Saturday, March 31, 2007

Don't treat the maid like a dog.

It is sad that some employers do not provide proper food for their maids and some has to resort to begging.

Today's Straits Times has a write up on the process of the maid in their resolve to break out from poverty, leaving their husband, children and family to work in Singapore.

Maids are employed to help families in their chores and to take care of our family.

They sacrified their love for their family to come and help to take care of our family, we should learn to appreciate them.

I had our maid 13 years ago, and when she came to us, she was a widow. I told her that she can be slow, but she need to be honest and hardworking, that's all I ask for and I asked for a malay colleague to help me to write down in Malay to read to her. She came at age 39 and is now age 52. Do not be fooled by older worker, she has been a good companion to my mum now.

She is allowed to rest and take afternoon nap when work is done since with us, as she wakes up early in the morning each day to start the day. She basically does household chores and keep my mum company today as all my kids are quite big.

Everyone wish that our employer appreciates our work and takes care of us in our employment, and I think it is only fair, we treat the maid with respect and appreciates them the same.

Friday, March 30, 2007

Can you depend on Employer Medical Plan?

I always believe that Shield Plan (or PMI ) is an important backup, even if one is provided with benefit from the employer.

I received a call last week for advice about a claim for some one (not my client) whose father was warded in TTSH with Stroke.

He has Enchanced Incomeshield Plan Basic with Plus Rider, and a company medical insurance benefit.

On Monday, I was contacted again that the company forget to renew the policy and unfortunately this man suffered a stroke.

It is fortunate that the daughter has insured him under Enhanced Incomeshield Plan Basic with Plus Rider two months back.

Imagine if this person has no Incomeshield, the impact will be huge. Stroke patient needs long stay to stabilise condition and if bad enough, may be a month or two months in hospital and then after, transfer to community hospital for rehabilitation treatment.

My advice is look at Shield Plan ( PMI ) as a backup because reason is more obvious now.

1. Small company or if the administrator forget to renew, insurer will stay by that and policy lapse. In this case, Policy is only one day late in renewal and this man is excluded. Which insurer? Not Ntuc Income. But his Incomeshield now covers his stay.

2. If one is down with serious illness, after some time, if there is no recovery or lost the capacity to work, one may be medically board out from employment, does one has a plan to back up? It will be too late then to consider any plan as insurer will not take in such substandard case by then. I always say that if we are healthy, which we all wish to be, we just pay donation to this plan.

All I can advice and advice is please have a Shield Plan in place.

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Anti-Smoking Campaign - Why Smoke?

The anti-smoking campaign is not new.

But why smoke? In all respect to my younger colleague whenever I pass by them when they are having their puff, I will alway tell them, friend,save the cigarette money and buy Living Policy.

Though I speak in a jest, I mean to tell them the truth.

One pack of cigarette is about $7?

If one smokes away $5 a day, one month is $150.

Friend, give up smoking and channel this $150 to buy a Living Policy is far better.

I can say as much for so many years, that whenever I pass them by, before I rattle my words, my friends will now always tell me back before I open my mouth "okie, okie, stop smoking and buy Living Policy ".

It is a habit that is not easy to give up, but I encourage you to do so for the sake of health and your family.

Do not smoke your life away.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Cactus Blooming





I have some cactus, and one of them has bloom a flower before.

Many shop sold cactus with small little flowers on the cactus, those are small flowers but big bluff.

Cactus budding is very interesting, it starts with a very tiny small little bud and start to grow bigger and a long stem will grow bring the bud forward and one of the night the flower will bloom and open at night and fade off.

The flower is very beautiful, I hope to capture the growing process of this flower and place here to share it with you.

IDAC reporting

Some insurer require their insured to report to IDAC in event of an accident.

Ntuc Income is one of them.

Some say IDAC is troublesome.

Infact, I think IDAC provides customer convenience and hassle free way to handle claim.

1.In event of accident, if car cannot move, it will be towed to IDAC
2.If car can move, policyholder need to go IDAC to do a reporting
3.Ntuc Income will then contact owner to take over the car for repair
4.Courtesy car will be provided at IDAC,if the policy has courtesy car benefit added
5.When car is repaired, owner will drive the courtesy car to IDAC to exchange for the repaired car.

This is simple and convenient.

Ntuc Income provides a 24 hour hotline 67886616 to assist policyholder in event of any accident.

