Life cover quotes made simple for you.
Thinking about what would happen to your loved ones can leave you emotional and uncertain. It is that uncertainty that has prompted us at Life Cover South Africa, to simplify the way you do life insurance.
Our aim is to help you make the right decisions and buy the right life cover. Our simple process of filling in your details on our form allows you an easy but efficient way to rank life cover quotes from different life insurers.
So lets get started then - right now.
Life Cover in South Africa consists of a variety of insurance policies that make a whole. You can get anything from funeral plans, disability cover, medical cover, and financial planning. Whereas a few years ago you could only take up these policies as separate, distinct insurances, the life cover provided by South Africa’s leading insurance providers has moved towards grouping these into one, so that you have a piece of each. This of course has driven down the cost of getting covered not only for yourself, but for your loved ones as well.
Secure your future and the futures of your loved ones today by getting free life cover quotes. Ours is an easy process, and one that will leave you knowing that you’ve done what’s needed for a sound and insured future.
A few useful questions answered:
What is Life Cover and do I need a separate funeral insurance policy?
Leading Causes of Death in South Africa.
We live in a crazy country where seldom a day goes by that we hear of some kind of frightening event that usually claims a life. Crime is not endemic to South Africa, but the prevalence of violent crime is more common here than in most other countries. Mostly this makes us take active steps towards securing our homes from intruders - so we think we are fine and we pray for peace. South Africa quite sadly lists 3 of it’s major cities in the Top 50 cities with the highest global murder rate, with Cape Town ranking in at 15th in the world and the highest in South Africa. Yes, that’s Cape Town “the Mother City” which is a big tourist draw card! Following is Durban at 44th spot and then Port Elizabeth in 46th position.
Now you might think that with all the negative press surrounding crime and violence that these are meaningful statistics and that you live a low risk lifestyle and you are safe from accidental death (and that you don’t need life cover). Wrong! Well it’s not fair to say that you need life cover to protect your family from your loss in case of murder – it’s just that statistically, murder and disability from crime are pretty low down in the list of probable reasons for needing cover. You are far more likely to die from Influenza (currently 4.3% of natural deaths) or a stroke (5.1%).
Hmm - so what this really means is that you are not insuring your self against being a victim of crime but from the everyday diseases and natural causes of death. See the image below for a quick visual reference.
Top 5 Individual Causes Of Death In South Africa
1. Tuberculosis – South Africas Number 1 Killer.
Tuberculosis is considered the leading cause of death in South Africa, but why is this treatable disease still a causeof death in this day and age? Simply, people don’t take it seriously enough. Those infected don’t follow the treatment process through to the end, they start to feel better and stop taking their medication. This can cause drug-resistant strains of TB to develop and increase the spread of the disease. Looking at the statistics, hundreds of people die from TB every day and many of these people have not even been diagnosed yet. The best way to solve this problem would be to provide more opportunities for education on the subject and to have counselling readily available to all those affected. The future can be uncertain for many who have TB and the financial burden can be high for those living with someone who has TB. Many TB suffers are the breadwinners for their families and if they are no longer there, what will happen to those left behind. Families will have to deal with this loss and then on top of that, will have to somehow manage the financial burden that comes with it. Being pro-active and planning ahead can be a way of putting your mind at rest, making sure your family is taken care of. Since there have been improvements in the area of TB, the prognosis for many is not a death sentence and providing security for the future is possible.
2. Diabetes.
You might think that diabetes is not really life-threatening or something to be taken seriously. The fact of the matter is that type 2 diabetes is on the rise and that one out of every 5 people over the age of 35 in South Africa, suffer from the debilitating disease. To compound the seriousness of diabetes, during Covid, people with diabetes and one or more co-mobility were at a significantly higher risk than people without.
This means that up to about 1.5 million people in the country have diabetes. In the past, life expectancy for somebody with diabetes didn’t look good, but today with medical advancements and diagnosing the condition sooner, diabetics can live a long and happy life. The challenge is detecting the condition as soon as possible, as there are severe health risks involved if the condition is ignored.
You increase your chances of developing certain complications such as:
• Nerve damage.
• Increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Kidney damage.
• Slow healing and wounds becoming infected.
