Not sure what is the bare minimum requirement you need to oblige the legal ruling of Singapore government? There are some basic insurance that all corporates would need to have, and it is considered a legal offence if you do not possess that insurance.
Plate glass coverage is insurance on any damage or breakage of large panels of glass such as display window in retail shops, restaurants, showrooms, offices or buildings.
Plate glass insurance includes all-risks coverage on the glass damage or breakage from accidents or misfortunes, other than exclusions.
As long as you have glass in your frontline, it is useful to have this policy
If you have professionals in your companies, such as engineers, auditors, technological staff, lawyer, etc, this is handy in Singapore. There are more and more cases where the professionalism of personals are in doubt and sued by the public. This will help your business to mitigate against certain legal outcomes.
For any companies handling trade credit and account receivables with other businesses, protect yourself that your clients go on default be it political risk, protracted defaults, insolvency, etc. This trade credit insurance is a niche and not well understood by many general insurance agents. Do note that you need people who are well trained, licensed and most importantly, experience in trade credit business workings.
This is comprehensive all-risk coverage on your factory/workshop premises that covers you from business disruption and fire, flood, perils such as equipment and stock losses.
Do you need this? If budget is a concern, you may opt for smaller policies that cover small segments insurance. Together though, this policy offers the best value for money for small business owners owning factory, workshop or warehouses.
The work injury compensation insurance is compulsory for all workers under your company below SGD $1600 monthly salary or all manual work workers. This replaces the earlier workmen compensation insurance some years ago. Do note that this is mandatory by law and many companies missed out on this and have issues with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) when checks are conducted.
As long as your companies have workers of such type, you are required to purchase WIC insurance for them. For companies that have no such staff, you may still purchase WIC or Personal Accident plans because the rates are very low due to the mass adoption of such plans.
Your fleet or commercial vehicle is important for your day to day operation of your business. Make sure you have the bare minimum required by law, and enjoy a better coverage to ensure business operations and profitability continues even with hiccups. You can choose any workshop plans or authorised workshop repairs for Class 2, 3, 4 or a special class of vehicle protection.
Group insurance is when a group of people is gathered for a common reason and hence eligible to buy insurance for all of them at a bulk discount and without major health underwriting.
When a group of people gathered to work at a company, they are the best group to buy group insurance at a very cheap and low rate.
Bosses can use this Group health as a great benefit to their staff at a low costs.
There are numerous group insurance that staff and employee loves to have for their company work benefits. Some of group insurance benefits are:-
Bosses can include themselves, their spouses, staff and etc in group insurance because the rates are so much cheaper than individual plans.
Marine Cargo Insurance covers the damage or loss of goods that are carried in a vessel, aircraft, locomotive, tankers, etc.
The cargo value is being insured, not the vessels.
As most people using shippers, you would be concerned about your goods being transported from point A to point B. This is where marine cargo insurance comes in.
Marine Hull insurance is covering the damage or loss of all types of vessel, such as aircraft, locomotive, tankers, yachts, bulk carriers, etc and the machinery and equipment related to the running of the vessel or aircraft.
Another name for Marine Hull insurance is Hull and Machinery (H&M Insurance). Different trades or regions have their own preferred names.
Marine Hull covers the vessel transporting the goods while Marine Cargos covers the goods transported.
Foreign Workers Medical insurance plans are designed to cover foreign workers when they are injured or sick during their term in Singapore. The government wants us to provide a minimum basic level of medical protection for these workers in case of emergency medical care.
To protect the business from any big medical bills, one should ensure that comprehensive medical insurance is taken up for all foreign workers as well as local staff. The foreign workers’ medical plans would be affordable as it entails basic medical coverage and only while in Singapore.
Foreign Workers Medical plans can work together with WIC Insurance (or Workmen Injury Compensation Insurance) that is needed to give Personal Accident coverage and medical coverage to all workers that are earning below $1500 monthly in Singapore.
Equipment All Risk helps to protect what is important in your business and provide you with coverage to replace, to repair equipment that is damaged from unpredictable events such as fire, flood-causing malfunction, etc.
In a bad situation, it is important you resume business as fast as possible and get the cash flow back up.
No matter how small or large your storefront or workshop is, if you are unable to work at 100% of your income potential due to faulty equipment, then it is important you get the necessary coverage to protect your revenue and profitability. This is the most important for almost all types of business as long as you have equipment in your store.
