Rate Impact
Denial Outcome
Must Disclose
Special Riders
Why Insurance Companies Care About Your Hobbies
The Mortality Risk Connection
Life insurance underwriters use mortality data extensively. They know that certain activities increase your probability of early death. Skydiving, mountaineering, professional racing, and similar hobbies have measurable death rates. When you engage in these activities regularly, you represent a higher-risk population to insurers. Higher risk = higher premium or possible denial.
Data-Driven Underwriting
Insurance companies have actuarial data on skydiving accidents, climbing fatalities, motorcycle deaths, and other high-risk activities. They know these activities occur at measurable rates and adjust pricing accordingly.
Frequency vs. Occasional
A professional rock climber who climbs 300 days per year looks different from someone who rock climbs twice a year recreationally. Frequency matters. More exposure = higher risk = higher rates.
Avoidance of Lying
Insurance companies investigate. They may review social media, previous claim history, and medical records. If you omit a dangerous hobby and later have a claim related to it, the policy can be voided. Honesty is required.
Different Carriers, Different Standards
Some companies specialize in high-risk applicants. A motorcycle enthusiast denied by one carrier might be approved by another—at a higher rate. Shopping around matters.
8 Hobbies That Make Underwriters Nervous
1. Skydiving & Extreme Sports
Risk Level: Very High
Mortality Rate: ~1 death per 100,000 jumps
Insurance Impact: Major surcharge or denial
Sample Premium Impact:
Standard: $30/month for $100K
Skydiver: $60-80/month or denied
Disclosure: Many skydiving hobbyists are denied entirely or offered coverage at double or triple standard rates. Be honest about frequency (casual vs. competitive) and certifications held. Some companies will insure recreational skydivers with special riders at 50-100% premium increases.
2. High-Altitude Mountaineering
Risk Level: Very High
Concern Area: Mt. Everest, above 20,000 feet
Insurance Impact: Denial or extreme surcharge
Sample Premium Impact:
Standard: $25/month for $100K
Everest climber: Usually denied
Disclosure: Recreational hiking is no problem. Rock climbing at your local gym is fine. But climbers planning expeditions above 20,000 feet face major issues. Death rates on 8,000m peaks are significant. Some companies will require special mountaineering insurance or outright denial. Alpine guides face the toughest underwriting.
3. Professional Motor Racing & Racing
Risk Level: Very High
Concern Area: Formula 1, motorsports
Insurance Impact: Denial or specialized rider
Sample Premium Impact:
Standard: $28/month for $100K
Pro racer: $80+/month or denied
Disclosure: Professional racers face major challenges. Many standard carriers deny coverage entirely. However, amateur racers (weekend track days at racetracks) have better odds. Specify if you race at organized tracks with safety protocols vs. street racing. Professional racing often requires specialized high-risk insurance.
4. Private Piloting or Small Aircraft Operation
Risk Level: High
Concern Area: Small planes are at a higher risk than commercial planes
Insurance Impact: Significant surcharge or denial
Sample Premium Impact:
Standard: $30/month for $100K
Private pilot: $50-75/month or denied
Disclosure: Commercial airline pilots have lower rates than private pilots. Small aircraft, experimental planes, and helicopters face higher surcharges. Be specific: How many hours do you fly? What type of aircraft? How experienced are you? Frequency matters—flying 500 hours per year versus 10 hours per year carries different risk profiles.
5. Motorcycle Racing, Stunt Riding, or Extreme Off-Road
Risk Level: High
Concern Area: Competitive speeds and tricks
Insurance Impact: Moderate to major surcharge
Sample Premium Impact:
Standard: $25/month for $100K
Motorcycle racer: $45-65/month
Disclosure: Casual motorcycle ownership or street riding is typically not a major issue. Professional racing or stunt riding is. Dirt biking competitively is higher risk than casual recreational riding. Be specific about frequency, competition level, and safety practices. Track racing is better than street racing from an underwriting perspective.
6. Wingsuit Flying & BASE Jumping
Risk Level: Extreme
Death Rate: ~1 per 2,300 jumps (BASE)
Insurance Impact: Almost always denied
Sample Premium Impact:
Standard: $30/month for $100K
BASE jumper: Usually denied entirely
Disclosure: BASE jumping and wingsuit flying face almost universal denial from standard carriers. If you engage in these activities, you’ll need to seek specialized high-risk insurance providers, and premiums will be substantial. Some carriers won’t insure these activities at any price.
