Star Secure (covers COVID-19)

Star Secure is a regular premium participating whole life insurance plan that includes Star Secure – Protection Benefit, a regular premium non-participating compulsory rider.

This policy provides protection against death, terminal illness, total permanent disability and accidental death (before the anniversary immediately after the insured reaches the age of 70) during the policy term. It also provides retrenchment benefit and family waiver benefit.

It also offers a minimum protection value of 100%, 200%, 300%, 400% or 500% of the sum assured before the policy anniversary immediately after the insured reaches the age of 70. The minimum protection value is selected at the start of the policy and cannot be changed thereafter.

This policy is not valid if the insured commits suicide within one year from the cover start date. 

We will refund the total premiums paid, without interest, less any amounts we have paid you, and any amount you owe us, from the cover start date.

The benefit is also not payable if the insured has a material pre-existing condition which was not disclosed upon application of this policy.

Terminally illness, and terminally ill means an illness which, in the opinion of the registered medical practitioner involved and a registered medical practitioner we have appointed, is highly likely to lead to death within 12 months. However, we will exclude terminal illness in the presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Registered medical practitioner means a doctor who is qualified in western medicine and is legally licensed in Singapore or has the qualifications recognised by the Singapore Medical Council.

Total and permanent disability (TPD), and totally and permanently disabled, mean any of the below.

- If the insured is under 65 years old, TPD, and totally and permanently disabled mean total physical loss, or the inability to take part in any paid work for the rest of a person’s life.

- If the insured is 65 years old and above, TPD, and totally and permanently disabled mean total physical loss, or severe disability.

Total physical loss means:

- the total and permanent loss of sight in both eyes;

- the loss of, or total and permanent loss of use of, two limbs at or above the wrist or ankle; or

- the total and permanent loss of sight in one eye and the loss of, or total and permanent loss of use of, one limb at or above the wrist or ankle.

Severe disability means the inability to perform at least three of the following activities of daily living, even with the aid of special equipment and always needing the help of another person throughout the entire activity.

- Washing: the ability to wash in the bath or shower (including getting into and out of the bath or shower) or wash satisfactorily by other means;

- Dressing: the ability to put on, take off, secure and unfasten all garments and, as appropriate, any braces, artificial limbs or other surgical appliances;

- Transferring: the ability to move from a bed to an upright chair or wheelchair and vice versa;

- Mobility: the ability to move indoors from room to room on level surfaces;

- Toileting: the ability to use the lavatory or otherwise manage bowel and bladder functions so as to maintain a satisfactory level of personal hygiene;

- Feeding: the ability to feed oneself once food has been prepared and made available.

We will not pay this benefit if your claim arises from:

- deliberate acts such as self-inflicted injuries, illnesses or attempted suicide;

- unlawful acts, provoked assault or deliberate exposure to danger; or

- the effects of alcohol, drugs or any dependence.

We will also not pay this benefit unless the insured is certified by a registered medical practitioner to have been totally and permanently disabled for at least six months in a row.

This is a regular premium non-participating compulsory rider attached to Star Secure. It provides the accidental death benefit, retrenchment benefit, and family waiver benefit of the policy. It also pays part of the minimum protection value of the policy.

Upon death of the insured due to an accident (before the policy anniversary immediately after the insured reaches the age of 70) during the policy term (within 365 days of the accident), 200% of the sum assured will be payable in addition to the death benefit. If the insured was taking part in a restricted activity at the time of the accident, 60% of the sum assured will be payable in addition to the death benefit.

The policy will end when we make this payment. We will not pay any further benefits.

Restricted activity means any of the following activities:

- Duties as firefighters, police force personnel, fishermen, armed security guards, aircrew, ship crew, marine salvage crew, oil riggers, dock workers, drivers, despatch riders, driving instructors, bodyguards and bouncers. 

- Any activities involving explosives, heavy machinery, woodworking, dangerous gases or substances, using underwater breathing apparatus, work on construction or demolition sites, work at heights above 10 metres, work in underground tunnels, oil and gas rigs or offshore work. 

