- Platform Workers found to have bigger protection gaps compared to the general Economically Active population
- Life Insurance Industry commits to spearheading efforts to narrow the protection gap in Singapore
SINGAPORE 8 September 2023 – The Life Insurance Association, Singapore (LIA Singapore) today unveiled findings of the Protection Gap Study (PGS) 2022 which found that economically active1 (EA) Singaporeans and Permanent Residents in Singapore – including Platform Workers (PWs) – had a S$373 billion mortality protection gap2 and a S$579 billion critical illness (CI) protection gap3. This equates to a 21% mortality protection gap and a 74% CI protection gap in Singapore in 2022. The study comprises two components: analysis of policy data from life insurers, as well as a supplementary market survey of 775 EAs.
PGS 2022 provides insights for the industry, life insurers and reinsurers, as well as other stakeholders
– including employers and relevant government agencies – to implement actionable strategies that will support individuals to meet their protection and financial planning needs. This is especially important given the extended life expectancy4 as well as an unpredictable socio-economic landscape5 facing the community today.
LIA Singapore also included the additional analysis of protection needs and gaps of PWs6 in PGS 2022, in recognition of this being a growing segment within the community. The average PW individual has bigger mortality and CI protection gaps than the average EA individual in Singapore.
Mr. Dennis Tan, President, LIA Singapore said, “The Protection Gap Study 2022 shows that while mortality and critical illness protection gaps persist, there has been progress recorded since our last study in 2017. There is greater awareness and appreciation of the value of insurance in Singapore, and more individuals are taking actions to better meet their protection needs.
1 Individuals employed and contributing to the production and distribution of goods and services. Platform workers fall within this category and are a subset of the economically active group.
2 The mortality protection gap represents the financial gap to cover needs of dependents over a defined period in the event of death. It is the amount of money required by dependents to cover expenses, clear outstanding debt, and maintain a reasonable lifestyle, less existing savings and insurance coverage for mortality, following the death of a member of the household.
3 The CI protection gap represents the financial gap to cover family needs during the assumed CI recovery period of 5 years, until the insured is able to return to work. It is the amount of money required to cover expenses and outstanding debt payments during the insured’s CI recovery period, less existing insurance coverage for CI. It is to be noted that identified needs of dependents beyond the CI recovery period have been considered on the hypothesis that the insured may not be able to meet those needs when they do return to work (due to the assumed reduction in the insured’s earning capacity).
4 ‘Life Expectancy Improved Over the Last Decade but Saw Declines Over Recent Years Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic’ (May 22, 2023) SingStat Singapore. Available at https://www.singstat.gov.sg/-/media/files/news/press22052023.ashx
5 ‘MTI Narrows Singapore’s GDP Growth Forecast for 2023 to “0.5 to 1.5 Per Cent”‘ (August 11, 2023) Ministry of Trade and Industry Singapore. Available at: https://www.mti.gov.sg/Newsroom/Press-Releases/2023/08/MTI-Narrows-Singapore-GDP-Growth-Forecast-for– 2023-to-0_5-to-1_5-Per-Cent
6 ‘Platform Workers’ in this study refer to a group of individuals consisting of ‘Private-hire Workers’, ‘Taxi Drivers’ and ‘Delivery Workers’.
While this progress is encouraging, we know more can and must be done to support different members of our community, such as our Platform Workers. The life insurance industry will continue leading the charge on these efforts, leveraging insights from the study to inform initiatives for the Association, our member companies, and other relevant stakeholders to pursue and to get more individuals better insured.”
Some areas the industry will explore developing initiatives for include:
- Enhancing the understanding and reach of insurance policies through product innovations andfurthersimplification ofpolicy-relatedmaterials
- Adoptingacustomerprofileandneeds-basedunderstandingapproachtodeveloptailoredcustomer segment-led propositions, product solutions and distribution approaches aimed atsupportingspecificgroupswithmediumtohighprotectiongaps(e.g.underservedsegmentssuchasthosethatarelesseducated,and/orthoseof lower income)
- Boosting consumer awareness and understanding about protection through public educationinitiatives
- Makingiteasierforunderservedmembersofthepublic(e.g.PlatformWorkers)toreachaccessible touchpoints to better understand and address their protection and financial planningneeds
Mortality protection gap remained relatively unchanged for EA individuals despite an increase in mortality protection needs
EA individuals in Singapore have approximately 79% of their mortality protection needs met. Though the mortality protection needs increased between 2017 and 2022 – primarily due to an overall increase in costs of living and number of EA individuals – the mortality protection gap remained relatively unchanged from 2017, with a slight 2% decrease from 23% to 21%.
This is largely due to income levels going up, increase in Central Provident Fund (CPF) and other savings by 47%, as well as an 11% uplift in life insurance coverage.
The average mortality coverage per policyholder increased by approximately S$41,100 to S$331,200 in 2022 which is approximately 3.6 times of average annual income. Policyholders in Singapore have an average of three policies for mortality protection.
CI protection gap for EA individuals narrowed primarily due to an increase in CI coverage
The CI protection gap amongst EA individuals has narrowed by a notable 7% – down to 74% in 2022 from 81% in 2017. The average CI coverage per policyholder increased by approximately S$64,400 to S$193,300 in 2022. This is approximately 2.1 times of average annual income.
This reduction in CI protection gap from 2017 was mainly driven by an approximate 63% increase in CI coverage since then.
On average, a CI policyholder owns less than one standalone policy. Their CI coverage is generally from Whole-of-Life policies or riders with CI to supplement their main life insurance policies.
Bigger mortality and CI protection gap amongst Platform Workers because of lower savings and insurance coverage
PGS 2022 found that there is a 59% mortality protection gap and a 91% CI protection gap among PWs. This is primarily attributed to them having lower CPF and deposit savings, as well as lower insurance coverage as compared to EA individuals.
Takeaways from the supplementary market survey include:
- Many PW respondents indicating they are not covered under Group insurance offered byplatform providers, with a further portion being unaware if they are receiving any GroupInsurance coverage.
- PW respondents expressed interest for the life insurance industry to establish accessibletouchpoints that they may visit to seek guidance and support for their financial planningjourney and insurance protection needs. The industry recognises that these touchpoints could include roadshows at the offices of platform providers.
Comparison between 2017 PGS and 2022 PGS
Resources available include the aggregate of available savings (i.e. CPF savings, other savings such as cash and deposits) and existing insurance coverage
