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They’re always out and about, waiting for the perfect opportunity. A moment of negligence, and they can steal your most valuable possessions. Burglars are a threat to be feared.
The truth is, your home is vulnerable to a break-in. Here are some items that you can take precaution of to prevent yourself from becoming a victim.
Jewellery is one of the most desired items on a burglar’s hit-list. Compared to robbing a jewellery store stocking gold, silver and precious stones, robbing your home is a piece of cake. If you have highly valuable family heirlooms or jewellery you don’t use often, it may be a good idea to store them at the bank.
It’s no surprise that cash is one of the top items a burglar desires. If you think keeping them in a safe deposit box will prevent theft, think again. That is where many burglars will look first! Instead, keep large sums of cash in the bank. If you need to keep some cash at home, store it in a discreet location, such as random folder on your bookshelf or your sock drawer, but be sure to remember where you hid them!
Electronics like laptops, iPads and smartphones are highly desired by burglars. These are usually the items that we leave lying around, which makes them an easy target. For extra peace of mind, you could keep your electronics in a safe in your room. You could also install a laptop lock or laptop alarm to make it harder for burglars to steal. Losing electronics can have other implications as they contain your confidential personal information.
It may come as a surprise, but burglars can go after your prescription drugs too as medicines have surged in market value. Burglars can easily sell them and get a hefty profit.
Protect your liquor cabinets! Even if a burglar doesn’t steal your expensive wine, he may decide to drink it. If the bad guys weren’t afraid to break a window to invade your home, they probably won’t hesitate to smash more glass to get a drink.
The worst thing you can lose during a break-in is your identity. Credit and debit cards, old cheques, bills and medical records left lying around can put your sensitive personal information at risk.
Believe it or not, some burglars may even rob you of your furry friends. If they don’t, they could still cause harm to your pets through accidental deaths and injuries during a break-in.
Expensive art pieces are on many burglars’ wishlists. Art, furniture and household utensils are easy to steal and can be re-sold for an immense profit. While it is difficult to ensure that these items won’t be stolen, keeping an inventory can help with an insurance claim if your household gets robbed. You could also keep photos of these items for reference in case you have to replace them.
Losing your power tools and building supplies can be a big inconvenience. These are highly desired by burglars too, so it’s important to keep them stowed away safely.
If a burglar enters your house through forced entry, you’ll receive compensation through home insurance. Depending on your insurance policy, you’ll be covered up to a limit for each personal belonging that is lost.
Here’s some extra information to guide you along.
More valuable objects like jewellery, antiques or silverware will likely have lower limits as most home insurance policies have limits for the amount they would cover for expensive items. If you have an array of expensive items in your household, you would need to purchase an additional endorsement to cover them.
If your home is burgled, this is what you need to do.
No one ever wants to be a victim of a burglary. But when it happens, you can be sure that home insurance will help you get back on your feet. After all, it is more worthwhile to spend a few million dong a year on home insurance than forking out even larger sums for losses caused by theft.
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Got any questions about home insurance? Find out more here or reach out to us here.
Summer is, without a doubt, the best time to travel. If you’re looking for a getaway comprising of some sun and fun, here are 5 island paradises on Earth to visit - and they can all be found in Asia!
Despite being the largest island in Vietnam, Phú Quốc island has slipped off the world’s radar for a long time. Lined with beautiful white-sand beaches that will make you want to lounge on them all day, it should be top of your list if you ever visit the country. Sunset-seeking travelers would find Long Beach, one of the most popular beaches, perfect to catch the sun dip below the waves. If you are up for an adventure, there are other uninhabited remote islands nearby that are equally alluring in beauty.
The province where the Raja Ampat Islands are found is also known as the Amazon of the Oceans. The reason behind this name is due to it having one of the highest diversity of marine life in the world. With more than 1,000 tropical fish species and 250 species of exotic bird sightings, this hidden treasure of Indonesia is a diver and bird lover’s paradise. Making the trip down to these islands is definitely worth it, especially when you come face to face with the untouched and undisturbed coral reefs.
On the eastern side of the Thai Gulf lies the lesser-known Koh Kood Island, as compared to the much-heralded Phuket Islands. With hardly any crowds and the absence of night life, this is the place to be at if you are looking to relax and unwind. About 70 per cent of the island is covered by lush tropical rainforests. If you venture into the middle of the island, you will find the beautiful Klong Chao waterfall—along with the opportunity to swing on hanging vines into a refreshing cool lake.
Whenever Hong Kong is mentioned, it is common to think of a concrete jungle. But just 20 minutes away from Central Hong Kong lies a completely peaceful world of sand beaches, crystal clear waters, and emerald green hills. The free-spirited and multi-cultural vibes that emanates through this island makes this a true gem. Go on one of the many hiking trails to clear your thoughts, or visit Lamma Winds, Hong Kong’s very first wind turbine.
