Insurance Guide

Life insurance ’s primary purpose is to protect your loved ones financially if you were to die during the policy term. According to LIMRA research , one out of three households would have financial difficulty within one month of a primary wage earner passing. The death benefit helps to cover costs related to the funeral, mortgage, etc., and allows your family or other beneficiaries to retain the same standard of living as before. There are two main types of life insurance policies: term life insurance and permanent life insurance, which are different in a number of ways, and both have their pros and cons. Since we, at Kwiskure , know that choosing the right type of life insurance can be complicated, we have taken the liberty of comparing these two life insurance options for you in today’s article.

Parking your car outside of your garage or driveway, (assuming you even have one in our tiny Hong Kong), can expose your vehicle to many types of damages. Whether your car insurance will cover damage to a parked car or not, depends on many factors, such as your motor insurance coverage, whether you parked in a legal spot, and if you can identify the perpetrator of the damage. A team of motor insurance experts form Kwiksure Hong Kong will explain in this post when car insurance in Hong Kong will cover damage costs in a parking collision.

Have you ever wondered if traffic tickets in Hong Kong affect insurance premiums? There is no clear answer to this question, mainly because insurance companies do not disclose information on how they calculate premiums, and that’s why rates are significantly different from insurer to insurer, and even from case to case. That’s why it’s worth looking into the types of traffic tickets in Hong Kong that may have an impact on your premiums.

A private motor insurance policy is designed to cover your vehicle for general use, depending upon the type of policy and level of coverage. In contrast, motor trade insurance is a special type of car insurance that is used mainly by people operating car-related businesses - from second hand vehicle dealers to garages/repair shops - for protection against mishaps incurred as a result of driving their customers’, or even their own vehicles. As with any type of insurance, it’s always essential to do some research in advance so that you get the best out of your motor trade insurance policy. To that end, our experts have shared the following items anyone considering this type of policy should be aware of.

There’s no denying that life can be unpredictable, but what we can do is plan for all eventualities. While preparing for an uncertain future can be a daunting experience, buying life insurance now will help ensure that your loved ones are protected from financial burden - before it’s too late. In this week’s article, Kwiksure highlights the most important things people should know about life protection policies.

One of the greatest joys you will ever see in life is the smiling face of a dog with its head poking out a car window. It’s really something hilarious to watch - watch this cute pup do it for the first time. When you’re driving with your dog, or any pet for that matter, you need to understand that the risks you face behind the wheel also apply to your furry friends. Pets are not immune to accidents or crashes on the roads. With Chinese New Year and the Year of the Dog approaching, Kwiksure discusses whether car insurance covers dogs in cars, and what alternative coverage might be needed to secure their wellbeing.

Perhaps you own a fleet of tour buses. Or maybe you run a moving and storage company. In whatever way your business intends to use your vehicle(s), one thing remains clear: you will need commercial vehicle insurance. The process of finding and securing this specific type of auto insurance can, however, be a bit trickier than selecting a private car insurance policy. To help clear up some of this confusion, the car insurance experts at Kwiksure have shared the following items you need to know about commercial vehicle insurance.

Golfing accidents can be hilarious, here’s proof . But accidents can also be very serious -- and costly. And while everyone looks forward to getting out for 18 holes while the sun is shining and the weather is warm, the fact is that summer weather can be a major threat to health, and one that takes down far more golfers than a stray ball. To protect yourself against any potentially problems that could ruin your favorite pastime, consider these three important reasons you need golf insurance this summer.

Life insurance: you could say it’s a misnomer. In reality, life insurance only comes into effect upon your death, and because death is just a tad unpleasant to consider, many of us don’t think about life insurance – until it’s too late. Buy life insurance when you’re healthy and sound of mind, and you’ll be protecting yourself, your assets and your family for generations to come. Luckily, life insurance isn’t a one-size-fits-all product: you can cover yourself for the short term or the long term, you can pay a little or a lot, and most importantly, you can find a policy that both fits your budget and provides your family and yourself with everything you need. Still not convinced? Read on for the top five reasons you should consider getting life insurance.