- Military, air force or naval operations in peacetime, including training and exercises for national servicemen or reservists in peacetime. 

- Motorcycling whether as rider or pillion rider. 

- Professional sports, any form of race (except racing on foot, cycling or swimming), action or adventure sports that involve speed, height at above 10 metres, highly specialized gear, stunts or using underwater breathing apparatus. This definition includes rock climbing, mountaineering, parachuting, white-water rafting, horse riding, winter sports and scuba diving.

Accident and accidental mean an unexpected incident that result in an injury or death. The injury or death must be caused entirely by being hit by an external object that produces a bruise or wound, except for injury or death caused specifically by drowning, food poisoning, choking on food, or suffocation by smoke, fumes or gas.

The accidental death benefit will not be paid if the claim arises directly or indirectly from:

- deliberate acts such as self-inflicted injuries, suicide or attempted suicide;

- unlawful acts, provoked assault or deliberate exposure to danger;

- the effects of alcohol, drugs or any dependence;

- illnesses, psychological conditions or eating disorders;

- heat stroke;

- a bad reaction to drugs or medication;

- the effects of viruses (for example, dengue), bacteria or diseases;

- the negative effects or complications of medical and surgical care;

- treatment aimed at improving appearance, such as cosmetic surgery or any treatment relating to a previous cosmetic treatment;

- radiation or contamination from radioactivity;

- being in any aircraft, except as a fare-paying passenger in a commercial aircraft, or during military operations in peacetime;

- military, air force or naval operations, except when carried out in peacetime;

- warlike operations (whether war is declared or not), war, invasion, riot or any similar event;

- an accident which happens outside of Singapore; if the insured has been outside Singapore for more than 180 days in a row at the time of the accident; or

- an act of terrorism. However, the policy will pay S$10,000 or 10% of the sum assured, whichever is lower, on top of the amount payable for death benefit.

Upon retrenchment of the policyholder during the term of the policy, the policyholder will not have to pay the premiums for the basic policy and compulsory rider for up to 6 months from the next premium due date onwards. For this to apply, all of the following conditions are met:

- The policyholder must have paid at least six months’ premiums.

- The policyholder’s retrenchment must have taken place no earlier than six months after the cover start date.

- The policyholder have not been able to find employment for three months in a row after being retrenched.

The policyholder will have to pay premiums for the month that permanent paid employment starts and this benefit will end.

The policyholder can claim for the retrenchment benefit only once under this policy

Retrenched and retrenchment mean losing your job as a result of redundancy or because your employer’s profession, business, trade or work is being reorganised.

Employer means any person, company, association, club, society or organisation that is formed, incorporated or registered in Singapore and which employs people. This includes the Government and any statutory organization or authority in Singapore.

Permanent paid employment means entering into any contract of service with any person, company, association, club, society, government or authority, whether in Singapore or overseas, where you agree to serve as an employee, including an apprenticeship contract or agreement, or are self-employed.

We will not pay this benefit if your claim arises from:

- retiring, leaving after a probation period, resigning or being dismissed;

- suffering a psychological condition, disability or illness;

- taking part in a labour dispute;

- coming to the end of an employment contract;

- being involved in a staff-reduction programme or unemployment you knew was going to happen before the cover start date;

- being employed for less than six months by an employer; or

- being employed by an employer not incorporated or registered in Singapore.

No, this benefit does not cover the attached optional riders.

You can only claim once for this benefit once under your policy.

Upon death, TI or TPD of a family member (before the anniversary immediately after he or she reaches the age of 70) during the premium term, future premium for this policy and its riders will be waived. In addition, a lump sum of 24 months’ premiums of this policy and its riders will be payable.

This benefit is payable if the family member is of age 64 or younger, at the time we issue the policy.

This benefit will end upon a successful claim, or when the basic policy is vested, whichever is earlier.

Family member means any of the following when the policyholder makes a claim on the family waiver benefit:

- Policyholder’s legal spouse if the Policyholder is the insured;

- Policyholder if the insured is the Policyholder’s legal spouse; or

- the insured’s legal or natural parents if the insured is a juvenile. Juvenile mean age below 18 years old at the time we issue the policy.

