Life insurers often charge extra premiums for individuals who engage in private aviation or certain risky hobbies, known as avocations. Some applicants dismiss these charges, insisting, “Nothing is going to happen to me!” Rather than paying steep additional premiums, they may prefer to self-insure against the possibility of an accident during their activity.
Most insurers offer aviation exclusion riders, since the cause of death in an aviation accident is typically straightforward to establish. Avocations, however, present more complexity. Consider a rock climber who falls, survives with paralysis, and dies three months later from an infection. What is the true cause of death? Is it an insured claim?
Because of these ambiguities, only a limited number of insurers allow certain avocations to be excluded—and only in states where regulations permit.
Avocation Exclusion Riders
In states where permitted, a few insurers may offer exclusions for the following activities:
- Auto / Motorcycle Racing
- Hang Gliding
- Motor Boat Racing
- Mountain / Rock Climbing
- SCUBA Diving
- Sky Diving
If your client participates in one or more of these activities, preliminary underwriting is essential. This ensures you and your client can make an informed decision about where to apply, based on the availability of an avocation exclusion rider.
Aviation & Avocation Pre-Underwriting Sequence
- Obtain details using the appropriate aviation or avocation questionnaire
- Send details to our underwriting team
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Our underwriting directors will negotiate for the best offer(s) with and without exclusion rider
- Review the options with your client, explaining the pros and cons of an exclusion rider (if available in their resident state)
- Proceed with an application at the most suitable carrier, based on realistic premium assumptions—with or without an exclusion rider.
Are you working with a client who is a private pilot or participates in what insurers consider a risky avocation? Let’s strategize before you select a carrier or present an illustration. Please call us, schedule a Zoom, send us a secure email, or complete our online life insurance quote request form with details.
We’ll report back quickly with available options.
Be sure to specify the applicant’s resident state. Thank you!
Expand your knowledge beyond avocation exclusion riders. Visit our underwriting page for additional exceptions and clever strategies.
