The Unshakeable You

1 in 2 people in the UK will face a cancer diagnosis, unlock true personal growth and relationship strength by transforming vulnerability into an 'Unshakeable You' through proactive financial protection

From bespoke Personal Sick Pay for tradespeople, nurses, and electricians, to robust Income Protection, Life and Critical Illness Cover, Family Income Benefit, and strategic Gift Inter Vivos for legacy, learn how these pillars, coupled with private health insurance providing immediate access to expert care and faster diagnostics, empower you to thrive, not just survive, in an unpredictable world.

The statistics are stark, and for many, deeply unsettling. Projections from leading bodies like Cancer Research UK suggest that by 2025, one in every two people born after 1960 in the UK will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime. This isn't a forecast to inspire fear, but a call to action—a powerful prompt to build resilience.

In a world of uncertainties, we can forge certainty. We can transform vulnerability into an unbreakable strength. This is the essence of becoming an 'Unshakeable You'. It’s a profound shift in mindset from passive hope to proactive preparation. It’s about building a fortress of financial and emotional security so that if life's storms do hit, you and your loved ones can focus on what truly matters: recovery, support, and time together.

This guide is your blueprint. We will explore the essential pillars of modern financial protection, from safeguarding your monthly income to securing your family's future and legacy. We will delve into how these tools, combined with rapid access to healthcare, don't just create a safety net—they empower you to live more freely, love more deeply, and pursue your goals with unshakeable confidence.

The New Reality: Turning a Statistic into a Strategy

The 1 in 2 figure isn't just a number; it represents our colleagues, our neighbours, our friends, our family, and potentially, ourselves. While medical advancements have dramatically improved survival rates, a serious illness diagnosis still brings two significant challenges: the physical and emotional battle, and the often-overlooked financial fallout.

The inability to work, even temporarily, can trigger a cascade of financial stress:

• Mortgage or Rent: The largest monthly outgoing for most households doesn't pause for illness.
• Household Bills: Council tax, utilities, and food costs continue to mount.
• Additional Expenses: Travel to hospital appointments, prescription charges, and potential home modifications can add hundreds of pounds to your monthly budget.
• Income Drop: Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) in the UK stands at a mere £116.75 per week (2024/25 rate). For most, this is a fraction of their regular income, leading to a rapid depletion of savings.

Facing a health crisis is challenging enough. Facing it while worrying about keeping a roof over your head can feel impossible. This is where proactive protection transforms the narrative. By securing your financial foundations, you remove this secondary crisis, allowing all your energy to be channelled into getting better. This is the first step to becoming unshakeable.

Pillar 1: Safeguarding Your Lifeline – Your Monthly Income

For most of us, our ability to earn an income is our single most valuable asset. It underpins our entire lifestyle. Protecting it should be the cornerstone of any financial plan.

Income Protection (IP): Your Personal Salary Safety Net

Income Protection is arguably the most crucial insurance you can own. It’s designed to do one thing brilliantly: pay you a regular, tax-free monthly income if you are unable to work due to any illness or injury.

• How it Works: You choose a benefit amount (typically 50-70% of your gross salary) and a 'deferment period' (the time you wait after stopping work before the payments begin, e.g., 4, 8, 13, 26, or 52 weeks). The policy then pays out each month until you can return to work, the policy term ends, or you retire.
• The 'Own Occupation' Gold Standard: The best policies use an 'own occupation' definition of incapacity. This means the policy will pay out if you are unable to perform your specific job. This is vital for skilled professionals like surgeons, designers, or specialist engineers, as a less comprehensive policy might not pay if you could technically do any other job.
• Beyond Cancer: While our focus starts with the stark cancer statistic, IP covers a vast range of conditions, from back injuries and broken bones to mental health conditions like stress, anxiety, and depression—which are consistently among the leading causes of claims.

Let's put this in perspective.

Statutory Sick Pay vs. Income Protection

Personal Sick Pay: The Agile Solution for Hands-On Professionals

For many, especially those in physical roles or the gig economy, a full-blown Income Protection policy might seem too long-term. This is where Personal Sick Pay (often called short-term IP) shines. It's a more accessible and often more affordable alternative.

It’s specifically designed for individuals who have no, or very limited, employer sick pay, making it a lifeline for:

• Tradespeople (Electricians, Plumbers, Builders): A back injury or a broken wrist isn't just an inconvenience; it's a complete stop to your earning ability. Personal Sick Pay provides a rapid financial cushion.
• Nurses and Healthcare Workers: While the NHS offers a sick pay scheme, it can be tiered based on service length. Many agency nurses or those in the private sector have far less protection.
• Freelancers and Creatives: When you don't work, you don't get paid. It's that simple. This cover bridges the gap during periods of illness.

These policies typically have shorter deferment periods (even one day) and pay out for a defined period, usually 1 or 2 years per claim. They are the perfect first line of defence, providing immediate relief and breathing space.

