SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 March 2026 – Prudential Singapore (“Prudential”) announced the launch of PRUActive Life V, a comprehensive and customisable whole-of-life protection plan to support Singapore families in preparing for their health gap years – the period when an individual diagnosed with critical illness takes time away from work to focus on recovery. The plan offers multiplied coverage and lifelong protection with critical illness add-ons. It provides one of the widest ranges of coverage at 182 conditions including mental illness conditions.

As Singaporeans see higher incidences of critical illness (e.g. almost 58 per cent increase in stroke patients from 2011 to 2021^[1]), many families will experience a serious health episode and the affected family member may be unable to work during their recovery. During this ‘health gap’ period, the resulting income loss creates a strain on household finances, along with additional costs to care for the patient at home.

Many Singaporean households remain unprepared to deal with such a scenario. According to the 2022 Protection Gap Study by the Life Insurance Association of Singapore, there is a 74 per cent protection gap^[2] against critical illnesses such as cancer^[3], stroke^[1], and heart disease^[4]. This gap is especially challenging for young families raising children and the sandwich generation caring for both children and ageing parents.

Insurance plans play different roles in supporting families during a serious health event. While hospitalisation insurance covers eligible hospital and treatment bills, critical illness plans pay a lump sum upon diagnosis and families have the flexibility to decide how they want to use the payout.

Ms Toni Fung, Chief Customer and Marketing Officer, Prudential Singapore, said: “Many families think that hospitalisation coverage is sufficient when a serious illness strikes and may overlook the wider financial impact on the household. For young families and the sandwich generation, a critical illness can disrupt income and add caregiving responsibilities that impact household finances. Critical illness coverage is therefore not just personal protection, but family protection, as it provides a lump-sum payout to take care of these additional costs.

“Families should consider critical illness protection ear...