One of the essential life insurance basics to keep in mind is that insurance companies constantly quantify risk when insuring their customers. Using all of the available information to establish premium rates, they’ll determine if they can cover you for a life insurance policy.
Similar to having a dangerous hobby or an unfortunate medical history, a high risk occupation can place your life insurance prospects into a different category. But not every life insurance company approaches high risk life insurance applicants and occupations the same way.
Other companies may allow low-risk factors to balance out a high risk occupation in some areas of your life, and some may permit different premium options to offset their risk. No matter how a life insurance company sees you—and many see you differently—here are 10 high risk occupations that may make getting life insurance trickier, (plus help with policy options if you work in one of these fields).
1. Fishing and hunting workers
According to the statistics, the proximity to live ammunition coupled with the dangers of remote wilderness and bodies of water — including the open ocean —make this the deadliest occupation in the United States.
2. Logging workers
Spending most of the workday in isolated forests with tricky terrain, surrounded by heavy machinery and cumbersome materials, makes logging a dangerous profession. Consider the transportation element of the job —often on treacherous roads — and logging workers have one of the riskiest jobs on the planet.
3. Aircraft pilots and flight engineers
Keep in mind that this category covers all pilots and those in the cockpit, not just from commercial airlines. Most fatalities occur in privately owned airplanes and helicopters. Transportation is risky, especially when you’re airborne.
