In the face of Singapore’s ‘Silver Tsunami,’ Income Insurance’s Care Secure Pro has emerged as a specialised liquidity defence mechanism, specifically engineered to mitigate the financial risks of long-term care for the ‘Sandwich Generation. As our nation ages, the conversation around disability insurance has shifted from “if” to “when.” Statistics suggest that one in two healthy Singaporeans aged 65 could become severely disabled in their lifetime. While the government’s CareShield Life scheme provides a basic safety net, the payouts—starting at roughly S$600+ per month—often fall short of the actual costs for nursing homes or private caregiving.
Consequently, private supplements have become essential for the affluent Singaporean looking to preserve their quality of life. Among the contenders, Income Insurance’s newly refreshed offering claims to provide comprehensive protection. But is it the superior choice?
This article dissects the policy to see if it deserves a place in your portfolio.
The Strategic Advantage of Care Secure Pro
To understand the value of this plan, we must first look at its payout structure. Previously, some Income plans operated on an “offset” basis, where private payouts were reduced by the amount you received from the government. However, Care Secure Pro now operates on a “stacked” or “additional” benefit model.
This means that if you purchase a S$2,000 monthly benefit, you receive that full amount on top of your CareShield Life payout. Therefore, as government payouts increase annually to combat inflation, your total aggregate income rises as well. This structural shift is crucial for preserving your purchasing power over decades.
How Care Secure Pro Handles Mild Disability
A significant gap in the national CareShield Life scheme is that it only pays out for “Severe Disability”—defined as the inability to perform 3 out of 6 Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Conversely, many disabilities start at a milder stage.
Care Secure Pro addresses this by triggering payouts earlier. If you are unable to perform just 1 ADL (Mild Disability), the plan pays 60% of your monthly benefit.
- Duration: If you claim before age 75, this benefit lasts for up to 60 months (5 years).
- Comparison: This is a strategic middle ground. While Singlife’s CareShield Plus offers a higher 100% payout for 1 ADL, it is capped at only 12 months. On the other hand, Great Eastern’s GREAT CareShield pays 50% for a lifetime.
Therefore, Income’s plan offers a balanced approach: a substantial payout duration that covers the critical recovery window for conditions like strokes or fractures, without the extreme premium loading often required for lifetime mild disability coverage.
Comparison: CareShield Life Supplements for Mild Disability (1 ADL)
| Insurer & Plan | Payout Amount (1 ADL) | Payout Duration | Best Suited For |
| Income Care Secure Pro | 60% of monthly benefit | Up to 5 Years (60 months) | Balanced recovery (e.g., stroke/fracture rehabilitation) |
| Singlife CareShield Plus | 100% of monthly benefit | Capped at 12 months | Short-term, high-intensity recovery needs |
| Great Eastern GREAT CareShield | 50% of monthly benefit | Lifetime | Long-term mild impairments (e.g., blindness, limb loss) |
The Care Secure Pro Family Advantage
Perhaps the most distinct feature of this plan lies in its definition of “dependants.” For the “Sandwich Generation”—affluent professionals supporting both young children and aging parents—this feature is a game-changer.
Most insurers strictly limit “dependant benefits” to children. However, Care Secure Pro breaks the mould by including parents and parents-in-law in its definition.
If you become disabled (unable to perform 2 or more ADLs) and have dependants:
- You receive an additional 25% of your monthly benefit.
- This lasts for up to 36 months.
Consequently, if you are single or your children have grown up, you still extract value from this benefit if you are supporting aging parents. In contrast, competing plans from Great Eastern or Singlife would pay zero dependant benefits in this specific scenario.
Pricing and Value of Care Secure Pro
Affordability is often the deciding factor. Fortunately, Care Secure Pro is fully payable via MediSave, up to the Additional Withdrawal Limit of S$600 per calendar year per insured person.
Income Insurance currently offers a 25% perpetual premium discount. This aggressive pricing strategy allows many applicants in their 30s and 40s to secure a substantial monthly benefit (e.g., S$1,200 to S$1,500) with zero cash outlay. And the discounted premium often falls entirely within the S$600 MediSave limit.
Furthermore, the plan includes a Support Benefit. Upon diagnosis of Moderate Disability (2 ADLs), you receive a lump sum of 300% of your monthly benefit. If the condition worsens to Severe Disability (3 ADLs), you receive another 300%, totaling 600%. This immediate injection of liquidity is vital for upfront costs like home modifications.
At a Glance: Key Features Summary
With the various payout structures and unique dependant definitions discussed above, it can be helpful to see how everything fits together. Here is a visual snapshot of how Income Care Secure Pro works and who it benefits most:
Verdict: Is Care Secure Pro the Right Choice?
So, is Care Secure Pro the best top-up for you? The answer depends entirely on your family structure and financial priorities.
When Care Secure Pro Wins
- You have ageing parents/parents-in-law: It is the only plan that recognises parents and parents-in-law as dependants. If you are their safety net, this plan effectively insures your ability to support them.
- You want balanced recovery support: The 5-year payout for mild disability is significantly better than the 12-month cap offered by some competitors. This gives you a longer runway for rehabilitation.
- You want to maximise MediSave: The 25% perpetual discount makes it highly efficient for “cash-less” coverage using only your CPF funds.
When Others Might Be Better
- You fear permanent mild disability: If your primary concern is living for 20+ years with a mild impairment (like blindness or loss of a limb), Great Eastern’s lifetime payout for 1 ADL might offer better peace of mind, albeit potentially at a different price point.
- You want automated inflation protection: If you prefer a payout that increases annually regardless of your health status, Singlife’s escalating payout options are worth investigating.
Conclusion
Ultimately, Care Secure Pro offers the most socio-economically astute design for the typical Singaporean family unit. It acknowledges that disability affects not just the individual, but the entire multi-generational household. By combining “stacked” payouts, extensive dependant definitions, and rational mild disability coverage, it positions itself as a “best-in-class” solution for the sandwich generation.
However, insurance is never one-size-fits-all. To ensure you are getting the absolute best value for your specific age and profile, you should compare the premiums directly.
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