One in two here under private health plans

One in two here under private health plans

Health insurance remains a top priority for people here, new figures from last year show.

More than 50,000 Singapore residents took out new health insurance coverage last year, primarily through Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) and IP riders.

As at Dec 31, 2.89 million people - about one in two people here - were covered with private health plans and riders, with total premiums of $1.42 billion.

For the 12 months ended Dec 31, new health insurance premiums amounted to $241 million, of which IP premiums and IP riders accounted for about 86 per cent or $208 million.

The data was disclosed by the Life Insurance Association Singapore (LIA), which held its quarterly briefing yesterday.

Lifted by strong sales in the fourth quarter, Singapore's life insurance industry was a winner, expanding 10 per cent to $3.29 billion for the year ended Dec 31 in terms of what the industry calls total weighted new business premiums.

The robust performance meant the total sum assured in these new life policies soared 15 per cent to $117 billion.

LIA president Khoo Kah Siang attributed the strong showing to growth across businesses and concerted efforts by insurers to close the gap of those lacking adequate protection and retirement coverage.

He said insurers have been actively offering plans in the retirement space in the last few years, which helps provide long-term savings for customers.

POSITIVE

Last year, nearly 18,000 plans providing regular payouts from the age of retirement were sold with total weighted premiums of $163 million, accounting for 5 per cent of total new business.

Dr Khoo said: "We are conservatively positive on the outlook for this year and expect to continue to grow...

"The level of insurance spending per citizen here is a low 5 per cent compared to mature markets like Taiwan."

LIA is working on the implementation details of recommendations of the Health Insurance Task Force - aimed at reining in escalating claim costs - and expects to disclose these details in April.

It also plans to introduce revisions to insurance sales illustrations by early next year.

For the full year of 2016, weighted single premium product sales rose 9 per cent to $1.03 billion, boosted by a 15 per cent growth in non-linked products, such as term, whole life and savings plans, to $799 million.

For the quarter ended Dec 31, total weighted new business premiums rose 15 per cent to $955.3 million, year on year.

This was driven by a healthy growth of 20 per cent in annual premium sales to $661.1 million, while weighted single premium products registered a 4 per cent increase to $294.2 million.

Banks were the main channel of distribution representing $1.25 billion or 38 per cent of total weighted new business premiums last year.

Agents tied to insurers accounted for 37 per cent and financial advisers 21 per cent.

lornatan@sph.com.sg

This article by The Straits Times was published in The New Paper, a free newspaper published by Singapore Press Holdings.

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