High risk life insurance
See what factors are considered as high risk for life insurance
Key points:
- Life insurance pays out a lump sum if you die during the term of the policy. Typically, it's not a savings or investment product and will only pay out on a successful claim.
- Certain lifestyle, health, job and hobby factors can make you “high risk” for life insurance, which may lead to higher premiums or more limited cover.
- Health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, stroke, and respiratory issues may be considered high risk, although well‑managed or recovered conditions might not impact premiums as much.
- Risk can also come from your occupation or hobbies, with roles like emergency services or activities like skydiving, scuba diving, and extreme sports leading insurers to increase premiums, though these do not usually prevent getting cover altogether.
Life insurance is there to be a safety net for your loved ones and those who depend on you financially, if the worst happens. As certain aspects of your lifestyle can be considered high-risk to insure, understanding what those are can help you make informed decisions. From medical conditions and your job to adventurous hobbies, knowing how insurers figure out risk can help you find the right cover for your needs.
What is considered high risk for life insurance?
When you apply for life insurance, insurers will assess you for different things such as risk factors and medical conditions. They’ll look at things like your age, general health and hobbies.
In a lot of cases, the higher risk you are, the higher your premiums will be, because insurers will see you as more likely to make a claim.
So, if you’re considered high risk, life insurance can be a bit trickier to get and can come at a cost.
What health conditions are considered high risk for life insurance?
Every insurer treats health conditions differently. Some conditions can increase the amount you pay or affect the type of cover you’re offered, but it depends on things like your medical history, test results and how well your condition is controlled. Examples might include:
- diabetes (Type 1 and 2).
- heart conditions like angina or previous heart attacks.
- cancer (current or past).
- stroke.
- respiratory conditions, like COPD and emphysema.
- high blood pressure.
However, if your condition is well managed, or you’ve fully recovered, you may not be treated as higher risk at all.
What is a high-risk occupation for life insurance?
Some jobs involve more physical risk than others, and insurers may take this into account. For example, roles involving emergency response, the armed forces, or certain types of manual labour can sometimes lead to different outcomes.
What is a high-risk hobby for life insurance?
If you’re thinking about starting a new hobby, you might be considered high risk if you take up:
- skydiving or parachuting.
- scuba diving.
- mountaineering.
- extreme sports, like bungee jumping or white-water rafting.
- motorbike riding.
This list is just an example, so there may be other activities that are also considered high risk.
In many cases, insurers can still offer cover, sometimes with an added premium, but these activities don’t automatically prevent you from getting life insurance.
How can I make myself less high risk?
Some risk factors are entirely out of your control. But considering things like stopping smoking, losing weight, or changing your career can make a difference to whether you can get life insurance, and how much your premium may cost.
The key thing to remember is that you shouldn’t be put off applying. Insurers consider lots of factors together, not just one.
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