7. Cave Diving, Deep-Sea Diving, or Technical Diving
Risk Level: High
Concern Area: Decompression, equipment failure
Insurance Impact: Significant surcharge or denial
Sample Premium Impact:
Standard: $27/month for $100K
Cave diver: $55-85/month or denied
Disclosure: Recreational scuba diving (under 40 meters) is generally acceptable. Technical diving, cave diving, and deep-sea diving face major underwriting issues. Specify your certification level and typical dive depths. Professional divemasters face higher rates. Be honest about your diving plans and frequency.
8. Work or Adventure Travel in High-Risk Regions
Risk Level: High (varies by region)
Concern Area: War zones, disease outbreak areas
Insurance Impact: Denial or exclusions possible
Sample Premium Impact:
Standard: $28/month for $100K
War correspondent: Likely denied or excluded
Disclosure: Frequent work or travel to active conflict zones, disease outbreak areas, or locations with high violent crime rates can trigger denial or exclusions. NGO workers, war correspondents, and aid workers in conflict zones face major challenges. Tourism to these areas is different from work-related exposure. The underwriter needs specifics about the frequency and type of exposure.
How Hobbies Affect Your Premiums: Side-by-Side Comparison
This table shows estimated monthly premiums for a healthy 35-year-old applying for $100,000 in 20-year term life insurance across different hobbies.
| Activity/Hobby | Est. Monthly Rate | vs. Baseline | Approval Likelihood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-risky hobbies (golf, reading, yoga) | $28-32 | Baseline | High |
| Recreational rock climbing (local gym) | $32-40 | +15-25% | High |
| Recreational scuba diving (under 40m) | $35-45 | +25-40% | Medium |
| Casual motorcycle ownership | $38-50 | +35-55% | Medium |
| Private pilot (100-500 hrs/year) | $50-75 | +75-125% | Low-Med |
| Motorcycle racing (occasional) | $60-85 | +100-165% | Low |
| Skydiving (recreational) | $65-100+ | +125-225% | Very Low |
| BASE jumping or wingsuit flying | Denied or $150+ | +300%+ | Denial |
⚠️ Important: Estimates May Vary Significantly
These are industry averages. Your actual rate depends on the specific carrier, how frequently you engage in the activity, your other health factors, and the company’s appetite for risk. Always get multiple quotes. Some carriers eagerly write skydiving hobbyists; others deny entirely. Shop around before accepting any initial quote.
How to Disclose Risky Hobbies: An Honest Approach
The Honesty Rule
According to InsuranceBrokers USA – Management Team: “Lying on a life insurance application is one of the fastest ways to have your claim denied. Every detail matters because it affects the company’s ability to assess risk accurately. Honesty is both ethical and legally required.”
What to Disclose
- Any hobby you do regularly (monthly or more)
- Your frequency (how many times per year?)
- Your experience level and certifications
- Whether it’s recreational or professional
- Any accidents or injuries from the activity
- Plans to continue or expand the activity
How to Present It
- Be specific and quantify (not “I ski a lot”)
- Focus on safety practices
- Mention any training or certifications
- Explain why it’s lower risk than it sounds
- Don’t minimize what could be perceived as serious
- Don’t lie or omit activities, hoping they won’t find out
⚠️ What Happens If You Lie
Your policy can be voided. If you claim benefits for an injury or death related to a hobby you didn’t disclose, the insurance company can investigate, discover the lie, and deny your claim entirely. Your beneficiary receives nothing. The company can take up to 2 years to discover omissions during this “contestability period.” Beyond that, most states protect you—but lying is never worth the risk.
Real-World Examples: Hobbies & Insurance Outcomes
Example 1: Marcus, Age 32, Recreational Skydiver
Situation: Marcus skydives 20-25 times per year as a hobby. He’s certified and trains frequently. He applied for life insurance and was honest about the activity.
Result: Three carriers denied him. The fourth carrier, specializing in high-risk applicants, approved him for $100,000 coverage at $62/month (versus $30/month for standard applicants). He paid nearly double the normal rate, but he has coverage. Different carriers have different appetites.
Example 2: Jennifer, Age 41, Private Pilot (Lied)
Situation: Jennifer is a private pilot who flew 300 hours per year. On her application, she answered “no” to the question “Do you engage in aviation?” hoping they wouldn’t find out. She was approved for $150,000 at standard rates.
