Can I get life insurance if I have high-risk hobbies?

High-risk hobbies can affect your life insurance eligibility and premiums, but they do not automatically disqualify you from coverage. Common hobbies that trigger scrutiny include skydiving, private aviation, scuba diving, rock climbing, motorsports racing, BASE jumping, and hang gliding.

Carriers assess risk based on frequency of participation, experience level, and safety certifications. A recreational skydiver making 10 jumps per year may receive a flat extra premium (a fixed cost per $1,000 of coverage for a defined period) rather than outright denial. An experienced private pilot with thousands of hours and an instrument rating may qualify at standard or near-standard rates, while a student pilot might face a higher rating.

Some carriers exclude death related to specific activities via a policy exclusion rider rather than charging a premium surcharge. An exclusion means the policy won't pay if you die from that activity—but it provides coverage for all other causes of death at standard rates. Whether an exclusion or flat extra is preferable depends on your specific situation.

Agents in our network have relationships with specialty carriers that are more lenient toward specific hobbies and can identify which carrier is most competitive for your activity profile.