THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013
For those who are employed in high risk jobs such as the military, law enforcement, pilots, or other risky positions, life insurance is a no brainer. But what about the average Joe who enjoys his weekends at the race track or jumping out of airplanes?
 For thrill seekers, life insurance can take on a whole new meaning, and an entirely different price tag. Extreme activities can provide a rush of adrenaline, a welcome stress-relief and a good dose of entertainment, but several of these hobbies can raise life insurance rates, and a few eyebrows.
In the world of insurance, there is a category of hobbies referred to as “dangerous activities.” For those who regularly participate in these activities, they will typically pay a substantially higher premium for term life insurance. Some hobbies may exclude you from being eligible for life insurance all together.
Because insurance companies are looking for safe bets, if you are one who takes extreme risks, you’re a lot less appealing to insure. However, it is because of those high risk activities that make life insurance all the more important for you and your family.
The list of activities deemed dangerous by the insurance company may surprise you. Here are some of the hobbies that could affect your term life insurance rates are:
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Aviation
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Base jumping
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Bungee jumping
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Car/bike/powerboat racing
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Hang gliding
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Hot air ballooning
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Parachuting
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Rock climbing/mountaineering
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Scuba diving
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Skiing
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Skydiving
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Surfing
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White water rafting
Insurance companies may add to this list at any time. It is their job to keep up on current trends and the risks involved with common hobbies. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), more people get hurt each year playing pool than mountain climbing. Even more surprising, in 2006, more people were hurt fishing than playing tennis, ice hockey, racquet ball, mountain biking, and water skiing combined.
For some, they may determine that the best answer is simply to not tell your insurance company about your passion for rock climbing, or your skydiving certificate. Unfortunately, this is a no-brainer. Failing to be honest with your insurance company can be used to deny your claim in the future. If you fail to mention something in the application and you die as a result of a dangerous activity, you could put your family’s security in jeopardy.
In addition to dangerous hobbies, life insurance rates are determined by a variety of factors including age, health concerns, and living habits such as tobacco use, drug use, and excessive drinking. If you can’t give up the hang-gliding, ensure you are getting the best rate possible by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and take all possible safety precautions.
By Matt Reynolds - Google+
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