Aaron Graham Tay – My Heart as a Father

As a boy, I was diagnosed with lupus and kidney problems. Growing up with much challenges physically and emotionally, I managed to complete my degree in Business Finance, and became a financial consultant. I was helping many people with their financial planning, insurance and investment management. I did well and was happy with my life.

However, my kidneys totally failed and I had to be on dialysis. The process was grueling. I had to undergo treatments 3 times a week, each session lasting up to four hours. After the sessions, I often felt weak and nauseous, but still I continued to meet my clients and helped them in their planning. On one hand, I loved my work and on the other hand, I needed to support myself financially, especially since dialysis fees can be up to three thousand Singapore dollars each month. Fortunately, I had the financial assistance from the National Kidney Foundation, which helped me to alleviate my financial burden.

After four years on dialysis, my heart function started to deteriorate. It was only functioning at twenty five percent and doctors gave me five years to live. I had to undergo an emergency kidney transplant as the dialysis caused my heart to weaken tremendously. My brother volunteered to donate his kidney to me, and I was very grateful. In year 2008, I received the “gift of life” from my brother and was given a “new lease of life”. I truly appreciated the value of good health.

Amidst all these ordeals, I carried on the work of financial advisory, believing in the value of proper planning and protecting our families financially. I was very fortunate to get married the following year after my kidney transplant and had a chance to start a family. After much difficulty, my wife and I were blessed with twin daughters, with our third daughter coming soon in November 2016.

My wife has been a homemaker and full time mother for five years now, and we enjoyed the benefits of having a stay home mum. However, it meant more financial responsibilities to me as the father and sole breadwinner. As a father, I feel responsible to protect and provide for my family. I tried to apply for life and health insurance from various companies. I even spoke with underwriters (people who review applicants based on their health status), but none of the companies were willing to grant me coverage.

As a result, I had to “self-insure”. Every dollar I earn, I invest it prudently and save it for my family. My greatest concern will be for my wife and three children, if anything untoward happens to me. I understand how it really feels like to be uninsured and the deep sense of responsibility towards my family. I was so grateful to our Singapore government, when they allowed every citizen and PR to be insured by Medishield Life (a national health insurance scheme). It meant financial security for my family in event I needed medical treatment.

It has been my life goal to share the value of financial protection to people I meet and my clients. People who are healthy should never take their health for granted, and insure themselves when they still can. It is indeed a privilege to be able to protect themselves and their families financially, in the event of any health crisis or even premature death.

Life insurance is a tool to achieve that purpose, to be financially responsible to our families.