Contractors All Risk coverage, otherwise known as CAR in Singapore covers for damage to property, third parties injuries and damage claims. These are usually the expensive damages that one needs to protect ourselves from. We understand how construction has thin margin in profits and a minor work mistake or accident can trigger expensive damages to the property or neighbouring’s parties can cause financial ruins.
Your clients may ask you to provide Contractors All Risk if you are:-
Fire and Extraneous Perils insurance is coverage of your business assets, property and stocks from damage caused by fire, lightning, explosion, flooding, riots, strikes, malicious damages or from Acts of God.
Fire and Extraneous Perils is also known as Fire and EP insurance. This covers for fire and water damage, and cover for other perils that can disrupt business’s operations and assets such as flood, lightning, riots, etc.
Just like compulsory fire insurance for your HDB, condo, a fire EP insurance is absolutely important for your business.
We all know that there is no such thing as 100% perfection, be it in service or physical products. Most manufacturers’ defects are minors and not costly, but they are bound to exist. Take care and protect yourself from any defects that can be costly, full of litigation and able to ruin the reputation you spent years to build up. Just check out this news article about outdated product recalls of Po Chi Wan.
With a digital, connected business world where hackers and disgruntled competitors or employees seek cyber spying and hacking to steal competitive advantages or ruin business by releasing personal data, this insurance is fast becoming a necessary coverage.
Cyber insurance is still relatively new and misunderstood but we say as long as you have a digital footprint, do email us and check out what you should take note of. Do not pay too much for unnecessary cyber digital coverage too. Cover what you need and protect your profits.
Our daily lives would be very chaotic without general insurance. That is why the government makes it compulsory that all vehicle owners, be it a Toyota or a Ferrari, must get car insurance. You need home insurance, domestic maid insurance, travel insurance, etc, etc.
Beyond the usual Shield plans offered by all life insurers, medical insurance can be offered by some general insurers that offer benefits way beyond the usual scope.
It can be real global coverage, with premium medical care. It can cover all outpatient Singapore medical care (visiting local GP clinics).
Domestic maids are not Singaporeans and face high hospitalization bills if they are sick from accident or sickness. We can reduce the odds of them suffering from bad injuries or sickness but if they need medical attention, the bill can be crazily high with no medical safety nets for them.
Basic domestic maid coverage is useful to prevent such headaches for you as the employer. It also helps protect your security deposits if your maid decides to run away for selfish reasons.
Your HDB has very basic home fire insurance, not just to protect you, but to protect HDB from fire damages, and therefore they ask you to buy more home insurance to protect your home contents and furniture.
If you own a landed or condo, this is even more important for you. Your neighbors are rich, well-connected residents too. In any event of a fire or disaster that starts from your home, you are legally culpable for their losses! A great home protection policy will help you to settle any big losses arising from fire, flood, and other disasters.
Personal accidents are the most frequently bought policies due to many life insurance agents selling them. However, do you know that the same personal accident with the same coverage is a lot cheaper from General Insurers than Life Insurers (such as AIA, Prudential, Great Eastern, etc)
General Insurers can offer PA policies at so much lower rates because the commission rate to agents is very little, and there are no big incentive trips, bonus, etc for the GI agents compared to life agents.
Singaporeans love to travel! (who can blame us, Singapore is so small!) Do forget to pack travel insurance as early as possible.
If you buy now vs buying just before you fly, the price is the same AND you get to enjoy extra benefits for free! For example, if you have some unfortunate events, such as an accident, your insurance policy may allow you to file a claim for unforeseen circumstances in forgoing air tickets. If you bought a travel package, early purchase of insurance also cover in case of travel agencies defaulting (For some travel policies).
Also, Singaporeans travel to Malaysia so much, we are so used not to buy insurance package. But Malaysia is where many Singaporeans face problems in their travel, such as accidents, robberies, stolen cars, and mobile phones, etc.
Get annual plans, it is so much easier and hassle-free and save you so much more money!
if you drive, you need to buy compulsory car insurance. LTA mandates that you need to buy at the minimum 3rd party liability for your car, but with car repairs so expensive, you are probably better off with Comprehensive Car Insurance, which covers your own car too in the event of accidents. If you want the best, go for all workshops coverage. If you prefer value for money, go for “Authorised Workshops Only” coverage
If you really want the bare minimum to comply with LTA’s motor insurance rules, then just grab the cheapest 3rd Party Liability Motor Insurance.
Looking for something unique that not many insurers offer or are interested. Customising a specific insurance niche for yourself?