Featured New York Life Insurance Agent: Jennifer Miller

Featured New York Life Agent: Jennifer Miller

• New York Life Agent: Michigan General Office
• Volunteers for PTA
• Set up Scholarhship Fund in Memory of Her Stepson

It's always a tragedy when parents receive the benefit of a life insurance policy for one of their children. But having the policy can keep that grim situation from worsening. Unfortunately, New York Life Insurance Company Agent Jennifer Miller, Michigan General Office, experienced that pain firsthand when her 18-year-old stepson Jake died in a mini-bike accident.

Although she and husband, Erich, never foresaw the possibility that they could lose Jake, Jennifer had stressed the importance of purchasing a life insurance policy for him, as well as all of their family members. "We sat down and made sure that he understood what it was, and that we were not trying to predict his death," she says. "He was very, very overcome by it and grateful that we were doing it. We told him specifically when we did it that ‘We’re not buying it for burying you. We hope we never see that day.’”

Unbelievably, 10 months later that day happened. Jake was riding his mini-bike when something malfunctioned, causing him to collide with an oncoming minivan. He was rushed to the hospital’s neurotrauma unit, but doctors were unable to save him. He never regained consciousness and was removed from life support three days later.

During those heart-wrenching days of Jake’s hospitalization, Jennifer and her husband had many difficult conversations. She will always carry the memory with her of Erich’s relief that, because of Jake’s Life insurance policy, they didn’t have to worry about the cost of his medical care or final expenses. “My husband was just very overwhelmed with the fact that we had money to take care of expenses and he could take care of things with the funeral home,” she remembers. Being free of financial concerns allowed the family to focus their attention to what mattered most, her stepson’s condition, as well as time to grieve.

"Jake had a couple of outstanding small bills that we were able to pay for, as well as any medical bills that were incurred from his hospital stay and medical care. We also set up a scholarship fund for kids from his school. He had just graduated high school and planned to study auto body repair. The scholarship is a nice way for us to give a student with similar interests some assistance and honor Jake’s memory. Erich didn’t realize all the things that you could do besides just paying for the final expenses."

“You want to make sure that you’re not trying to figure out how to pay for expenses that are attributable to a loved one’s death at a time when you are emotionally devastated…there are things you don’t think about that you’re going to need if this should happen to you.”

The couple is also glad to know that the proceeds from the policy are available if their two other children, who are 8 and 11, need in-depth grief counseling. "Losing Jake was really very devastating to them. Luckily, we found Ele’s Place, a grief counseling and support group for children here in Michigan. However, if they ever needed advanced counseling, we could use some of the proceeds to pay for it.”

But with a New Year comes a hopefulness that things will continue to get better. The Millers look forward to 2009, and each day brings an opportunity for healing. “I’m involved with the PTA at our local elementary school, and my husband and I are ready to begin doing some volunteer work with Ele’s Place — it will give us a chance to give back a little and help other families who are experiencing grief.”

Jennifer's desire to see her stepson insured owed in part to her own experience as a child. "I had my own health condition from age one that made me uninsurable," she says. "I understand the impact of purchasing insurance for your kids when they are young and healthy, before anything goes wrong. The fact that I couldn’t get my own insurance makes it that much more important for me to talk to everybody who has kids about why they need to do it for their children."

Even in Michigan, which, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, has the highest unemployment rate in the country as of November 2008 (most current data available), parents should make every effort they can to find an affordable solution and keep their coverage in-force, says Miller. “Even in tough financial times — especially in tough financial times — you want to be sure that you and your family have coverage and security.”

Jennifer says that she recounts her story when she advises her clients to insure their children. "You want to make sure that you’re not trying to figure out how to pay for expenses that are attributable to a loved one’s death at a time when you are emotionally devastated," she says. "Whether it was an illness that you’ve fought for many years or a sudden-death accident like ours, there are things you don’t think about that you’re going to need if this should happen to you. You have to ask yourself, ‘How soon would I want to go back to work? What would be the impact on my other kids? What kind of counseling would they need, and where would those funds come from?’”

Jennifer says, "I believe I came to New York Life for a purpose. If I hadn’t, there would have been no policy for Jake, because I didn’t understand. Clients need to understand, and we need to help them."

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