Direct Purchase Insurance (DPI) Term Life Insurance
4/5
CATEGORY
Life Insurance
TYPE
Term Life Insurance (Level premium)
COVERS
Death, Total & Permanent Disability (TPD), Terminal Illness (TI)
OPTIONAL ADD-ON RIDERS
Critical Illness (CI)
Available Policy Term
5 years (renewable), 20 years or up to age 65 (max age)
Overview
Generally lower premium than personal plans as you buy directly from the insurer with no commissions paid to financial advisers/agents
Buy online conveniently for selected insurers (see list below)
Premiums are level during the policy term – they don’t increase with age within the selected coverage period (of either 5 years, 20 years or from now till age 65)
For Whom
Suitable For
Not Suitable For
For What Purpose?
Income replacement for dependants or self in case of:
Death/TPD/TI
Death/TPD/TI:
Lump sum payout (sum assured of min. $50k/max $400k) will be paid out to your dependants to support their living expenses in case of your death/TPD/ TI.
Late-stage Critical Illness (rider):
Provides a lump sum accelerated payout of the sum assured upon diagnosis of a late-stage critical illness. An accelerated payout means no further payment will be made to your family in the event of death thereafter.
- This payout serves as income replacement during your recovery period, helping to cover living expenses while you're unable to work.
- It can also be used for alternative treatments not covered by your Integrated Shield Plan, such as cancer drugs not on the Cancer Drug List or Traditional Chinese Medicine.
- However, this rider does not cover hospitalisation expenses or early-stage critical illnesses
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Offers good value-for-protection
- Simple to apply, with some insurers offering the option to purchase directly online – no need to go through an adviser
Cons
- DPI does not have an adviser linked to the policy for policy servicing and claims
Sum assured for the CI rider, if added, must be equivalent to your main plan’s basic sum assured.
For instance, if your policy has a basic sum assured of $300k, the CI coverage must be $300k as well. As a result, this will impact the overall premium you pay for the policy.
Things to Note
- The late-stage CI rider covers only 30 CI conditions.
- Late-stage CI benefits are paid out by accelerating your basic sum assured, which reduces the death benefit to $0 upon payout. Therefore, if you need higher coverage for Death, TPD or TI, it’s recommended to purchase a separate life insurance to increase your coverage your life coverage.
Where to Buy / Get More Information?
PREMIUM AFFORDABILITY RANKING:
| Rank | Insurers | Buy Online? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Etiqa Insurance | |
| 2 | Tokio Marine | |
| 3 | Income Insurance Limited | |
| 4 | HSBC Life | |
| 5 | China Taiping | |
| 6 | China Life | |
| 7 | FWD Singapore | |
| 8 | Singlife | |
| 9 | Great Eastern Life | |
| 10 | Prudential | |
| 11 | Life Insurance Corporation (Singapore) Pte Ltd | |
| 12 | Manulife | |
| 13 | AIA |
Written by: Anton Tan, CFP®
Last updated: 16 December, 2024
Disclaimer: This publication has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The information contained herein does not have any regard to the specific investment objective(s), financial situation or particular needs of any individual. Buying insurance is a long-term commitment and should be based on your unique needs and the suitability of the products. It is advisable to seek advice from a financial adviser to assess your needs and guide you on the features and details of the products before making any financial decisions. The coverage, benefits, premiums, and terms of insurance policies may vary depending on individual circumstances and insurance providers. Individuals are encouraged to review their own insurance needs and policies and seek advice tailored to their specific situation. While every reasonable care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, no responsibility can be accepted for any loss or inconvenience caused by any error or omission.
