The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on life insurance
Life Insurance
The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on life insurance
By Leon Song
The global pandemic of COVID-19, also known to some as coronavirus, has greatly affected our daily lives and work. Obviously, it will also have a significant impact on American life insurance and related industries.
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As we all know, the impact of the pandemic caused a sharp decline in our economy and made it very unstable, as well as lower interest rates, which will remain low for a long time. This undoubtedly caused the investment income of major insurance companies to decrease and the profit margins to shrink. Economic turbulence, coupled with the high mortality rate and related uncertain risks caused by this virus, the risks of major financial companies, including banks, are increasing, and insurance companies are similar. We know that insurance companies are much more stable than ordinary financial companies, such as banks, and are much more resistant to risks. Among them, National Life Group (NLG) has a history of 172 years and has been developing steadily.
In short, the COVID-19 pandemic and its related impacts are mainly reflected in the economic benefits of insurance companies and their competitiveness. On the other hand, this situation will also make more people pay attention to health and life insurance, especially products with living benefits (similar to major illness insurance). According to some industry data, the number of US life insurance applications has increased by 50% in the recent period.
Insurance Cost
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The impact of the pandemic on the economy is most directly reflected in the increase in insurance costs, such as the increase in reinsurance fees and reserves of insurance companies. Likewise, the insurance industry will take these actions to improve risk resistance and maintain a good financial situation. The increase in insurance costs has been reflected in some insurance companies modifying some of the application and underwriting conditions.
To reduce risks, some insurance companies do not accept applications from certain countries and regions, some increase Covid-19 related underwriting provisions, some adjust life insurance products, some reduce the maximum interest rate (Cap), and some have increased the premiums of individual life insurance products by 10%.
However, in order to facilitate customers, many insurance companies have successively introduced new insurance application methods such as "no need to meet and sign, electronic signature". The specific methods of each insurance company are different. Below, we will take National Life Group as an example.
National Life Group
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In particular, the National Life Group (NLG) life insurance is recommended here. It has Living Benefits and meets the requirements of the end-stage. These benefits are triggered if you experience a qualifying terminal, chronic, or critical illness. This includes any qualifying event triggered by COVID-19.
This also includes long-term care and adult daycare. In summary, optional Accelerated Benefit Riders (ABRs), offered at no-additional cost, can provide access to your death benefit during your lifetime.
Additionally, the company simplifies the insurance process. Insured people with an insured amount of less than $3 million can "remote video insurance without medical examination", and foreign students such as F1 visas can also purchase it. However, the applicant must be in the United States before the application and underwriting are approved. NLG specially developed the corresponding APP and provided it to the Agent for use, which greatly facilitated customers.
It can be understood as follows: American life insurance is a safe haven for dollar assets under crisis. The significant economic changes and chain reactions triggered by the pandemic have caused snap buying of US dollars and US debt. From a global perspective, no matter how the economy deteriorates, the US dollar and US debt are the best and safest assets in the world.
In the US dollar financial product market, guaranteed and fixed income products, in addition to some claims, bank deposits, and hedging securities, are life insurance with financial management functions. Among them, the risk of hedging securities is very high, the interest rate of bank deposits is extremely low, or even zero, but life insurance is tax-free. This shows that US life insurance, as the core guarantee for asset allocation, is one of the best choices for personal asset allocation during the economic downturn.
Living Satisfied
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If you can have life insurance with living benefits in an epidemic/pandemic situation, which includes major injuries and illnesses, and chronic diseases, it is both a guarantee (protection) and ideal personal asset allocation or financial management tool, so you will certainly be living satisfied. NLG is a veteran life insurance company in the United States and is one of the few companies that can provide such products. On this topic, please read my next blog: Introduction to the National Life Insurance Group.
If you would like to learn more information, please visit our website: www.lsefinance.com. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
**All examples used here for illustrative purpose only
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