napaka halaga talaga ang health insurance .. para safe and secured . Lalo na ngayong panahon ng pandemic … dapat laging may plan B … Yan ang importante … Laking help talaga ang BDO .. they find ways ..
wow maganda yan mommy life insurance for all family members ,at life insurance is very important Lalo na Ngayon mahirap Ang panahon, dapat may plan B tayo .and Thanks BDO for this,THEY FIND WAYS
Always Have a Plan B.. to secure our family. Life insurance is very important nowadays
Sa panahon po ngayon ay dapat may life insurance tayo pati ang ating pamilya lalo na ang mga breadwinners .
Mabuti nalang po at may BDOLIFE ! Nagbibigay kasi ito ng easy and reliable access sa mga Insurance products na under ng BDO . BY THIS, CGURADONG secured and protected na ang buong pamilya .
Thank you for sharing this kind of article mommy Angel. Talagang laking bagay talaga na habang tumatagal nakainsured na tau para incase na may mangyaring hnd maganda or emergency nakaready na. Good thing talaga mga nashashare ni BDO for all of us especially sa ating mga OFW kababayans.
Wow laking tulong talaga ito for life Insurance benefits secure talaga for incase of emergency
Having a health insurance is really important to all of us to secure our families.