Divorce and insurance in Singapore: what you should know

Getting a divorce is never easy. Beyond the emotional toll, there are many practical challenges to overcome including dividing marital assets, arranging custody for children and finding new living arrangements.

Amidst all the turmoil, one area that often slips through the cracks has to do with insurance policies.

Insurance is rarely top of mind during divorce proceedings, but it can have long-term consequences if left unchecked. Let us walk through this with a relatable story:

A story close to home

Take Melissa (not her real name), a 35-year-old working mother of one.

When she and her husband decided to part ways, she was so caught up with custody arrangements, property division, and the sheer stress of moving forward that insurance did not even cross her mind.

It wasn’t until months later, when her financial representative checked in, that she realised:

• Her ex-husband was still listed as the nominee on her life insurance policy.
• The children’s education savings plan was still tied to a joint contribution account that was no longer active.
• The health insurance riders that she once depended on were based on assumptions of shared finances, which no longer applied.

For Melissa, this was a wake-up call; and one that many Singaporeans only discover when it is too late.

1. Reviewing your beneficiaries

In Singapore, your insurance payout does not automatically follow your will. If you have nominated your spouse as the beneficiary of your life policy, that nomination will still stand after divorce unless you change it.

This means that if something happens to you, your ex could still receive the payout, instead of your children, your parents, or anyone else you would rather support. Reviewing nominations should be one of the very first steps after divorce.

2. Protection for your children

Custody and maintenance are settled in court, but ensuring your children are financially protected is still your responsibility. Education savings plans, endowment policies, and riders should all be reviewed.

• Can you still maintain the premium payments on your own?
• Should you increase coverage, knowing your household income has changed?

In cases where custody is shared, both parents should clarify who is responsible for maintaining policies tied to the child’s well-being.

Some single parents in Singapore also choose to add critical illness coverage after divorce, reasoning that if they fall ill, there may no longer be another adult in the household to provide financially for the kids.

3. Health insurance matters

If you were relying on your spouse’s employer-provided health insurance, divorce may leave you exposed. While MediShield Life covers everyone, private Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) and riders may need to be purchased or restructured to ensure you don’t face hefty out-of-pocket costs.

This is especially important if you are the main caregiver for your children. Losing employer coverage without replacing it could mean major vulnerabilities.

4. Joint liabilities: who pays for what?

While Singapore does not really have “joint life policies” like some other countries, divorced couples may still have jointly purchased endowment plans or savings-linked policies.

These need to be reviewed carefully. Options include:

• One party taking over premium payments,
• Surrendering the policy (though this could mean losses), or
• Splitting the cash value as part of the divorce settlement.

5. Rebuilding for the future

Finally, divorce is also a chance to start fresh. Many Singaporeans use the transition to reset their financial goals. This may mean:

• Scaling back on certain savings plans to prioritise immediate liquidity.
• Taking up term life insurance to ensure your children are secure if something happens.
• Building your own retirement portfolio, independent of your ex-spouse’s.

It is not just about plugging the gaps. It is about reshaping your financial safety net for your new reality.

Why reviewing your insurance after a divorce matters

Divorce already comes with enough stress. The last thing you want is for outdated insurance policies to create new problems years later. By reviewing your coverage, updating nominations, and planning with your children in mind, you can protect your financial future with clarity.