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February 4th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda - £74 per month premium equivalent of 5% of a young soldier’s salary
- 35,600 troops have served in Afghanistan without life insurance
- Further 26,400 took out less than maximum cover
By
Ian Drury
Last updated at 11:56 PM on 3rd February 2012
Fifty British troops have been killed in Afghanistan without taking out life insurance.
They could not afford premiums of up to £74 a month to cover their loved ones in the event of their death or serious injury.
Jim Murphy, Labour’s defence spokesman, said the figures, which he obtained through parliamentary questions, were very worrying.
Risking life and limb: British troops in action in Afghanistan are failing to buy life insurance which costs up to £74 per month
He suggested that young soldiers earning a basic private’s salary of just over £17,000 a year would be reluctant to spend the equivalent of 5 per cent of their annual income on an insurance policy.
Mr Murphy also discovered that as many as 35,600 troops have served in Afghanistan – braving Taliban bombs, mortars and ambushes – without life insurance. Another 26,400 took out less than the maximum cover.
‘It is a real concern that there are so many service personnel without life insurance,’ he said.
‘The Government must do more to ensure it is affordable and available for those making huge sacrifices and taking enormous risks.
‘Forces families understand the importance of this issue and will expect their loved ones to receive the highest levels of information, support and care.’
Most of Britain’s armed forces take out Pax life insurance, a specially tailored voluntary scheme run for the Ministry of Defence by finance giant Aon. The scheme was set up in 1989 to provide cover for military personnel.
Many high street insurance companies are reluctant to sell life insurance to servicemen and women, especially if they are about to deploy to a warzone.
Since April 2007, 55,900 troops have served in Afghanistan covered by Pax. Under the scheme, soldiers can buy one unit of cover for £4.94 a month, or the maximum of 15 units for £74.10.
A basic policy pays out from £10,000 if a soldier is killed and £20,000 for loss of limbs or vision.
Action: 35,600 troops who have been sent to Afghanistan don’t have life insurance. A further 26,400 had less than maximum cover
If a finger or toe is lost in battle, the scheme offers compensation starting from £7,000. Sources at the MoD said soldiers got an operational allowance of £5,400 for a six-month tour of duty in a warzone. ‘You could suggest that £74 a month is a wise investment for a private soldier to make,’ said one.
An MoD spokesman said: ‘This is just opportunism from Labour. It is rich for Jim Murphy to criticise the Pax scheme when it’s the same one that existed when Labour were in power.
‘All service personnel injured as a result of services will benefit from the increased amounts of money provided through the armed forces compensation scheme which is completely taxpayer-funded.
‘Insurance is voluntary. Pax is just one of a number of insurance schemes available which are well publicised to all service personnel.’
Defence minister Andrew Robathan said: ‘Information on the personal insurance cover available is specifically provided to personnel during initial training and on pre-deployment briefings, including information on schemes specifically designed with the needs of service personnel in mind.’
The Government provides lump sum compensation payments of up to £570,000 for wounded troops.
A total of 397 British troops have died since the military mission started in Afghanistan in 2001.
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What did they do with the extra £28 a day they received as their operational allowance?
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Whta the article does not mention is those soldiers who took life insurance from any regular provider (often their banks) and found themselves uncovered as soon as they step into a war zone….
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Soldiers and others in the armed forces, who get killed whilst in service get a “death in service” enhancement to their services’ pensions and their next of kin get that pension immediately and it is payable for the rest of their lives.
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The Government should be carrying this insurance to pay for their employees… the military. This is scandalous but typical of Government, who make sure MP’s, Ministers and Civil Servants are all covered, but not people who are in real danger and should be covered automatically and at the Government expense.
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Wow I thought they had that provided by the government .
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When our Troops are sent to dangerous places they should not have to take out insurance as this should be done by the Government and before they send Troops to places like Iraq and Afghanistan they should do a proper budget including looking after Soldiers and their families for life when they are seriously injured If we can pay for MP’s to travel to work, give them cheap food and expenses we can look after our Troops Its time they came home from Afghanistan as the UK have done their share Why did we send 10,000 when France sent 3,000 and Germany 4,000 Bring them home now
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Very surprising, and insulting really, that the government doesn’t provide such coverage free given that the soldiers endanger their lives on behalf of the state.
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their career choice , combat duties are part and parcel of a soldiers life if they value their life take out the insurance its their choice
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I agree with Guto, at 17 £1000 per month take home is an extremely good wage, and I think soldiers should be paying their own life insurance. No-one made them become soldiers, it was their own choice, they were told their responisibilities before the signed up, they knew they would be deployed to war zones should the need arise. Its a bit like taking on a job that requires you to drive 20 miles or more to attend a meeting, or travel to another country for short periods of time to work, you have to make sure that you have the appropriate insurance, not your employer, however your employer might be able to secure discounted rates with a specific insurance company. If these people want a return for the monthly payments they should try going to places like Tesco and Sainsbury where they will get loyalty points, its what the more financially experienced, lower paid, employed people do.
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I think there might be enough in one of the Governments aid schemes ….. er now can someone remind me how much we pay to India ? Ah yes £1B – That will do nicely thank you – redirect that ‘aid’ to our own kith and kin – its the least we can do. And why does this country not have its own ‘GI Bill’ ??? Man up Cameron and Co and look after our troops!!! PS Do it NOW !!!!
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