Healthy lifestyle choices are what you need to incorporate into your daily routines. Exercise every day to keep your weight down, don’t smoke and make healthy eating choices. Many people who suffer from chronic health conditions like diabetes also have difficulty in applying for things like life insurance. The good thing is, you can make sure your loved ones are taken care of even if you have diabetes. The main objective is to make sure you are managing your condition properly and to keep track of your health status. No health issue should stand in the way of making sure your family is well provided for.
3. Heart Disease.
Heart disease is on the rise, especially in the western world where many are exposed to unhealthy diets and other poor lifestyle choices. When taking the whole world into account, more people die from heart disease than malaria, HIV and TB combined.
South Africa itself has a very high percentage of people who are obese, which is a factor in the development of heart disease. Many South African’s have poor diets, which consist of food that is high in fats and sugar, as well as high amounts of sodium. There is also a poor intake of fibre from fresh foods like fruits and vegetables.
Other factors that contribute to heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, smoking and, of course, little to no physical activity. Many adults and kids today don’t partake in any form of physical activity. Sitting in front of the TV or computer all day is not good, a person needs to get in at least some moderate physical exercise each day. As a result, in South Africa, five people will suffer from a heart attack each hour and ten fall victim to strokes.
Those who live a balanced life with a healthy diet and exercise have a much higher chance of avoiding premature death. But you could do everything right and still fall victim to illness, so why not prepare for the future no matter what happens. Protect your loved ones from the unknown and make sure they are taken care of during a difficult time.
4. Cerebrovascular Diseases (Strokes & Aneurysms).
Cerebrovascular disease is not far behind Heart disease when it comes to the top causes of death in South Africa. This disease basically refers to anything that affects the blood supply to the brain. The most commonly known problem in connection with cerebrovascular disease is a stroke. Other issues include aneurysms, carotid and vertebral stenosis (narrowing of the arteries also known as Atherosclerosis) as well as other vascular abnormalities. The disease is responsible for 5.1% or around 23 137 deaths each year.
Those at risk from stroke include people who suffer from high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Also, people who smoke may be putting themselves at risk. You can help prevent a stroke by living a healthy life, stop smoking, eat a healthy diet and exercises.
There is a very good way by which you can detect if somebody is having a stroke. All you have to remember is the FAST rule:
F: Check to see if the face is drooping
A: Is the person unable to lift their arms or showing signs of arm weakness
S: Having difficulty with speech
T: Time to call emergency services
Death caused by cerebrovascular disease can be sudden and devastating. The worst-case scenario is death, but many also suffer from a substantial financial burden which comes from medical and recovery costs. During this period the focus should be on getting better, worrying about finances should the last thing on anybody’s mind.
5. HIV & Aids.
There are over 7.52 million people living with HIV in South Africa. Some of the groups that are most affected by HIV include women, children, those who inject drugs amongst a few others. Fortunately, with improvements over the years, over 80% of people are now aware of their status. 70% of those aware of their HIV status are on medication or antiretroviral treatment. The success of the treatment has increased the life expectancy of those affected by the disease.
Those living with HIV can live long and healthy lives, this is of course if the disease is detected early enough and if treatment is followed correctly. Also, a healthy diet and lifestyle, in general, will have a positive effect on the outcome. At the moment the ARV therapy is helping to prevent the advance of HIV towards AIDS. Unfortunately, the drugs may also have negative side-effects, which can develop into problems such as kidney failure. Researchers are continually trying to find a cure and hopefully, this will become a reality soon.
Together with the advancements of healthcare and education, many insurers are also growing and changing. There are now options for those who have been diagnosed with HIV, which is a definite improvement from no cover at all. You should be able to find the best life cover available for you, giving you the satisfaction of knowing your loved ones will be taken care of if you should pass away.
Why is non-disclosure so important?
As we have seen in a recent debacle with Momentum Life cover and a widowed claimant who had her claim rejected in the basis that her deceased husband, who died from a hijacking gunshot wound in 2017, did not disclose that he had a high blood-sugar level. There was huge public outcry and support for the widow despite the insurance ombudsman ruling in favour of the Momentum insurance company. The claimant and general public felt that the cause of death and deceased medical condition were completely unrelated – but the law is clear on this: Non-disclosure means no payout. So if you have an existing medical condition, then you need to inform your Life Cover insurance company or your family could end up without any payout – and you will most likely be unable to contest this.
