You are young, possibly past the‘I am INVINCIBLE’ teenage years, but young nonetheless. You are healthy, making plans, getting started and on the way to the life you’ve decided you want.

And yes I am referring to those of you in your 40’s as well. It has been said that 40 is the new 30, and 30 the new 20 - isn’t it! So yes you could be one of the young ones I am referring to! 

SO WHY ON EARTH ARE YOU PUTTING OFF YOUR INSURANCE!

Ahhh it’s because you are young and healthy, you don’t need it. It’s a cost that you’d rather save. Its money better spent on dinner out with friends, or buying yet another gadget.

WITHOUT BEING RUDE, IF YOU THINKTHIS, I REALLY WANT TO SHAKE YOU!!

Because it’s this belief that sees so many people end up reliant on state support at some stage living out a meagre existence simply because they put off protecting themselves and their families.

I know health insurance policies,income protection and even mortgage insurance are not exactly exciting conversation pieces. They are however SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT conversations you SHOULD HAVE, and you should be having them with your partner, your adult children and with ME!

Why? It is simply because you are young and healthy, that YOU SHOULD BE INSURED! When you are fit and healthy is the best time to take out insurance.  It gets much more difficult,and possibly much more expensive, when you are older and are experiencing health issues.

It’s too late when you are older and are sick!

Some Statistics that should castsome reality on your life –

1)            8000people per annum have strokes in New Zealand ¹

2)            At the time of the last census, 20% of New Zealanderslived with a disability ²

3)            Cancerwas the leading cause of death for both males and females in NZ in 2009 with8437 people having cancer recorded as the underlying cause of death ³

4)            Thereare an estimated 60,000 stroke survivors in New Zealand.  Many are disabled and need significant dailysupport ⁴

¹ The Stroke Foundation of NZ 2010/ ² 2006 disability survey, statistics NZ 2006/ ³  Ministry of Health. 2012cancer / ⁴  The Stroke Foundation of NZ 2012

Now we all believe it will never happen to us. But it does, it happens to a lot of people.  I meet people almost every week that tell me that someone in their family or circle of friends has been diagnosed with a serious medical issue. Then they tell me how it’s impacted their lives, the things they have had to give up, the cutbacks they have had to make and the costs that they never thought of.

And there is often not a lot I can do, because it’s too late if they haven’t already got insurance. Of course, if they are a client the conversation tends to be more positive and focused on solutions.

The facts of insurance:

·        Eating the right foodand staying fit and healthy is under your control. Everything else one couldsuggest is not.

·        As you age you aremore likely to experience health issues (this is not to say that young peopledon’t get sick)

·       Insurance is a method of protection. Just like vehicle insurance, you know that the mere fact you drive a car puts you at risk of an accident.  Insurance is the same – the fact that you are a human being means you are at risk of having a/some health issue/sat some stage in your life.

Age and experience allows us the benefit of hindsight – so irrespectiveof whether you are 22, or 52  – use that knowledge and get some insurance cover NOW