Bad Ending: Two years later, Jennifer died in a plane crash. Her family filed a claim. During the investigation, the insurance company discovered she was a private pilot and hadn’t disclosed it. The company denied the claim and returned only premiums paid. Her family received nothing. She should have been honest—she likely would have been approved at a higher rate, and her family would have had the protection.
Example 3: David, Age 28, Casual Rock Climber (Honest Approach)
Situation: David climbs at his local climbing gym about twice per month recreationally. He discloses this honestly on his application and mentions his gym membership and recreational-only practice.
Result: He’s approved for $100,000 at $32/month (about $1-2 more than baseline). The modest surcharge reflects his recreational activity. He has full coverage with peace of mind. His honesty prevented problems and secured his protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I quit the risky hobby before applying?
Direct answer: Disclose it anyway. Underwriters want the complete history.
If you skydived 50 times last year but quit this year, tell them. The underwriter may still apply a surcharge because you demonstrated willingness to engage in high-risk activity. How long you’ve been away from it matters (6 months is different than 5 years). Honesty is always the right approach.
Do insurance companies investigate hobbies?
Direct answer: Sometimes, especially for large claims or unusual hobbies.
They may review social media, medical records, and claims history. If you’re claiming death from skydiving complications and your social media shows dozens of skydiving photos, the insurance company will find out. Investigation varies by claim size, but don’t assume they won’t find out about your hobbies if you hide them.
Can I get a special rider for risky hobbies?
Direct answer: Yes, for some activities. It’s an exclusion rider that excludes coverage for certain activities.
Instead of higher rates, some insurers offer policies that exclude death from the risky hobby. So if you skydive, you might get cheaper coverage that doesn’t pay out if you die skydiving—but covers death from illness or accidents. This is a tradeoff. You’re covered, but not for that specific activity. Clarify what’s covered and what’s not before accepting any rider.
If one company denies me, will all companies deny me?
Direct answer: No. Different companies have different underwriting standards for hobbies.
One carrier may deny recreational pilots while another specializes in them. Always get multiple quotes. A hobby that triggers automatic denial from Company A might result in approval at a surcharge from Company B. Shopping around is essential when you have hobbies that raise red flags.
What hobbies don’t usually affect rates?
Direct answer: Most recreational hobbies are fine. Skiing, hiking, golf, cycling, fitness, and martial arts.
Safe, recreational activities typically don’t trigger surcharges. Competition-level activities may. Professional athletes in extreme sports face challenges. But casual skiing? Golf? Hiking? These are normal and don’t significantly affect rates. When in doubt, disclose and ask—transparency is the safest path.
Can I change my hobbies and lower my rates later?
Direct answer: Yes, but typically only at policy renewal, not mid-term.
If you quit skydiving, your term rate is locked in until renewal. At renewal, you can disclose that you’ve stopped the activity, and your new rate may be lower. However, check your specific policy terms. Some carriers allow mid-term adjustments; most don’t.
What if I’m planning to start a risky hobby after I’m approved?
Direct answer: No obligation to disclose future hobbies during the application, but coverage applies normally.
Once your policy is in force, you’re covered as written. If you take up BASE jumping after approval, your current policy still covers death from that activity (unless it specifically excludes extreme sports). However, if you have a claim later, the company may investigate and look at your current hobbies. Be honest if you ever update your application or renew.
Get Approved With Your Hobbies Disclosed
Whether you skydive, pilot planes, or rock climb, we can match you with carriers who understand your lifestyle. Honest disclosure gets you approved faster than hiding activities.
Call Now: 888-211-6171
Licensed agents available Monday-Friday, 8 AM – 8 PM EST. We work with carriers that specialize in high-risk hobbies.
Disclaimer: Rates and approval outcomes shown are estimates based on 2025 industry data and typical underwriting standards. Your actual rates depend on the specific insurance company, the frequency and nature of your hobby, your health status, age, and other underwriting factors. Different carriers have different standards for high-risk hobbies—what one company denies, another may approve at a surcharge. Always obtain personalized quotes from multiple carriers. Lying on a life insurance application can result in policy denial and claim rejection, even after policy issue. Honesty during the application process is legally required and essential for claim protection. The information in this article is provided for educational purposes. Consult with a licensed insurance professional for personalized recommendations based on your specific situation and hobbies.