In this information-rich era, we can access health information anytime and anywhere through various channels, and our own health issues are receiving increasing attention. Especially living in an international metropolis like Hong Kong, many city dwellers today bear heavy life pressures and have to cope with long working hours, making their bodies naturally prone to problems. On the other hand, our health is also affected by many external factors. Environmental pollution has caused problems in food, water sources, and even air quality, which is worrying. Moreover, in recent years, there have been occasional reports of newly discovered virus strains. The SARS coronavirus outbreak more than ten years ago caused global panic, and the newly discovered viruses in the mainland recently also pose significant threats to our health. Kwiksure believes that the general public must seriously consider purchasing quality medical insurance. Even if unfortunate and unexpected illnesses occur, appropriate medical support can be obtained. Besides protecting oneself, it is also an investment in the health of one’s family. In recent years, with prices rising year after year, medical expenses inevitably continue to increase. What we care about is the service level provided by medical institutions, as high-quality medical services often come at a high cost. To ensure that oneself and family members can receive high-quality medical services when ill, it is absolutely necessary to participate in comprehensive medical insurance plans. Kwiksure has established long-term cooperative relationships with many well-known global insurance companies to provide customers with various types of medical insurance plans, covering critical illness, dental, accident, maternity, and more. Our team of consultants is happy to offer independent and professional advice, helping clients select ideal insurance plans from numerous companies, exchanging affordable premiums for sufficient and suitable coverage. Besides individual plans, we also offer insurance plans for families or corporate groups. Kwiksure’s consultants have rich experience and, in addition to serving local clients, our team can also cater to expatriates who have moved to Hong Kong or even the mainland, tailoring the most thoughtful medical protection plans. Even when living abroad, it is easy to obtain the most appropriate medical coverage. We welcome everyone to contact our consultant team to learn more about various protection plans. We firmly believe that quality medical insurance plans are an important part of building a healthy life.

The discovery of a new strain of bird flu, H7N9, a subtype of Influenza A virus was announced last month. So far, 60 people have been diagnosed with the new strain of flu, of which 13 people have died. As a result, Shanghai has declared a state emergency plan as a result of the outbreak. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no evidence as yet to show transmission occurs from human to human. The results of a seven year old in Hong Kong, who was thought to have contracted the flu after a trip to Shanghai, came back negative for H7N9. This week, the government expects to release a bird flu test which will be able to provide results rapidly in a matter of hours. Although H7N9 was deemed to have low virulence and only transmissible from animals to humans, the chance of the virus mutating to be able to spread from human to human has not been ruled out. Gene data sequences from the first three victims who died, published by the WHO Chinese National Influenza Center , revealed a gene present in the samples that was not found in the Avian samples, demonstrating that the virus already has the ability to adapt and thrive in humans. More alarmingly, findings by researchers at the South University of Science and Technology , suggest that the speed of mutation might be around eight times faster than the usual flu virus. In uncertain times such as this, taking out private health insurance may provide more advantages besides access to private healthcare, should the virus spread. Procuring treatment for an unexpected sickness or injury resulting from an accident might be challenging during such an outbreak. For example, if a parent was taking a child with a broken leg to the nearby accident and emergency department in a public hospital, the wait time could be as long as four hours or more. Furthermore, waiting in such close proximity to others at a time of a flu outbreak, where viruses can easily spread through contact with contaminated surfaces or others, increases the chances of catching the virus yourself. Under the circumstances, having the option of obtaining treatment at a private hospital would be ideal, minus the increased expense. This is where private medical insurance comes in handy. A typical medical insurance policy will usually include inpatient benefits and have optional outpatient coverage available. Therefore, if an overnight stay is required, the inpatient portion may cover the cost of the hospital stay and other surgical procedures incurred. In Hong Kong, where private healthcare ranks among the worlds most expensive, basic treatment for a broken leg could cost as much as US$35,000, emphasizing the need for private health insurance. Furthermore, there is an issue of availability of beds in Hong Kong. Towards the end of 2011, the government produced a Hong Kong fact sheet regarding public health which revealed that there are only approximately 35,000 beds available at any one time in Hong Kong. Around 27,000 beds are located in the region's 38 public hospitals, over 4000 in private hospitals, another 4100 in nursing homes and about 800 in correctional facilities. Given that the local population totals near 8 million people, the chances of getting a bed would be difficult for those unlucky to have contracted the virus in a flu outbreak. Having a private insurance policy may increase the chances of securing a bed under such circumstances, as it affords access to both private and public beds compared to an individual who has only access to public beds.