The benefit will not apply if the family member becomes totally and permanently disabled, becomes terminally ill  or dies from any condition of the family member that is:

- diagnosed;

- treated;

- for which a registered medical practitioner was consulted; or

- for which the existence or onset of signs or symptoms of any illness or disease were present,

before or within 2 years from the cover start date or registration of marriage date, whichever is later.

This benefit is not payable if the family member commits suicide within one year from the cover start date or registration of marriage date, whichever is later.

Under the definition of TPD, if the family member is under 65 years old, he or she must be unable to carry out any occupation, or there is total physical loss. We do not pay if the family member is merely unable to perform the same job as before, or is unable to perform a job to which his or her training, education or experience is suited for.

If the family member becomes totally and permanently disabled when he or she is 65 years old and above, he or she must be suffering from a severe disability or there is total physical loss. Otherwise, we will not pay the benefit.

The policy does not pay this benefit unless the family member is certified by a registered medical practitioner to have been totally and permanently disabled for at least six months in a row.

This benefit is not payable if your claim for family member becoming totally and permanently disabled  and terminally ills arises from:

- deliberate acts such as self-inflicted injuries, illnesses or attempted suicide;

- unlawful acts, provoked assault or deliberate exposure to danger; or

- the effects of alcohol, drugs or any dependence.

This benefit is not payable if you fail to give us a valid copy of the following documents.

- proof of identification of the family member;

- proof of relationship of the insured and the family member

- any other documents that may be requested by us, including but not limited to the completed declaration and authorization form for a claim on the family member and confirmatory result from medical investigations at the time of processing any claim or payment of any benefit under this policy.

Yes, for premium term of five years, cash value is available after premiums have been paid for at least 1 year. For all other premium terms, cash value is available after premiums have been paid for more than 2 years.

No, there is no cash value for optional riders.

Yes, this policy is eligible for bonuses. There are two types of bonuses:

• “Annual” or “reversionary” bonus is added to the policy each year.
• “Terminal” or “special” bonus is an extra bonus which we pay at the time of making a claim or if you cash in this policy

To avoid doubt, Star Secure – Protection Benefit does not form part of the Life Participating Fund, and no bonus is payable on the benefit.

Bonuses are not guaranteed. They are recommended by our Appointed Actuary and approved by our Board of Directors.

Bonus pay-outs to policyholders are primarily influenced by the performance of the Life Participating Fund (Par Fund). The Fund’s performance is predominantly driven by factors such as the investment returns of the Par Fund, its expenses and claims experience. Aligned to industry practice, Income is safeguarding policyholders’ interest by allocating 90% of Par Fund surpluses to them. This means for every $9 distributed to policyholders, only a maximum of $1 is allocated to shareholders.

Yes, you can take a policy loan subject to the prevailing terms and conditions.

We will take all loans and their interest from any amount we may be due to pay under this policy. If at any time the amount of the loans and interest is more than the cash value, this policy will end.

Optional Riders, also known as supplementary benefits, can be attached to a basic insurance policy to provide additional protection at lower cost.

The following riders / supplementary benefits can be added to Star Secure:

• Advanced Secure Accelerator
• Early Secure Accelerator
• Enhanced Payor Premium Waiver
• Dread Disease Premium Waiver
• Hospital CashAid

Yes, the optional riders for the basic plan can be added after the policy is in-force.

No, you can only use cash to buy this policy.

The minimum sum assured is S$20,000 per policy. The maximum sum assured would be subjected to underwriting.

Backdating is allowed if all of the following conditions are met:

i. The backdating is for a traditional individual (savings or protection) life policy paying regular premium or single premium. Backdating for investment-linked policy and annuity policy is not allowed;

ii. The backdating results in a lower premium or better protection value / policy payouts due to a lower entry age; and

iii. The policy is backdated to a date up to one day before the Insured’s last birthday and it must be within 6 months from date of receipt of application by Income.

iv. Backdating of policy to a date before the launch date of the main plan or rider is not allowed.