What is loan protection insurance?
Loan protection insurance is designed to cover your monthly loan repayments if you are unable to work due to an accident, sickness or unemployment (depending on the policy terms). Policies can vary widely between insurers with some companies offering additional benefits such as critical illness and life cover; however, typically, cover is available for a period of 6 -12 months only. Taking out loan protection can provide peace of mind that your repayments will be met in case you are unable to work through no fault of your own, but this cover is optional and is not a condition of taking out a loan.
What cover options are available?
Policies vary widely between loan protection providers but some of the features available may include:
Accident and sickness cover: To cover repayments if you are unable to work due to illness or incapacity.
Unemployment cover: A monthly benefit if you are unemployed for a pre-determined period, usually for more than 15 days and up to a maximum of 6 - 12 months.
Hospitalisation cover: Some policies will pay if you have to stay in hospital for a pre-determined length of time, usually more than three consecutive days and up to 365 days.
Life cover: Several loan protection insurance providers also offer a lump sum equal to the amount borrowed under your loan agreement less any arrears.
Additional considerations when taking out loan protection insurance
When taking out loan protection insurance it's vital to examine the terms and conditions carefully and to be mindful of exclusions.
For example,
you may not be able to make a successful claim if you have taken voluntary unemployment or you were dismissed for misconduct. Many providers do not pay out if your circumstances change during the policy term, such as if you reach the age of 65, or if you have a pre-existing medical condition. You should also pay attention to the wait period, which is the length of time you will have to wait before you are eligible to claim and receive a payout, and could be as long as 30-90 days.
How to choose the right loan protection insurance policy
Loan protection insurance are often sold alongside loans themselves, however, it is optional and you may be able to find more comprehensive cover at a cheaper price by shopping around. It’s often worth applying the same forethought to a loan protection policy as to a loan itself by comparing as many policies as possible before you decide which one is right for you.
Be sure to enter all your information accurately, as omitting or providing inaccurate information may invalidate your claim. Before deciding to purchase a policy you should ensure that the terms of the policy meet your demands and needs.
‘Business insurance’ is a general term that covers the different types of insurance policies that are advisable or may be a legal requirement for your business or enterprise.
Business insurance options include:
Business premises insurance, also known as commercial buildings insurance
Business assets insurance, also known as business contents insurance
Public liability insurance
Employers‘ liability insurance
Professional indemnity insurance
Other specialist policies
The level of cover available for each different type of policy is subject to the individual policy terms of each insurance company. You should always check the policy documents to see what's included as standard and what is considered an ‘optional extra’ i.e. available at an additional cost.
In this part of our guide we look at insurance for business premises and contents.
Insuring your business premises
If you have business premises then a business premises insurance policy will cover your commercial buildings against a range of risks, for example fire, explosion, storm damage and flooding. Some insurance companies offer ‘all risk’ insurance which provides cover for other damage and loss as specified in the policy terms, including accidental damage cover.
What level of cover will I need?
When you take out a business premises insurance policy you will need to insure the premises for the full rebuilding cost, also known as the ‘reinstatement value’, rather than the market value. The reinstatement value is the cost of rebuilding the property in the event of a total loss; your insurance company may give you the option to add on an additional percentage to protect against underestimates and index linking.
Don't be tempted to under-insure in order to cut costs, as should you need to claim then you will be limited to the amount you insured the premises for regardless of whether the actual loss or damage is more.
What if I am a tenant?
If you are a tenant then it may be your landlord who is responsible for insuring the premises, unless the business has a shop front, in which case the responsibility for acquiring suitable insurance cover will normally lie with the tenant. If your landlord is responsible for insuring the premises and your lease complies with the Code for Leasing Business Premises in England and Wales 2007 then the insurance should be fair, reasonable and represent value for money. You have the right to request details of any commission received by your landlord and the details of the relevant insurance policies relating to the premises.
What if I am a landlord?
If you are a landlord then there will be a variety of policy options available to you, including policies for premises that are unoccupied or let.
Insuring business assets or equipment
Insurance for business assets or equipment is also known as business contents insurance. It's designed to cover items such as stock, machinery or equipment and other contents.
What are my policy options?
When it comes to insuring business assets or equipment you will have a number of options open to you. In terms of cover, you'll normally have the choice of ‘replacement as new’ insurance or ‘indemnity’ insurance.
Replacement as new policies are also referred to as ‘new-for-old cover’ and, if the claim is valid, the policy will meet the full cost of replacing items if they are stolen or destroyed; alternatively, the cost of repair will be met if the items are damaged. Unlike replacement as new policies, ‘indemnity’ policies deduct the cost of wear and tear so that the policyholder is put back in the same state or financial position they were in prior to the loss.
There is also the option to take out a ‘business interruption’ policy to insure against loss of profits and increased overheads resulting from, for example, key pieces of equipment or machinery being damaged or stolen.