Pillar 2: Fortifying Your Business – Protection for the Self-Reliant

If you run your own business, whether as a sole trader or a company director, the stakes are even higher. Your health is inextricably linked to the health of your enterprise. Specialised protection is not a luxury; it's a strategic necessity.

For the Self-Employed and Freelancers

As mentioned, Income Protection and Personal Sick Pay are your absolute essentials. With no HR department or corporate benefits package to fall back on, you are your own safety net. Taking proactive steps to insure your income stream demonstrates a level of professional foresight that protects not only you but also your clients who depend on your services.

For Company Directors: The Tax-Efficient Advantage

If you're a director of your own limited company, you have access to powerful and highly tax-efficient forms of protection.

• Executive Income Protection: This is a standard Income Protection policy, but it's owned and paid for by your business. The premiums are typically treated as an allowable business expense, making it significantly more tax-efficient than a personal plan. The benefit is paid to the company, which then distributes it to you via PAYE. It’s a smart way to protect your personal income using company funds.
• Key Person Insurance: Who is indispensable to your business? It might be you, a co-founder with unique technical skills, or a salesperson with an incredible network. Key Person Insurance pays a lump sum to the business if that key individual dies or is diagnosed with a specified critical illness. This cash injection can be used to recruit a replacement, cover lost profits, or reassure lenders and investors, ensuring the business can survive the loss.
• Relevant Life Cover: This is a tax-efficient death-in-service benefit for individual employees, including directors. Paid for by the company, the premiums and benefits are not typically treated as a P11D benefit-in-kind. It's a fantastic way for small businesses to offer competitive employee benefits without the complexity of a full group scheme.

Pillar 3: Facing the Unthinkable – A Shield for Your Loved Ones

While protecting your income handles the 'now', lump-sum insurances provide the capital to handle major life events, securing your family's financial landscape for the future.

Critical Illness Cover (CIC): Financial Breathing Space for Recovery

A Critical Illness Cover policy pays out a tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of a list of predefined serious conditions. The 'big three' covered by almost all providers are cancer, heart attack, and stroke, but modern policies can cover over 100 conditions, including multiple sclerosis, major organ transplant, and permanent paralysis.

This lump sum is yours to use as you see fit. It provides options and removes financial pressures at the most critical time. People use the payout to:

• Clear a mortgage or other debts: Imagine the relief of knowing your home is secure, whatever happens.
• Fund private medical treatment: Access cutting-edge therapies or specialists without delay.
• Adapt your home: Install a ramp, a stairlift, or a wet room.
• Replace lost income: Allow your partner to take time off work to care for you without financial penalty.
• Fund a recuperative trip: Take time to heal and reconnect with family once treatment is over.

At WeCovr, we help clients navigate the nuances between policies. The quality of a CIC policy isn't just about the number of conditions covered, but the precision of the definitions. We ensure you get a plan with robust, fair, and clear terms.

Life Insurance: The Ultimate Act of Love

Life Insurance is the foundation of family financial planning. It pays out a sum of money upon your death, providing for your dependents when you no longer can. There are several key types:

Family Income Benefit (FIB): The Practical Alternative

While a large lump sum from a traditional life insurance policy seems appealing, managing it can be a challenge for a grieving family. Family Income Benefit offers a brilliant, practical alternative.

Instead of a single payout, FIB provides a regular, tax-free monthly or annual income from the point of claim until the end of the policy term.

Example: A 35-year-old takes out a 25-year FIB policy for £2,500 per month. If they were to die 5 years later, the policy would pay their family £2,500 every month for the remaining 20 years of the term.

This directly replaces the deceased's lost salary, making budgeting simple and ensuring that day-to-day life—school fees, clubs, holidays, bills—can continue with minimal disruption. It’s often more affordable than a lump-sum policy of an equivalent value and is a powerful tool for young families.

Pillar 4: Accelerating Your Care & Securing Your Legacy

Becoming 'Unshakeable' is also about having the best possible options when it comes to your health and your estate. Two specialist products are key here.

Private Medical Insurance (PMI): Your Fast-Track to Expert Care

In the context of a potential cancer diagnosis, speed is everything. Faster diagnostics lead to earlier treatment, which often leads to better outcomes. While the NHS provides excellent care, it is under undeniable strain. Waiting lists for consultations, scans (like MRI and CT), and non-urgent procedures can be long.

PMI is your key to bypassing these queues. The core benefits include:

• Prompt access to specialist consultations.
• Rapid diagnostic tests and scans.
• Choice of leading specialists and hospitals.
• Access to breakthrough drugs and treatments that may not yet be available on the NHS due to cost or pending approval.
• A private, comfortable environment for your treatment, aiding recovery.

Pairing PMI with a robust Critical Illness policy creates a powerful combination. The PMI gets you diagnosed and treated quickly, while the CIC payout provides the financial support to manage life outside the hospital.

