Crossword Genius

Wealth is a hedge that provides coverage for illness (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

affluence

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'wealth' is the definition.
(I know that affluence is a type of wealth)

'a hedge that provides coverage for illness' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'a' is within the answer.
'illness' could be 'flu' (flu is a kind of illness) and 'flu' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'fence' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'is' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for affluence that I've seen before include "being loaded" , "Wealth - abundance" , "Prosperity or wealth" , "Fortune" , "Abundant wealth" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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