Five issues, one family story
Follow Marva, Darius, Kayla, Nia, Uncle Clive and their neighbours as they turn insurance language into everyday decisions. Ms. Jules helps them ask better questions. Read the story, discuss the turning point, then try the action on its final page.
Issue 1
The Missing Paycheque
What would keep the household going?
After a neighbour’s story, Marva and Darius ask who would lose income or care if someone in their household died. With Ms. Jules they count the care as well as the income, check their savings and existing cover, and estimate the gap as a starting point, not a shopping list.
Read issue 1 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
Issue 2
The House Note
A protected loan. But what about the family?
Andre and Rhea’s home has life cover, but “mortgage protection” is a label, not the whole answer. They check who owns the policy, whose life is insured, who the beneficiary is, any lender rights, and what would remain for the family once the loan is paid.
Read issue 2 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
Issue 3
What Does This Word Mean?
Nia and Uncle Clive become policy detectives.
Uncle Clive drives all over the island, but his policy document still has him lost. With Nia and Ms. Jules he turns each unfamiliar word into a question: policyowner, life insured, beneficiary, premium, sum insured, term, exclusion and claim.
Read issue 3 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
Issue 4
Tell the Whole Story
Marva faces a difficult application question.
An application asks about a past health problem. Marva learns to ask when a question is unclear, to answer fully and truthfully, what underwriting means, and to review every answer and keep a copy before she signs.
Read issue 4 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
Issue 5
A Plan That Can Last
Uncle Clive looks beyond the first price.
Clive compares two proposals on cover, cost, duration, exclusions and features, tests the payment against a slow month for his taxi income, and asks what happens when a term policy ends.
Read issue 5 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
Keep and use
- Every issue ends with a “Your turn” activity: four questions to work through at home or in a group.
- A plain-language glossary: policyowner, life insured, beneficiary, premium, sum insured, term, exclusion, claim, assignment, disclosure, underwriting and insurability.
- “My next step”: a page to note who depends on you, the documents to check, your questions, who you will ask and when.
Reading and printing
The collection is 20 portrait pages. The standard download is sized for reading on a phone, tablet or computer; the print-ready version keeps full print quality. If you use it in a group, use the fictional examples and keep personal finances and health information private.
Please note
Public education, not a product recommendation. Characters and situations are fictional. Policy terms and application requirements vary; check the actual contract.