Nearly a third of homeowners (31%) have said they would only consider purchasing protection insurance if they fell ill1 – which defeats the point as it’s already too late by then.
Other triggers for taking out protection include having an accident (24%) or a change in employment status (25%). A further 22% say there is no circumstance that would make them consider purchasing a protection product.
Other reasons given include:
• Not thinking they need it (28%)
• Believing it to be too expensive (25%)
• Not being able to afford it (22%).
No regrets
Unfortunately, once people experience a change in their circumstances, it is often too late to protect themselves.
Protection policies rarely offer backdated cover, meaning that homeowners could find themselves in unnecessary financial difficulty as they try to meet their mortgage, bills and other essential payments.
Many of those questioned said they wish they had better understood the true value of protection, with one in seven people (14%) regretting not having financial protection in place that would have supported their mortgage payments in the past.
Get ahead
We can help explain the implications of having no protection insurance for you and your family, and advise you on suitable and cost-effective products to protect you financially – before it’s too late.
1MetLife, 2021
The value of investments and income from them may go down. You may not get back the original amount invested. A pension is a long-term investment. The fund value may fluctuate and can go down. Your eventual income may depend on the size of the fund at retirement, future interest rates and tax legislation.