The financial decision that quietly says, "I've got you."
Article21 August 2025
At a glance
Life changes what we consider essential. As our responsibilities grow, financial decisions become less about us and more about protecting the people we love. It's a shift OnePath sees reflected in customer stories time and again.
Most of us can remember the first thing we really wanted to save for. A holiday. A renovation. A new car. They're exciting because they're about us. Then life changes. That's often the point life insurance enters the conversation. Not because we're expecting the worst, but because there's suddenly more to protect.
When 'nice to have' becomes essential
Then, almost without noticing, your priorities shift. Maybe you become a parent. Buy your first home. Build a business. Or simply realise someone else is counting on you. Financial decisions stop being only about what we want today and start becoming about the people who depend on us.
OnePath customer Marie-Anne put it simply.
"My daughter is the most important person in my life and ensuring she is able to be financially looked after if anything happens to me ticks all the boxes. This puts life insurance as an essential rather than a 'want to have' expense. A budgeted essential for a single mother."
What if protection is a love language?
We don't usually think of life insurance as an act of love. But maybe we should. Packing lunches. Remembering birthdays. Paying the mortgage. Planning for the unexpected. They all come from the same place: wanting the people we love to be okay.
My family means everything to me. Life insurance is a simple way for me to show care, responsibility, and love by protecting their future.”
Life insurance isn't just about replacing income or paying expenses. It's about helping protect the people they love financially if something happens to them. That's why OnePath offers different types of cover designed to protect different aspects of your financial life.
Four questions to ask to help decide if you’ve got the right cover
If you're wondering whether your insurance cover still reflects the life you've built, these four questions are a good place to start.
1. If you died or were diagnosed with a terminal illness tomorrow, who would be affected financially?
Think about the people who'd still need life to keep moving:
- Your partner
- Your children
- Anyone who depends on your income
If the people you love rely on you financially, OnePath life insurance can help provide financial support if you die or are diagnosed with a terminal illness.
2. If an accident or injury stopped you working for months, how would you pay the bills?
Think about the bills that wouldn't stop just because your income did:
- Rent or mortgage repayments
- Everyday living costs, groceries and bills
- School fees and childcare
- Return to work and rehabilitation costs
If your income is what keeps your household running, OnePath income protection can help replace part of your income while you're unable to work.
3. If you suffered a sudden serious illness or injury, what would recovery really cost?
Recovery isn't just physical. Think about everything else life would ask of you:
- Keeping up with debt repayments and living costs
- Paying for extended time off work or a holiday
- Modifying your home to support your illness
- Hiring a carer or other at-home support
- Travelling interstate for medical care.
OnePath Trauma insurance can provide a lump sum following specified serious illnesses or injuries, giving you greater flexibility during recovery.
4. If you could never work again, how would your family's future change?
Think about the long game. What would your family need if work was no longer an option?
- Paying off debt
- Ongoing care
- Long-term living costs
- Adapting your home
- Safeguarding your family's lifestyle
OnePath Total and permanent disability (TPD) insurance can help if you're permanently unable to work.
Looking ahead
Life rarely stands still. That's why it's worth reviewing your life insurance from time to time. Not because the reasons you took it out have disappeared, but because the life you're protecting may have evolved.
I want to leave a legacy of peace and prosperity for my children rather than debt and anguish.”
A theme that runs through OnePath customer stories: taking out life insurance wasn't simply another financial decision. It was one of the quietest ways they could say, "I've got you."
Before making any changes to your life insurance, speak with your financial adviser. They can help you understand how changes may affect your cover and make sure it continues to reflect your needs and circumstances.
* This article contains testimonials from OnePath/Zurich customers generated from the Cool Cabana newsletter promo. Names and identifying details have been removed. This is for illustrative purposes only, and claims will be assessed based on the specific circumstances of each individual case.
This article has been prepared by Zurich Australia Limited trading as OnePath Life (OnePath) ABN 92 000 010 195 AFSL 232510. This information is current as at 11 August 2026 and may be subject to change. This information does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Always consider its appropriateness and the applicable PDS and policy wording. Financial Services Guide and Target Market Determinations are available on our website OnePath.com.au/life-insurance/documents or by calling 1800 394 268.
