Unless you do your homework, risking your life may be riskier than you think.
You’re a trail blazer. You crave action and adventure at every turn and aren’t satisfied unless there’s adrenaline rushing through your veins. And while you thrive on the next thrill, you may be less than thrilled to learn that your passion for the extreme limits your ability to get life insurance. Whether you’re into mountain climbing, hang gliding, downhill BMX biking, parkour, rock climbing, or some other extreme sport, here’s what you need to know about your insurance eligibility:
You need life insurance!
If you’re an extreme sports enthusiast, you put yourself in some sort of danger. And while you probably get a rush from jumping out of an airplane or off a cliff, the reality is, you’re more likely than the average person to get seriously injured or die while participating in your hobby. So it only makes sense that you’d want to have a life insurance policy that will provide a financial pay out to your family if the worst happens.
Your high thrill hobby is a high risk.
Your sport may not be scary to you but it’s terrifying to insurance companies. Depending on the activity and how often you do it, you may have a hard time getting life insurance coverage. The reason, of course is obvious. Unfortunately, insurance carriers have to take risk factors into account when providing coverage and the more often your life is at risk, the less likely they are to cover you. So while you enjoy pushing the envelope, insurance companies don’t. They take many different aspects into account when approving a policy, including your health, your age, your habits (smoking, etc.) and those exhilarating activities you crave.
A lost cause?
Even though your favorite pastime may be risky and less attractive to life insurance carriers, there are still ways to get protection. Carriers and their requirements vary, so it’s a good idea to do your homework and find a provider that practices lenience when it comes to extreme sports. You may have to pay a higher premium, but it’s probably worth it if you can have peace of mind while you’re bungee jumping or ice climbing in the artic! Also, some sports are considered riskier than others, so yours may not be as undesirable as you may imagine. Some activities that are commonly considered an elevated risk:
Rock and/or mountain climbing
Bungee jumping
Sky diving
Cliff diving
Ski jumping
Ice climbing
Big wave surfing
Street luge
Base jumping
Hang gliding
Kitesurfing
Free running
Heli-skiing
Be straight up!
The best advice when seeking life insurance is to be honest from the get-go with your insurance provider. They’ll want to know how long you’ve been big wave surfing or kiteboarding, or whatever your chosen passion is. They’ll also want to know how much training you’ve had, if you have any certifications, and if you’ve ever had any accidents or have been injured. In some cases, using certain safety gear can lower your premiums.
Some companies have special coverage options for extreme sport participants and others may either give you a higher rate or deny you all together. But it’s always best to be straight up from the beginning because if you fail to inform a provider about your hobbies and then suffer an accident, any claim might be in trouble. And that’s the last thing you want—especially if it leaves your family in dire straights.
If you’re participating in activities that put you at risk, you don’t have given up on the idea of life insurance. And because you truly need it, it’s recommended that you do some research and find a provider that will cover you.
For more information on available life insurance solutions, extreme or otherwise, talk to us. Avante Insurance is happy to discuss any and all options that may work for you.