No matter the activity you chose to partake in - be it plunging into lakes from hanging vines or diving into the sparkling blue waters - be sure to keep yourself covered with a comprehensive travel insurance plan. That way, you can enjoy your well-deserved vacation with a peace of mind.
Got any questions about travel insurance? Find out more here or feel free to contact us here.
With MSIG on your side, you can rest assured whenever you’re on the road. That’s because we’re here to assist you around the clock every day, including public holidays.
And if our lines are busy, you can be certain we’ll call you back as soon as we can. It’s just one of the many ways we help make your claims a smooth and pleasant experience.
Going on a holiday? Here are some tips to safeguard your home and valuables.
When you’re not around, your closest allies are almost always your neighbours. Give them your vacation contact information so that they can notify you should they notice anything amiss. If you’re not on friendly terms with them, the next best alternatives are your relatives or your closest friend. You can even get them to swing by once in a while for a quick check.
If you have a mailbox out in your front yard that is visible to people, it may be worthwhile to give the post office a call to stop the mail for the period of your vacation. The same goes for your subscriptions such as the newspapers. Having an overflowing mail box or an increasing pile of newspapers on your porch gives a clear indication that the owner is away and only makes it more enticing for burglars.
In recent years, CCTVs are less costly and more effective than ever before. Installing a CCTV that can be connected to your smartphone is a savvy option that allows you to monitor your house anytime of the day. If you want to cut down on unnecessary footage, you can also invest in one that comes with motion sensors. Having a CCTV can serve as a deterrent for burglars, so even setting up a dummy camera can possibly make them think twice.
Sounds strange? It isn’t. Go through the valuables in your home and ring up your agent to update them on any valuable new additions to the house since the day you purchased your insurance. That way, you can check whether these home contents are under coverage. While most insurance plans don’t provide full coverage for expensive articles such as jewellery and fur, it is still important to get at least partial coverage for these costly items. If you don’t have an existing home insurance plan, it would be good to do some research and invest in a comprehensive home insurance plan before your trip.
Keeping your house secure requires teamwork and MSIG is on your side. If you have any queries regarding home insurance, feel free to find out more here or contact us here.
If you’re on a mission to lose weight, going on a health diet can sound like an enticing solution. That is why recent health trends such as juice cleansing and keto diet are gaining in popularity. But did you know that these fad diets could potentially lead to the worsening of pre-existing conditions? This could eventually result in further implications when it comes to your health insurance. Read on to find out more.
A juice cleanse is a diet where people stop eating solid food and depend on vegetable and fruit juice for a period of time. This can last from a few days up to a week or more. Many of these cold-pressed juices can be bought in cafes or health stores.
While there is no doubt that fruit and vegetable juices contain high amounts of nutrients, too much of something is seldom good. For example, it takes many oranges to prepare a glass of orange juice—which makes it likely to contain more sugar than a can of Coke. This can potentially lead to overconsumption and an excess of sugar in your diet. Too much sugar can result in Type 2 diabetes or even worsen existing heart problems. If you haven’t declared your heart problems when signing up for health insurance, it is highly likely that you would be unable to claim for any associated medical treatment.
“A lot of juice cleanses are loaded with sugar because there’s too much fruit in the juices — it’s extremely unhealthy.” —Dr. Frank Lipman, a leader in functional and integrative medicine and a New York Times best-selling author
Source: https://nypost.com/2018/01/09/why-no-one-does-juice-cleanses-anymore/
Perhaps, simply adding a variety of fruits and vegetables into your existing diet or consuming them in moderation could prove to be more helpful in the long run than going on a juice cleanse.
Sounds fancy? A keto diet is basically an extremely low or no carbohydrates diet. That means no food such as bread, rice, or pasta. Instead, the body depends on a high-fat diet that includes food such meat, fish, eggs, and high-fat dairy for energy.
For severely overweight people, going on a keto diet can be an effective solution. However, slashing your carbs intake overnight can drastically lead to a constant state of hunger. As a result, you may overconsume other food sources to satiate your hunger, making it harder to lose weight. Replacing your carbs with a high-fat diet can also lead to an increased risk of high cholesterol and heart disease for those at risk.
“[A keto diet] can do more harm than good. It can damage the heart, which is also a muscle.” —Francine Blinten, R.D., a certified clinical nutritionist and public health consultant
Source: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/keto-diet-is-gaining-popularity-but-is-it-safe-121914#5
You should also note that much of your initial weight loss is water. That is because your kidney flushes out more water when carbs are reduced, which can lead to low levels of hydration that are detrimental for people with underlying kidney issues. Much like juice cleansing, if you have these prior health conditions, the chances of claiming from any health insurance plans are low.