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Pedestrians today are taking road safety for granted

Today's pedestrian are really taking safety for granted, talking over mobile , SMSing, KISSING, TALKING, DANCING across the road. There is no sense of urgency in crossing the road.

Just this morning when I was driving along Ang Mo Kio, a lady just walk across the road irregardless of my approaching, while her husband stood on the dividing white line.

There are also some drivers who are inpatience, and some no conscience or bad judgement, this pedestrian will get it. Verdict - Accident. Who lose out? Stupid pedestrian of course.

Why are some pedestrians crossing with such disregard, having a "dare the motorist to hit them" attitude?

Many think motorist will slow down for them, but they may meet a driver that are not paying attention in car or one with slower physo-motor skill or inexperience and accident will happen.

Let's not take road safety for granted.

Insurance can compensate for accident, but why suffer the pain and the lost of live?

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Pedestrian head onto my motorbike

I just came back from Ubi Traffic Police station.

At 1835hr, on 9th March 2007, while travelling Lavender Street I was involved in an accident.

One boy head onto rear of my motorcycle.

The mother and two boys rush across the road, and one of the boy straight straight run and crashed into back of my motorcycle box. I wobbled and controlled the bike and came to immediate stop and realised that boy head onto my rear box.

I immediately went to check him. He had bruise on his forehead.

He was stable and but I was worried for his head and told the mum I will call the ambulance, but his mum refused, but I insisted and call 999 ambulance came and send them to KKH.

I waited for traffic police to arrive to clear me and after investigation, left scene at 8.30 pm.I was then asked to report to Ubi at 10 pm for investigation. I have done that and police report done.

I am thankful, the boy is okie, but I do not want to take chance since his head head onto my bike.

Also thank God, the shop owner stand witness for me and gave his statement to traffic police at scene that it was the boy not attended to by his mum rushed out and hit rear of my bike.

I hope pedestrians, especially those with young children, please do not to take road safety for granted.

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Automatic Medishield Coverage for New Born

New Born will automatically be insured under Medishield or once registered in Primary 1 according to today's ST report.

I applaud the Minister for making this opt out for Children.

Many parents are ignorant or could not be bothered with shield plans, this is a good move to help this group of people.

Shield Plan is also such low premium plan that many advisers do not wish to undertake, sorry for my comment on this, and this will indeed be helpful for the poorer and ignorant fellow citizens.

No more cherry picking and all children will be insured. This is indeed a very good move.

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Sudden Death

The only certainty in life is DEATH.

Lately, there are so many reports on young students, national serviceman, sportsman and ordinary folks just collapsed of heart attack or sudden death.

Naturally back in our mind will be how well are they covered.

It is not that in this profession as Insurance Advisor we wish to capitalise on the misfortune of others, but again how can we educate the public on the importance of life insurance.

Some time it is not how expensive the insurance premium is, but how well have one planned for the financial security of their own family.

Sudden death is painful to the family, but if a family lost the financial security, it is double whammy.

I always like to take the example of buying a car.

Many people are willing to pay faithfully each month about $500 for the instalment of a car, but so unwilling to put $200 aside each month for the financial security of one's family.

A car will be scrapped with no much value at the end of 10 years, but what is put in to plan for financial security of the family can go a long way for the family as they bear the lost of the loved ones, in lesser financial hardship.

Strike a balance between cost of a car and cost of financial security for the family.

Sunday, March 4, 2007

Confusion over Eldershield, DPS and Shield Plans

Shield Plans are important.

Some of you may be confused with so many Shields and worst, mixed up with Eldershield and DPS all lump into one and cannot differentiate them, only knowing some go to Great Eastern and some to Ntuc Income.

I can understand the confusion, but it is quite tedious to write to differentiate them for you as it may then become even more confusing, but let me try.

1. Eldershield - ElderShield is an insurance scheme introduced by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to provide financial help to those who are unable to take care of themselves because of severe disabilities.

2. DPS - Dependant's Protection Scheme
DPS is a low cost term-life, opt-out insurance scheme that provides a basic coverage of up to $46,000. It aims to provide the insured and their families with some money to tide them over the first few years in the event of death or permanent incapacity.

Click on above hyperlink to read in more details on the Eldershield and DPS.

I shall write about the Incomeshield in the next topic later.