As a nation we are not prepared for the worst case scenario – more Kiwis
insure their cars and homes than their lives. Losing a loved one is devas-
tating, something Claire Wilkins knows all too well. But having the security
of life insurance with Sovereign was the pillar of support that kept her go-
ing through the toughest of times. Claire hopes sharing her story will en-
courage others to be better prepared.
A turn for the worse
Over the next few months Gareth’s health steadily improved. He started
back at the gym, gained weight and nearly made it back to full-time work
as a business analyst. But on Claire’s 40th birthday Gareth took a turn for
the worse and was urgently admitted into hospital. After a painful five-day
wait, the couple were told Gareth’s cancer had returned, attacking both
his liver and abdominal lining. The diagnosis was terminal and Gareth
was given four months to live. Taking the future into their own hands, the
couple claimed Gareth’s life insurance under the terminal illness benefit.
With the money, Claire and Gareth were able to pay off their mortgage
and secure assets for their son Griffin (then aged four). “It was important
for Gareth to know I would be able to manage on a single income, and
that everything we had worked so hard to achieve would be protected,”
says Claire. For his remaining months, Claire was able to care for her
husband without financial concerns and in March 2011, Gareth passed
away.
Looking to the future
In desperate need of a distraction after Gareth’s death, Claire decided to
renovate her house. With her mortgage paid off and funds set aside for
her son’s future, she used the rest of her insurance money to create her
dream home. “I really enjoyed going home after work to see what pro-
gress had been made. It gave me a little something to look forward to,”
she says. Without life insurance, Claire admits she would have struggled
on a single income and may have been forced to sell her family home.
“I’m so very grateful we had life insurance. It has set my son and I up for
the rest of our lives.”
Take charge of
your future with
life insurance
At the age of 40, Claire Wilkins
became a widow. We like to think
‘it won’t happen to me’, but for
many New Zealanders the death
of a spouse doesn’t just occur in
old age.
Three tips for cre-
ating meaningful
relationships
-
Show empathy
-
Walk the talk
-
Compromise – and set bound-
aries when need be
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