Well, before Pre-Need companies were regulated by the SEC while Insurance companies where under the supervision of the Insurance Comission but Pre-Need companies are now under the supervision of the Insurance Comission.
The other difference is with their products hehe
Pre-Need products are just from their name, a future
need. So basically, you know you'll need this money for
say education, burial expenses, etc. No matter what
happens, you will need the money. The pre-need company
then promises to grow the money for you so that when
you do need it, it would be what ever amount they promised. Most if not all, also have a term insurance
component from an insurance company, so if you cannot
pay due to death/injury and disability. The insurance
money would pay for your plan.
An insurance product on the other hand, is something
that is unexpected hehe. Like say, out of 10,000 cars
the insurance company issues policies on, probably
only 2 cars would encounter some accident.
Or out of 1 million people the insurance company covers, probably
only a few would die at any point in time. Thus the
premium would small compared to the potential benefit.
In other words, they can charge 1million people say 1,000
each and promise all of them that if they die, they would all
get 1million. They can do that because not all would die.
If there are less, than the expected number of deaths then
the insurance company would distribute this "excess" profit
as dividends to the policyholders
A pre-need product on the other hand would need to charge
a lot more, because they can only earn on your money. So if
you want 1.1 million after 2 years, and they expect to make 10% p.a.
then they might charge you 950,000. After 2 years, your 950,000
would grow to 1,149,500. They give you 1.1M and they keep the 49,500.
I am not 100% sure that that's how the finances on a pre need product
works but it makes sense. I mean, what else could they do. They're just
middle men for investing your money. Parang nag repack lang. They give
you investment returns and insurance coverage which they purchase from
insurance companies.
Just go with UITF and Mutual Funds and cut the middle man
