It may have taken years, but you can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel. You’re getting on top of the mortgage and the kids are approaching independence. Your finances may even look better. But don’t take the risk of relying on your income alone.

Jack and Shirley had always dreamed of a European vacation. Initially it was going to be before they had children, but the twins came along and everything changed.

They sold their 2 bedroom apartment and upgraded to a larger house with a mortgage to match. Instead of saving for their air fares and tours they were suddenly pouring money into the house.

After 8 years and 2 more children, Jack and Shirley were getting on top of their finances and things were looking good. Both Jack and Shirley were teachers and had continued teaching while the kids were growing up. Two incomes enabled them to put a bit more into the mortgage and eventually borrow against their equity to buy a little holiday house on the coast.

They never let go of their European dream and on their 18^th wedding anniversary Jack and Shirley made a pact to take the trip once the kids had finished school.

Then their world came crashing down

A few years later, just as their lifelong dreams were becoming a reality, their world came crashing down. Shirley was diagnosed with breast cancer and following surgery began a long battle with chemotherapy. She couldn’t work and the holiday house was sold to help repay the bills.

Shirley suffered depression after the treatment – Jack would have loved to treat her to that European holiday. Such a trip was now out of the question.

Before the cancer Jack and Shirley had considered personal insurance, but the pressure of work and raising a family had always distracted them from taking action. Paying a little extra off the mortgage and saving for their trip had taken priority over long term plans.

What could they have done differently?

With breast cancer affecting 1 in 11 women and prostate cancer affecting 1 in 11 men before the age of 75, a Critical Illness Insurance Plan is important to ensure that if serious illness strikes you, you have an independent lump sum payment to extinguish the mortgage, cover the cost of medical treatment and rehabilitation, time off work and the funds to continue your lifestyle and recover at your own pace without having to access retirement funds or hastily sell assets.

Teachers Insurance Services Critical Illness Insurance Plan helps members protect their lifestyle against the 36 listed critical illness conditions, including cancer, heart attack and stroke.