Working from home
If you operate your business from your home, or work from home on a regular basis, then you may need a specialist insurance policy as standard home insurance will not provide cover for business-related risks.
In the next part of our guide we explain what public liability insurance is and why it's necessary.
What is van insurance and why do I need it?
In 1946 the Motor Insurers' Bureau was set up to provide a way of compensating the victims of uninsured or untraced motorists. All motor insurance companies must be members of the Motor Insurers' Bureau and contribute to its funding.
So if an uninsured or untraced driver injures you or damages your van, you should receive compensation from the Motor Insurers' Bureau.
Van insurance - the basics
What documentation or paper work will I get?
Once you have taken out your van insurance policy, your insurance provider will send you:
A certificate of insurance (or a cover note which is a temporary certificate)
A schedule and/or policy document
A policy booklet (or they will tell you where you can access one)
Your certificate is a very important document as it is evidence that you are legally insured and is one of the documents that police will ask to look at if you are stopped while driving.
A cover note may be supplied if the insurance company or broker needs time to complete the paperwork. This will give you the same protection as a insurance certificate but is only usually valid for 30 days.
Key things to remember!
Always read all the documents sent to you to make sure all the details are correct and that you have the level of cover you need. If you have any concerns or queries contact your broker or insurance company.
Ensure that you give the correct information to the insurance company or broker; otherwise your insurance may not be valid. If you do not, it could result in the insurance company not paying out if you were to make a claim.
Tell your insurer or broker everything that relates to you as a driver or road user, such as driving history, claims and convictions.
Keep all your policy documents in a safe place; you never know when you may need them!
What's included in my policy?
What your policy covers depends on what type of cover you have chosen and any additional cover you may have bought. The documentation you receive with you insurance policy should outline exactly what is covered.
What types of policy are there?
There are three main types of policy which each offer different levels of cover.
Third Party Only (TPO)
This van insurance is the minimum level of cover required by law in the UK. It covers:
Liability for injury to others (including passengers)
Damage to property
Liability whilst towing a caravan or trailer
Remember! This does not cover you for accidental damage to your own vehicle; you will have to pay for that yourself.
Third Party Fire and Theft (TPFT)
This covers everything that third party covers, plus:
Fire damage
Comprehensive
Comprehensive is the most extensive van insurance cover and includes everything third party fire and theft does and usually the following:
Loss or damage to your vehicle
Windscreen cover
Personal effects
Accidental damage
Medical expenses
Remember!
Some van insurance companies are now offering cheaper policies that offer less protection. These may be known as 'stripped down' policies, for example the insurance company may have removed windscreen cover. Always check your policy documents to make sure you get the right level of cover for your needs.
How do I make a claim on my policy?
You need to tell your van insurance company as soon as you can when you have had an accident or if your van has been stolen, even if you are not going to claim.
If your van needs repairing once the insurance company has all the details of your claim they will inform you of the nearest approved repairers and arrange for your van to be repaired. An approved repairer is a garage that your van insurance company has a relationship with to do repair work on their behalf. If you do not go to an approved repairer then your insurance company may not pay for the repairs.
Permanent life insurance is the umbrella term used for types of life insurance that do no expire. They combine a death benefit with a savings portion and are deemed as profit policies. The savings element builds to provide the policy with a case value against which the policy holder can borrow money or take an income in way of regular withdrawals. A withdrawal will be made to cover a future financial implication such as paying off a loan or paying college fees for a child.
There are two main types of permanent life insurance which are universal life insurance and whole of life insurance. Below we will talk more about both of these.
The policy is taken out with an insurer and premiums paid periodically, most commonly monthly. The premium will cover the cost of the life insurance and the remainder of this is credited to a cash value that the policy accumulates. Each month this cash value is also credited with interest and the policy is debited, also each month, with the cost of the insurance and any other fees that the insurer stipulates, such as admin fees, if there has been no premium payment that month. The insurer will decide how much interest is applicable to be credited to the value but this is usually related to certain financial index rates.
As there is a cash value to this type of life insurance it is possible for there to be features such as a policy loan, or for the policy holder to take periodic withdrawals from the policy.
As far as premiums go they are most commonly paid periodically such as monthly, quarterly or annually which can be fixed or flexible. However it is also possible for there to be a single up-front premium at the start of the policy.
There are risks involved with taking out Universal life insurance because of it being a potentially profitable policy. These need to be studies carefully before you take out his type of life insurance and each insurer will have literature available clearly highlighting the risks.
The obvious benefits of life insurance are to cover financial implications upon the death of somebody who is financially depended upon, more often with life term insurance policies because they have no case value. However there are also living benefits of life insurance and many people use life insurance, and in particular cash value life insurance as a source of benefit to the owner of the policy (as opposed to the death benefit which is provides benefit to the beneficiary as we have mentioned in life term assurance). These benefits include loans, withdrawals, collateral assignments, split dollar agreements, pension funding, and tax planning