Gift Inter Vivos: Protecting Your Generosity

Prudent estate planning often involves passing on wealth to the next generation during your lifetime. In the UK, any gift you make is considered a 'Potentially Exempt Transfer' (PET). If you live for 7 years after making the gift, it falls outside your estate for Inheritance Tax (IHT) purposes.

However, if you die within 7 years, the gift becomes chargeable to IHT on a sliding scale. This can leave your loved ones with an unexpected and substantial tax bill.

Gift Inter Vivos insurance is a special type of life insurance policy designed to solve this exact problem. It's a policy that runs for a 7-year term, with the payout decreasing in line with the tapering IHT liability. It ensures that if you die within the 7-year window, the funds are there to pay the tax bill, and your gift reaches its recipient in full. It's a strategic tool for anyone planning to pass on significant assets.

Building Your Unshakeable Foundation: A Holistic Approach

True resilience isn't just about insurance policies; it's a lifestyle and a mindset.

Proactive Wellness: The Other Side of Protection

The most powerful way to mitigate health risks is to invest in your own wellbeing. This is a core part of the 'Unshakeable You' philosophy.

• Nutrition: A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is a cornerstone of good health. Small, consistent changes have a huge impact.
• Activity: The NHS recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week. This could be brisk walking, cycling, or swimming. Find something you enjoy to ensure you stick with it.
• Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night. It is critical for cellular repair, immune function, and mental health.
• Stress Management: Chronic stress can negatively impact your physical health. Incorporate mindfulness, meditation, or simple breathing exercises into your day.

At WeCovr, we believe in supporting our clients' holistic wellbeing. That’s why, in addition to arranging robust protection, we provide our customers with complimentary access to CalorieHero, our exclusive AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app. It's a simple, effective tool to help you take control of your diet and build healthier habits, reinforcing your physical resilience from the inside out.

The Strength of Relationships

When you have a comprehensive protection plan in place, you give your family an incredible gift: the freedom from financial worry during a crisis. This allows you all to focus on emotional support, care, and recovery. It removes the toxic stress of money from the equation, strengthening relationships when they are needed most. This peace of mind is, for many, the single greatest benefit of all.

Putting it All Together: Real-Life Scenarios

Let's see how these pillars combine to create an unshakeable fortress for different people.

Case Study 1: Chloe, the 32-year-old Self-Employed Electrician

• Situation: Single, renting, earns £45,000/year. Has no employee benefits and her savings would last about 2 months.
• The Unshakeable Plan:
  • Personal Sick Pay: A policy with a 1-week deferment period, paying out £2,200/month for up to 2 years per claim. This covers her immediate bills if she has an accident.
  • Critical Illness Cover: A £75,000 policy. This would be enough to cover her rent and living costs for several years, allowing her to recover fully without financial pressure.
  • Total Monthly Premium: Approximately £55. A tiny fraction of her income for total peace of mind.

Case Study 2: David, the 45-year-old Director of a Design Agency

• Situation: Married with two children, a mortgage. He is the main earner and the creative force behind his successful business.
• The Unshakeable Plan:
  • Executive Income Protection: Paid for by his business, this covers 70% of his £100,000 salary and bonus package.
  • Key Person Insurance: A £300,000 policy on his life and critical illness, payable to the business. This would allow the agency to hire a top-level creative director and manage client relationships if he were seriously ill.
  • Personal Family Income Benefit: A policy to pay his family £4,000 a month until his youngest child is 21.
  • Private Medical Insurance: A comprehensive family policy to ensure quick access to care for him and his loved ones.

Case Study 3: The Kumar Family – Sanjeev (38) and Priya (36)

• Situation: Young family with a 3-year-old and a £350,000 repayment mortgage. Both work.
• The Unshakeable Plan:
  • Joint Decreasing Term Life & Critical Illness Cover: A policy for £350,000 over 25 years. This ensures that if either of them dies or suffers a critical illness, the mortgage is completely cleared.
  • Individual Income Protection: Each has a policy covering 60% of their income, ensuring that if one partner can't work, the household bills can still be paid without raiding savings.
  • Result: A comprehensive plan that protects their home and their family's lifestyle against both death and illness.

Navigating this world of protection can feel complex, but you don't have to do it alone. Working with an expert independent broker like WeCovr demystifies the process. We search the entire market, comparing policies from all the UK's leading insurers to find the cover that is perfectly tailored to your unique circumstances, budget, and goals.

Conclusion: Your Future, Fortified

The projection that 1 in 2 of us will face cancer is not a destiny of fear; it is a mandate for empowerment. It is a call to look at our lives, our families, and our futures, and to build the financial and emotional resilience to face whatever comes our way with strength and dignity.

By proactively putting in place the pillars of protection—Income Protection, Critical Illness Cover, Life Insurance, and where appropriate, Private Medical Insurance and legacy planning tools—you are not preparing for the worst. You are planning for the best possible outcome in any circumstance.

You are laying the foundation for an 'Unshakeable You'—a person who can weather any storm, support their loved ones without reservation, and live a fuller, freer, and more confident life today, knowing that tomorrow is secure.