134 Liquid emergency fund—case for a coma person

Liquid emergency fund—case for a coma person	紧急基金—昏迷患者的个案
Mr Y, a sole breadwinner, suffered a stroke recently. After a few operations, he is now in coma state. His family has put him into a care center. At the moment, his family cannot claim any insurance, provident funds, socso because a medical report is needed. It can take quite some time for the report. In the meantime, the family needs cash for daily expenses and Mr Y's medical and caregiver's expenses.	家庭经济支柱的Y先生不幸发生中风。经过几轮的手术后，如今陷入昏迷状态。他的家里人把他安置在护理中心。在医生开出医药报告之先，他的家里人暂时不能索赔任何保险、公积金或工作险。等待医药报告旷日费时。家里人目前必须解决的是生活费以及Y先生的医药费的看护费。
This is where we see the importance of liquid emergency fund. In wealth planning, we always talk of putting aside at least 6 months of cash for emergency fund. In this case, 6 months buffer can provide enough time for family to adjust emotions, lifestyle, look for jobs, waiting for report and various claims.	这就让我们看到紧急基金的重要。在理财规划里，一般建议存取6个月的现金作为紧急基金。在这个个案里，6个月的备用基金刚刚好足够让家里人调整心情、生活方式、找工作、等待报告以及各项索赔。
Where can we keep the emergency fund? The first place is certainly some money in joint name savings account with ATM facility. Bank is the safest to keep money and ATM is the most convenience method to make withdrawal. However, make sure the ATM card is available and the pin is known to the spouse. The amount is probably 1-3 months expenses.	备用基金该存放于何处呢？首先可以是有提款卡的联名储蓄户头。银行是存钱的最安全场所，而提款卡是最方便的提款方式。当然必须确保找得到提款卡，配偶也知道密码。这里的数目可以介于1-3个月的费用。
Second could be a joint name fixed deposits account. Fixed deposit provides higher interest rate and easy withdrawal. The amount is perhaps 3-6 (or up to 9-12) months expenses, with different tenures.	其次是联名的定期存款户头。定存可以给予较高的利息，也相对容易取款。这里的数额可以介于3-6（甚至9-12）个月的费用。最好可以有不同的期限。
Third option could be a living trust. If the family has some assets that provides regular incomes (e.g. rentals from properties), they can move those assets into a living trust and structure that the trust will payout certain amount of money monthly. This type of trust can also protect those assets in case of insolvency.	第三的方法是设立生前信托。若是家族拥有若干可提供固定收入的资产（如产业租金收入）的话，家族可以考虑用该些资产来设立生前信托，让信托把租金收入每月给出一笔固定收入。这类的信托还可解决资产因破产而被冻结或拍卖。
Fourth options can be an endowment plan that pays out annual income. Endowment plan normally will pay out some money either by the end of first year, or maybe after 6 or 10 years depending on the term. The catch is if the premium has not been fully paid, the family still need to service the premium until they get the medical report.	第四可以通过储蓄保险的每年派出。根据所买的保险种类而定，储蓄保险可能会在隔年或者6、或者10年后每年派出钱。这里必须小心的是如果保费还没完全缴清，家里人还是必须暂时缴付保费直到医药报告出笼为止。
Fifth is keeping some money at home. I think most people practice this, although we all know it is not the safest. Most won't keep much money at home anyway.	第五就是收点钱在家里。虽然我们知道这不是最安全的做法，我想这是大多数人还是会做的事。其实一般人也不会收太多钱在家吧。
How then do you plan your emergency fund?	你如何规划你的紧急基金呢？