High-Risk Hobbies That Shape Your Insurance Options

For many professionals, especially physicians, dentists and business owners, higher income opens the door to hobbies that were once out of reach — things like flying lessons, backcountry skiing, scuba diving, or rock climbing.These hobbies are exciting, but they also change how insurers assess your risk.And in insurance, added risk often shows up as higher premiums, exclusions, or even an inability to qualify for certain coverage.This isn’t meant to discourage anyone from pursuing what they enjoy.

The goal is to understand how these activities are viewed by life and disability insurance underwriters so you can make the best decisions long before you file an application.Why insurers care about hobbies Insurers are looking for patterns that increase the likelihood of a claim.For high-income professionals, the combination of disposable income and adventurous hobbies is common in underwriting files.Activities like: Scuba diving Skydiving Bungee jumping Rock climbing or bouldering Backcountry skiing Flying as a private pilot These can all trigger additional scrutiny.

In some cases, they lead to exclusions similar to what you might find with a pre-existing condition.In others, they result in a higher premium or a denial altogether.In my experience, private piloting is the most common trigger for outright denials, especially with life insurance.Even training for a pilot’s license can affect your application.

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Hobbies most likely to affect coverage Insurers treat each activity differently, but several consistently show up in underwriting decisions for life and disability insurance.Private pilot licenses This is one of the biggest red flags in underwriting.Some carriers may decline the application entirely.Others might offer coverage but exclude aviation-related deaths.

Importantly, applications ask whether you are currently flying, planning to take lessons, or expect to start within the next two years.Even if you intend to apply now and start flying later, the carrier expects full disclosure.If an aviation-related death occurs and the application wasn’t accurate, they may not pay the claim.Rock climbing and bouldering For disability insurance, a rock-climbing exclusion is extremely common if you are actively participating in this hobby.

And for good reason — injuries to the wrist or hand can immediately affect the ability of a surgeon, dentist, or operator to perform their job.Backcountry skiing Backcountry skiing is typically covered under life insurance only if you pay an added premium.In one case I saw, that added cost essentially doubled the client’s annual premium.Is it worth paying for the coverage? For a healthy 30-year-old buying a 20-year term policy, the most likely non-illness causes of death are accidents, in this case, most likely from an avalanche.

If backcountry skiing is part of your lifestyle, you generally want it included.Scuba diving Scuba is more nuanced.Traditional open-water recreational diving is often acceptable, especially if the frequency is low and you stay within standard depth limits.Where problems arise: Very frequent diving Deep or technical dives Cave diving Diving without recognized certifications Some carriers require a PADI certification before they’ll include scuba without an exclusion.

Others vary widely in their approach, which is why insurer selection matters.How much details matter: frequency, depth, training When insurers ask about hobbies, they’re looking for specifics: How often do you do it? What level of training do you have? How extreme is the activity? (Depth, altitude, terrain, etc.) Do you plan to increase frequency in the next few years? Someone who scuba dives twice a year on vacation is treated very differently from someone diving every weekend.The same applies to climbers who occasionally top-rope indoors versus those who regularly do multi-pitch climbs outdoors.What exclusions and added premiums look like Life insurance tends to handle these risks with extra premiums.

Disability insurance usually applies exclusions instead.Examples: Life insurance: “This policy will not pay a death benefit if the insured dies while backcountry skiing unless an additional premium is paid.” Disability insurance: “This policy will not cover disabilities resulting from rock climbing or bouldering.” In certain high-risk cases, the company may simply decline to offer coverage at all.Can exclusions be removed later? In most cases, no.Once a dangerous hobby exclusion is added, it stays on the policy.

Even if you stop the activity, insurers assume you may return to it.And practically speaking, if you’re no longer doing the hobby, the exclusion doesn’t affect you anyway — there’s no remaining risk for them to insure.What to do if you participate in these hobbies Be fully honest on the application This part is non-negotiable.If you misrepresent your activity and a claim arises within the incontestability period (typically the first two years), the carrier can deny the claim.

In cases of outright fraud, they may deny payment even after that period.The worst-case scenario is simple: You pay for a policy for years, and when you need it most, it doesn’t pay out.Be upfront with your broker Different insurers treat the same hobby very differently.Scuba diving is a prime example.

Some carriers exclude it almost automatically, while others include it with no added cost.An independent broker can pre-check hobby guidelines across multiple carriers and guide you toward the one most favorable to your situation.Remember: What you do after the policy is issued is your business If you’re honest on the application and decide to take up scuba diving or piloting six years later, the policy generally still covers you.Insurers care about your activities and plans at the time of underwriting, they can’t stop you from doing something years down the road.

What if you can’t get coverage? If you’re declined by standard carriers due to an extreme hobby, specialized insurers like Lloyd’s of London can sometimes provide coverage.It’s a niche solution, and the premiums are significantly higher, but for unique situations, it may be the only option.How to approach insurance when you have risky hobbies High-risk hobbies don’t automatically disqualify you from life or disability insurance, but they do change how insurers evaluate you.The best strategy is always the same: Be honest with your broker.

Be accurate on the application.Understand the exclusions and decide whether additional premiums are worth it.When buying life and disability insurance, the goal is simple: coverage that’s comprehensive, reliable, and aligned with the way you actually live.Compare disability insurance quotes and save SLP Insurance will find you the best price on own occupation coverage, even if it's not with us.

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