Assessing your insurance needs
Do you have the right coverage—or just coverage? Identify real gaps in your life, health, disability, and critical illness protection before something goes wrong.
Last updated 1 July 2026
Key takeaways
Get term insurance if you only have life protection needs
There are different types of insurance for your various needs
Know what you can afford
What are your insurance needs?
Nowadays, it is possible to be insured against all sorts of risks. But it may not be necessary to cover yourself against all risks. Finding the right insurance product is about knowing what you want to protect and how much you will need to cover a financial loss if the event were to happen.
Here are the 3 main categories of insurance and how they can help you:
Life Insurance
Life insurance covers death of a breadwinner, total & permanent disability, death of a mortgager
If you're worried about... | consider |
|---|---|
Death of a breadwinner | Life insurance provides some money for your family if you pass away |
Total & permanent disability | Life insurance provides some money for you and your family if you suffer from a total and permanent disability |
Death of mortgagor/main borrower of home loan | Mortage reducing term assurance (a type of life insurance) pays off the mortgage if the mortgagor passes away |
Health Insurance
Health insurance covers trauma or critical illness, medical bills for major illness, long-term care for disability, and loss of income because of hospitalisation
If you're worried about... | consider |
Trauma or critical illness | Critical illness insurance pays a portion or lump sum on the first diagnosis of a serious illness |
Medical bills for major illness or accident | Medical expense insurance, e.g., MediShield Life (compulsory for Singapore Citizens and PRs), Integrated Shield Plans, other hospital and medical plans and riders. The main medical expense insurance plans pay a portion of hospital and surgical costs if you're ill or suffering from injuries due to an accident. Complementary plans such as riders cover the co-payment portions (e.g., deductible and co-insurance) that are not covered under the main plans |
Long-term care for disability | Long-term care plans, e.g. ElderShield, ElderShield supplements pay a fixed monthly amount for long-term treatment upon the insured’s inability to perform a number of “activities of daily living” such as bathing and dressing |
Loss of income because of hospitalisation | Hospitalisation cash insurance provides income if you're hospitalised |
General Insurance
General insurance covers loss of or damage to your belongings, including your car, home, pet, luggage and disruptions to travel plans
If you're worried about... | consider |
|---|---|
Loss of or damage to your belongings | Home contents insurance pays for repairs or replacement if you suffer loss or damage to your home or its contents. If you are renting your home, it’s your responsibility to cover the loss of or damage to the contents of your home |
Damage to or theft of your car | Car insurance pays for repairs or replacement if your car is stolen or damaged |
Damage to your home | Fire or home insurance pays for repairs or replacement if you suffer loss or damage to your home as a result of perils such as fire, flood, burglary |
Loss of luggage, trip delays, cost of medical care while travelling | Travel insurance pays for repairs or replacement if you suffer loss or damage to your belongings. Also pays for financial loss if there are delays or cancellations. It also pays for costs related to a personal accident while overseas including medical and repatriation expenses |
Protecting your pet | Pet insurance pays for vets' bills. Some will pay for you to advertise if your pet has been lost or even for kennel/cattery fees if the pet is suddenly admitted into a hospital |
How much insurance is enough?
To help you decide what insurance you need, make a list of the risks or events that concern you. Assess the likelihood of the event happening and the financial loss you or your dependants may suffer if so.
Consider how you would cover the financial loss. Buying a watch to replace a lost one might be fairly easy, but large hospital bills could set back your retirement goals if you don't have savings or insurance to cover this. If you already have some insurance policies, check to see if these cover you for the risks you are concerned about.
Remember you do not need to have insurance for everything, just the things that could set back your financial situation or your financial goals.
Related articles
Understanding life insurance
What happens to your family financially if you’re gone tomorrow? Understand term, whole life, endowment, and ILP policies—and which truly fits your protection needs.
Understanding health insurance
Understand how Integrated Shield Plans and riders boost your hospitalisation coverage—and what they actually cost Singaporeans.
Introduction to general insurance
Your car, home, travel plans, and helper are all at risk without proper cover. Get up to speed on general insurance in Singapore—what’s covered and what isn’t.