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June 20, 2016 at 08:00 PM
By 2017, millennials will have the most buying power of any generation. Still, with all that power, there are some things they won’t spring for— things such as pay television, cars and mass-market beer.
One thing millennials will buy, however, is insurance products. According to the 2016 Aflac WorkForces Report, those born between 1980 and 1991 are big on protecting their belongings. For example, with the exception of roadside assistance, they’re more likely than any other generation to use their hard-earned money for cell phone, home appliance, identity theft, trip, pet and even instrument insurance. They’re even the most likely to insure major events, such as weddings, and to purchase products protecting them from tax audits.
While they may be very interested in insurance they perceive as providing financial protection, there are some things millennials shy away from. For example, according to a recent Bankrate survey, they’re extremely debt-averse. In fact, 63 percent don’t have credit cards. What’s more, the scars of the recent recession run deep: Fully 93 percent of millennials don’t trust the banking market and are afraid to invest. As a result, 40 percent hold significant portions of their portfolios in cash, despite historically low interest rates.
Another thing millennials aren’t that fond of? 401(k) plans. According to the Financial Finesse 2014 Generational Research Report, millennials are less likely than baby boomers or Gen Xers to participate in 401(k)s.
Millennials are first in line for voluntary insurance
Millennials’ aversion to debt and traditional investment plans may explain why, according to the 2016 Aflac WorkForces, they are the first in line when it comes to voluntary insurance coverage. Millennials, at 42 percent, narrowly edged out Generation Z (41 percent) and Generation X (39 percent) as the most likely to be enrolled in voluntary insurance offered through their employers. The oldest workers, known as the silent generation, and baby boomers were the least likely, at 19 and 34 percent, respectively.
Still, even with their fear of debt, more than half of millennials are not enrolled in voluntary workplace benefits — despite the fact that voluntary insurance is arguably more valuable than many of the single-issue insurance products they’ve elected to apply for or purchase. For example, those without cellphone or home appliance insurance could replace those items for less than $1,000, but a single serious accident or illness could result in costly out-of-pocket expenses that aren’t covered by traditional major medical insurance.
The voluntary benefits solution
