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Even some of the most basic insurance plans cover you for critical illness or loss of limbs, eyes, etc. There's also specific critical illness insurance.

At what point to people have to be responsible for taking care of themselves and ensuring that if something does happen to them, they are protected as well as their family?

A personal story....My uncle who just passed away this past week has a wife who's unemployed and a son at University. Had he not had the proper insurance, should we as a society step in to provide her with income support and to finish putting my cousin through University?

   

He probably has the ability to work, like many do. But we as a society should make sure your aunt does not have to live on the street because she can't afford her rent payments because welfare is not enough.

If even the most basic insurance plans cover you for critical illness, why did the person in Andy's story have to worry? 15 weeks, no more. Should we just dump that sick man on the street?

   

'Nother thing. If 'society can't pick up the tab for everyone', then why do we pay a year maternity leave at 55%?
Where I come from, it is 16 weeks at 70%. But I guess The Netherlands is very socialist, right?

   

And he does work, but it doesn't cover all his expenses to live on residence at school. My uncle was paying for that.

In the end, my uncle had a handsome life insurance and critical illness package and left my aunt with a house completely paid off and a couple hundred grand in the bank to help her get back on her feet and allow his son to finish his education.

We have all the services in the World in order to protect ourselves and considering we provide universal health care for everyone is it too much to ask people to ensure they're properly covered for situations like this?

In the case of andy's story, he obviously had no insurance.

   

My neighbour, who is battling breast cancer, told me that she would not get paid a dime if she took only 3 days off per treatment. She would get paid if she took a whole week. I find that weird. If she is feeling good enough to work, but only needs the day of treatment off, and a day to recover, that would be at her own expense? But if she takes a week, it's not??

   

So you're upset because they're offering more time and more money to recover?

Take the week!

You're complaining because the insurance is doing what it should be doing and giving someone a fully paid week to have treatment and recover.

   

No. I am "complaining" because it is bullshit. You are telling me that it is ok for the system to be taken advantage of, but when someone has an issue that "the system" does not cover, it is their own problem.

Hypocrite much?

   

First off, my condolences for your loss.

It might sound callous, but no, I don't think society should step up and pay for your cousin's education. Nobody paid for my education except for myself.

There are lots of options for your cousin - get a student loan, go part time and work more, while finishing the degree in five/six years instead of four, look for bursaries or awards he may qualify for, etc. Fortunately, the discussion is moot, as your uncle had proper life insurance and this won't be an issue for his family.

People can get all sorts of life insurance for very reasonable prices (often as low as $20/month for a hundred grand or two of whole life), and if they have a benefit package at work, prices can be even lower. I got $200k in insurance for about $12/month through my benefit plan. On top of that, I pay $100 a month to have my mortgage paid off entirely in the event of my death.

I think any person who has a family and doesn't have any life insurance is plain foolish.

   

Not everyone has a family.

   

If you don't have a family, then there isn't much need for life insurance - unless you plan on leaving your house and savings account to your pet.

   

Thank you.

And no, you don't sound callous. We don't expect anyone to pay for his education. That was my point. If his father's insurance wasn't enough, my father (my uncles only brother) would cover his education without a doubt. If it came down to it, I'd cover it as well.

As you said, there are so many inexpensive ways to cover yourself in the event of death or illness. People just need to be more conscious of these options and not wait until it's too late and angry at the World when things go bad.

And if I may suggest to all of you...if you have family, children or a wife/husband, get yourself a legal will. Your family will thank-you.

   

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