When it comes to personal insurance, many New Zealanders either don’t have enough cover or don’t have any at all. It’s a common belief that insurance is an unnecessary expense – until the unexpected happens. The reality is that being underinsured can end up costing you significantly more in the long run, both financially and emotionally.
What is Underinsurance?
Underinsurance occurs when your insurance cover is insufficient to fully protect you and your family in the event of illness, injury, disability, or death. This could mean having life cover that wouldn’t fully support your family, income protection that only covers a fraction of your salary, or trauma insurance that doesn’t reflect the real cost of medical expenses and recovery time.
The Hidden Risks of Being Underinsured
1. Financial Strain During Recovery
If you suffer a serious illness or injury and don’t have adequate income protection, you may find yourself unable to meet your financial commitments. ACC in New Zealand covers work-related injuries, but it doesn’t cover illnesses such as cancer, strokes, or heart attacks – some of the most common reasons people are unable to work. Without sufficient cover, you may need to dip into savings, take on debt, or rely on family support just to get by.
2. Increased Debt and Asset Loss
If an unexpected event leaves you unable to work, ongoing expenses don’t just disappear. Mortgage repayments, rent, car loans, and utility bills continue to pile up. Families often resort to high-interest debt or even selling assets such as their home just to stay afloat. This can set back financial goals by years or even decades.
3. More Limited Options
Many people assume the public healthcare system will cover everything they need, but in reality, treatment delays can be significant. Private medical insurance can give you access to quicker treatment, specialists, and non-Pharmac-funded medications.
4. Added Stress When You Least Need It
Beyond the financial burden, underinsurance can place additional stress on you and your family. If you were to pass away unexpectedly, would your loved ones be able to cover ongoing living costs, mortgage repayments, or education expenses? Insufficient life insurance can leave dependents struggling to maintain their lifestyle, leading to further emotional and financial hardship.
5. Long-Term Financial Insecurity
Retirement savings can take a hit if you’re forced to withdraw funds early due to an accident or illness. This could mean working longer than planned or facing financial insecurity later in life. Ensuring adequate cover means you can protect not just your present, but your future financial well-being too.
The Bottom Line
Underinsurance isn’t just about having “some” cover – it’s about having the right cover for the age and life stage that you are currently at. Cutting corners on personal insurance may seem like a way to save money in the short term, but it might not be the right strategy in the longer term. The best time to review your insurance is before you need it, not after a crisis has already hit.
How to Ensure You’re Properly Covered
To make sure that you are properly covered we recommend:
At Threefold, our advisers can help you assess your situation and ensure you have the right level of protection in place. Don’t wait until it’s too late – talk to us today about securing your financial future.
If you don’t have insurance in place, or if you would like your insurance reviewed, book a free chat with one of our specialist insurance advisers. And… if you book an insurance review this month, you’ll go in the draw to win a month’s mortgage repayments on us (up to the value of $5,000). To book your review, click here.
The content of this article should not be taken as financial advice, or a recommendation of any financial product. These insights are based on current economic commentary, market pricing for interest rates, and our personal opinion. Threefold is not liable or responsible for any information, omissions, or errors present.