How to choose life insurance with clarity.

Start with who needs to be protected

Life insurance decisions should begin with a clear picture of your dependants — the people who rely on your income or contributions to the household. A spouse, children, ageing parents, and even extended family members can all factor into how much cover you need and which type of policy makes sense.

Dikwata Insurance Agency offers Group Life Assurance designed specifically for structured groups like Botswana Defence Force members, as well as Group Funeral Scheme cover that extends protection across immediate and extended family structures. Understanding which group you belong to will immediately narrow your choices.

Understand what triggers a benefit

Not all life events trigger a payout in the same way. Most life assurance policies respond to death, but many also cover total and permanent disability. Some funeral schemes provide a cash benefit within a few days of a claim, while others include continuation options or premium waivers for beneficiaries who remain on the policy after the main policyholder passes.

Before signing, ask your agent to walk through the specific triggering events for the policy you are considering. Key questions include: Does this cover accidental and natural death equally? Does total and permanent disability require separate medical certification? How quickly are claims assessed?

Match the cover level to your obligations

Cover amounts should reflect real financial obligations — not guesswork. Consider outstanding loans, monthly household expenses, school fees, and the cost of burial or final affairs. Dikwata Insurance Agency's Group Funeral Scheme provides up to P60,000 for immediate family members, while Group Life Assurance can reach up to P1 million depending on the benefit structure selected.

If you carry a loan, Group Credit Life is worth exploring separately — it is specifically designed to settle outstanding debt so that a death or disability does not leave a financial burden on surviving family members.

Know what is excluded

Exclusions are as important as the benefits. Common exclusions across life products include pre-existing conditions that were not disclosed at inception, deaths resulting from self-harm, and events that occur within a defined waiting period. Dikwata Insurance Agency products reference a 6-month waiting period for some benefits — meaning cover is in force but certain claims may not be payable if they occur within that window.

Full and honest disclosure at the application stage protects you. Incomplete health information is one of the most common causes of claim disputes and repudiations.

Review your cover when life changes

• Marriage or divorce changes who your beneficiaries should be.
• The birth of a child may require an increase in cover amount.
• Taking on a new loan means reviewing Group Credit Life alignment.
• A change in employment group may affect eligibility for group schemes.
• An increase in household expenses should prompt a cover review.