As such, as effective as a keto diet could be for short-term weight loss, it is important to consult your doctor and understand the state of your body fully before going on any fad diets.
When it comes to health issues, don’t leave anything to chance. If you have any queries regarding health insurance, find out more here or reach out to us here.
Curious? From the countless conversations we’ve had with travellers who sought our advice, we’ve compiled some of the top questions asked by travel enthusiasts like you. One common theme stands out: safety. Time to be enlightened!
"Where are the most surreal yet safe places to visit in the world?"
The world is such a vast and enormous place that it is impossible to pinpoint all of these places in one article. But for starters, Asia is a safe haven and wonderful place to begin with. Just take a look at the annual Safe Cities Index in 2017, where four of the top 10 cities are from Asia.* Looking for intriguing places? Check out Singapore, a city where alien-looking supertrees thrive. Or you can also visit the land of Korea, where real-life ‘mermaids’ dive into oceans deep. How about Bhutan, a peaceful country where a monastery can be found hanging on the cliffside? With an array of diverse cultures steeped in history and a plethora of UNESCO world heritage sites, Asia is full of spectacular places that will surely appeal to your sense of adventure.
"Will not switching my phone off result in a plane accident?"
This is one question that has mystified plane passengers for decades, especially those who had to begrudgingly quit a game halfway on their phone. The short answer is, yes. In fact, there have been at least 2 cases of plane crashes due to suspected mobile interference in history: the Crosshair Flight 498 incident in 2000, and a fatal crash in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2003. The potential of mobile phone interfering with flights not only exist while it is being used, but also when it lies dormant. That is why passengers are requested to switch their phone to flight mode or turn it completely off.
"Is travel insurance really essential?"
A hundred-percent yes. While you may associate the absence of travel insurance with cost savings, the risks you are taking are often not worth it. Travel insurance covers a wide range of the most frequently occurred incidents, from flight delays, to injuries sustained overseas to lost belongings. If you are a frequent traveller, there will be a higher risk of such incidents occurring. At the end of the day, when it comes to travelling, there really is no substitution for a peace of mind.
With the right insurer, the ins and outs of travel insurance can be easy to understand. If you have any queries regarding travel insurance, find out more here or feel free to reach out to us here.
Feeling jaded about work and looking for that adrenaline rush? You’ve come to the right place to plan your next epic getaway. Here are 4 extreme activities you can do in Asia. Not for the faint-hearted!
An activity that has grown in popularity over the years, whitewater rafting is the perfect sport for thrill seekers and water sports enthusiasts. Whitewater refers to the extremely fast rapids of the river, and requires great skill and dexterity to navigate through it. If you’re looking for a place to try this, check out Mae Taeng River in Thailand where they have rapids of varying difficulty levels, from Class II to Class IV. However, if you’re up for a challenge, there is always Mayhka River in Myanmar. Dubbed the ‘Everest of Rivers’, there are gorges along the river where Class V to VI rapids await the daredevil in you.
We’ve all probably seen it at one point—the iconic picture of hot air balloons floating across limestone spires and caves in Cappadocia, Turkey. But do you know there’s a place in Asia that offers similar breathtaking sights? Take to the skies in Bagan, Myanmar, and be treated to an awe-inspiring view of ancient temples and the beautiful Inle Lake.
If you’re not intimidated by heights, Asia has some great places for bungee jumping. Check out the bungy tower at AJ Hackett Sentosa in Singapore, where you can also experience the beach life, or The Last Resort in Nepal where you can plunge towards a daunting tropical gorge. If that’s not extreme enough for you, take a step up by leaping off the Macau Tower in China—the world’s highest jumping site at 233 metres. Due to its tremendous height, special bungee chords, guide cables, and a recovery system had to be developed.
We’ve all seen it—from blockbuster action films to aspirational commercials. There’s just something about jumping off the plane and falling through the air that gets us. Visit Dubai, a country which is gaining a reputation as one of the best places to skydive in Asia. Leap off the plane and witness a stunning view of the skyline and the iconic Palm Jumeirah. If that’s not extreme enough for you, Thailand offers skydiving altitudes up to 14,000 feet (4,300 metres), one of the highest in Asia. With some of the most scenic seaside locations in the world, you’ll definitely be in for a treat.
As adventurous as you may be, don’t jump in without the safety net of travel insurance. Some travel insurance policies provide optional coverage for adventurous activities as an add-on, which would be extremely handy for the astronomical cost of emergency medical treatment should the need ever arise. Find out more about the risks below!
Not sure what type of coverage there is? Click here to find out more about our travel insurance.
