【2026 Latest】Survey on Insurance Review Habits ― 63.5% Admit 'Not Yet Prepared' for Posthumous Expenses; 48.9% Have 'Never Discussed' Insurance with Family

Survey Summary

- About 60% lack preparation for posthumous costs: 63.5% of respondents said they are 'not yet prepared or not thinking about' covering posthumous expenses such as funerals and administrative procedures—the highest proportion.

- Nearly half have not shared with family: 48.9% of respondents reported they have 'never discussed' their insurance with family members.

- Approximately 70% have not organized their information: 46.2% said they have 'not created' a list of their insurance policies, and 24.8% said they 'know it's necessary but haven't started'—totaling nearly 70%.

- Over 40% have never reviewed their insurance: 43.2% said they have 'never reviewed their coverage or are not insured'—the most common response.

Survey Topics

Q1. Which type of insurance do you currently prioritize the most?

Q2. How well do you understand your current insurance coverage?

Q3. When did you last review your insurance policies?

Q4. Have you created a list of your insurance information?

Q5. Approximately how much do you pay monthly for insurance?

Q6. Does your current beneficiary designation match your family situation?

Q7. How prepared are you for posthumous expenses (funerals, procedures, etc.)?

Q8. How much have you communicated about insurance with your family?

Q9. What is the main reason you delay reviewing your insurance?

Q10. What kind of information or support would be helpful in the future?

Key Findings

- 63.5% 'not yet prepared' for posthumous expenses: The most common response was 'not yet prepared or not thinking about' posthumous costs, indicating that over 60% have not taken concrete steps toward preparation.

- 43.2% have 'never reviewed or are uninsured': This was the top response regarding the last time insurance was reviewed, suggesting coverage may not align with life stage changes.

- 46.2% have 'not organized' insurance information: Combined with 24.8% who say it's 'necessary but not started,' nearly 70% have not compiled their insurance details.

- 48.9% have 'never discussed' insurance with family: Nearly half of respondents have not shared insurance details with family, indicating poor information sharing.

- Main reason for delay: 'Postponed due to daily life' (33.8%): Many recognize the importance but fail to take action.

Survey Results

Q1. Which type of insurance do you currently prioritize the most?

- Medical insurance (36.4%)

- Life insurance (19.6%)

- Cancer insurance (5.9%)

- Nursing care/dementia insurance (2.2%)

- Personal pension insurance (5.8%)

- Other (4.8%)

- Not insured (25.2%)

Medical insurance (36.4%) was the most prioritized, followed by life insurance (19.6%). However, 25.2% are not insured—about 1 in 4—indicating a divide between those who value insurance and those who are not covered.

Q2. How well do you understand your current insurance coverage?

- Can state coverage amounts and beneficiaries (14.2%)

- Generally understand the content (28.5%)

- Only know the payment amount (7.5%)

- Understand almost nothing (28.3%)

- Not insured (21.4%)

'Generally understand the content' (28.5%) was the most common, closely followed by 'understand almost nothing' (28.3%). Including those who 'only know the payment amount' (7.5%), over one-third lack sufficient understanding of their coverage, raising concerns about effective use during emergencies.

Q3. When did you last review your insurance policies?

- Within the past year (25%)

- 1–3 years ago (18.3%)

- More than 3 years ago (13.5%)

- Never reviewed / not insured (43.2%)

'Never reviewed / not insured' (43.2%) was the top response, meaning over 40% have never reviewed their policies. While some (25.0%) reviewed within the past year, coverage may not reflect changes in family structure or life stage.

Q4. Have you created a list of your insurance information?

- Have a complete list including emergency contacts (12.9%)

- Have notes but incomplete (16%)

- Know it's necessary but haven't started (24.8%)

- Have not done so (46.2%)

'Have not done so' (46.2%) was the most common response. Combined with 'know it's necessary but haven't started' (24.8%), nearly 70% have not organized their insurance information. This raises the risk of missed claims if family members cannot locate policies or contact details in an emergency.

Q5. Approximately how much do you pay monthly for insurance?

- 0 yen (32%)

- Less than 5,000 yen (17%)

- 5,000–10,000 yen (24%)

- 10,000–20,000 yen (17.3%)

- 20,000–30,000 yen (5.8%)

- 30,000 yen or more (4%)

'0 yen' (32.0%) was the most common, indicating over 30% pay no premiums (i.e., are uninsured). Among payers, '5,000–10,000 yen' (24.0%) was most common, and only about 10% pay 20,000 yen or more monthly.

Q6. Does your current beneficiary designation match your family situation?

- Matches (56.5%)

- Old designation, feeling uneasy (4.8%)

- Can't remember who was designated (2.1%)

- Never confirmed / not applicable (36.5%)

'Matches' (56.5%) exceeded half, but 'never confirmed / not applicable' (36.5%) was nearly 40%. Beneficiary designations are rarely reviewed once set, potentially failing to reflect changes like divorce, remarriage, or inheritance.

Q7. How prepared are you for posthumous expenses (funerals, procedures, etc.)?

- Prepared via insurance and discussed with family (19.8%)

- Prepared but unsure if sufficient (11.7%)

- Want better options than savings (5%)

- Not yet prepared / not thinking about it (63.5%)

'Not yet prepared / not thinking about it' (63.5%) was the top response, showing over 60% have not started preparing. Given the costs of funerals and procedures, this highlights concerns about burdening surviving family members.

Q8. How much have you communicated about insurance with your family?

- Shared full details (24.7%)

- Only mentioned having insurance (22.4%)

- Tried to talk but didn't progress (4%)

- Never discussed (48.9%)

'Never discussed' (48.9%) reached nearly half, indicating widespread lack of family communication. Only 24.7% have shared full details—just 1 in 4—suggesting many families remain unaware of coverage details.

Q9. What is the main reason you delay reviewing your insurance?

- Too much information, hard to compare (19.3%)

- Fear of being pressured during consultation (15.2%)

- Don't know where to start (14.7%)

- Too busy, no time (13.5%)

- Insurance terms are complex and hard to understand (12.1%)

- Not interested in insurance (8.5%)

- Don't feel the need (7.9%)

- Distrust insurance companies or agents (5.3%)

- Premiums are too high to reconsider (3.5%)

The top reason was 'postponed due to daily life' (33.8%), confirming that many recognize the need but fail to act.

Q10. What kind of information or support would be helpful in the future?

- Clear explanations on how to choose or review insurance (38.2%)

- Introduction to professionals who can assist (e.g., financial planners) (32.1%)

- Tools to list and manage insurance information (28.7%)

- Templates for what to tell family (24.3%)

- Guidance on posthumous procedures and required documents (21.5%)

- Ways to reduce premiums (19.8%)

- Comparison of pros and cons by insurance type (17.6%)

- Services that automatically remind users to review (15.4%)

- Q&A and case studies on insurance (13.2%)