Risk Categories
Typical Premium Increase
Approval Odds
Our Assessment
What “High-Risk” Actually Means
The Definition
“High-risk” means your death probability is above average for your age and health status. This could be due to your job (higher fatality rate), health condition (increased mortality), activities (skydiving increases death risk), travel (war zones), or lifestyle (heavy drinking, drug use). Carriers’ price is based on actuarial data. If data shows your risk category has 2-3x normal mortality, you’ll pay 2-3x normal premiums—or be declined if risk is too high to price reliably.
Priceable Risks
Carriers have actuarial data and can quantify the risk. Examples: construction workers (work injury data), diabetics (mortality statistics), skydiving hobbyists (fatality rates tracked). Carriers can charge a surcharge.
Unpriceable Risks
Risks that so volatile or speculative that they cannot be quantified. Examples: active war zone resident, terminal illness diagnosis, current methamphetamine addiction. These lead to declines because risk is too uncertain to price responsibly.
⚠️ Critical Distinction
Being “high-risk” doesn’t automatically mean you’re uninsurable. It means you’ll pay more. The real question is: how much more? If a carrier can put a number on the risk, they can quote it. If they cannot, they’ll decline. Most high-risk applicants fall into the “priceable” category—they’ll get coverage, just at elevated rates.
High-Risk Occupations
How Carriers Classify Occupational Risk
Carriers classify occupations into mortality classes based on fatality data, injury rates, and disease exposure. A typical structure: standard class (office, professional), preferred (low-hazard), declining (high-hazard), and decline (too dangerous). Classification depends on job duties, not job title. Two people called “contractors” may have very different risk profiles depending on whether they’re office-based or on-site doing high-altitude or underground work.
| Occupation Category | Examples | Typical Premium Increase | Approval Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Risk | Office, management, professional, teaching | 0% (base rate) | 85-90% |
| Light Labor | Retail, food service, delivery, light manufacturing | 0-10% | 80-85% |
| Moderate Labor | Electrician, plumber, truck driver, factory work | 10-25% | 75-85% |
| High Labor | Roofer, scaffolder, commercial diver, mining | 25-50% | 60-75% |
| Very High Risk | Stunt performer, professional race car driver, police tactical | 50-100%+ | 30-50% |
| Decline | Military combat, professional cage fighting | Decline offered | 5-10% |
⚠️ Key Point: Duties Matter, Not Title
A “construction supervisor” who manages from an office may get standard rates. A “construction supervisor” who works on high-rise scaffolding will get high labor rates. Always disclose your actual duties, not just your title. Misrepresenting your job duties is misrepresentation—it voids your policy if discovered.
Health-Related High-Risk Factors
Health Conditions and Pricing
Health is a major determinant of mortality risk. Many conditions are priceable—carriers have actuarial data for diabetes, heart disease, cancer history, etc. Approval odds depend on the condition’s severity, duration, treatment response, and other health factors. A person with well-controlled Type 2 diabetes may get approved at 110-150% rates. A person with cancer in active treatment typically gets declined. Stage depends heavily on the outcome prognosis.
Priceable Health Issues
Often approved: Well-controlled diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, past cancer (5+ years remission), depression (stable), arthritis, asthma, GERD. Premium increases: 10-100% depending on condition severity and management.
High-Risk Health Issues
Usually declined: Active cancer treatment, advanced heart failure, recent stroke/MI, severe COPD, AIDS/late-stage HIV, cirrhosis, recent suicide attempt. These represent immediate mortality risk carriers that cannot be reliably priced.
⚠️ The Control Matters More Than the Condition
Two diabetics: one controlled for 5 years (approval likely), one diagnosed yesterday with complications (approval unlikely). Control, management, medication compliance, and prognosis matter as much as the condition itself. A serious condition that’s well-managed often gets better approval odds than a minor condition that’s ignored.
High-Risk Activities and Hobbies
How Carriers Handle Risky Activities
Skydiving, rock climbing, mountaineering, professional sports, racing—all increase death risk. Carriers have data on fatality rates by activity. Some priceable activities get surcharges. Others are declined or excluded entirely. Some carriers offer optional “hazard riders” to add coverage for specific activities. The key distinction: frequency (once a year vs. full-time) and experience level (amateur vs. professional) affect pricing.
| Activity | Risk Level | Typical Handling | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recreational skiing, snowboarding | Low | No surcharge (included) | None |
| Rock climbing (recreational) | Low-Moderate | Usually included; some ask for details | 0-10% |
| Skydiving (recreational, 50+ jumps) | Moderate | Optional rider; 25-50% surcharge | 25-50% |
| Mountain climbing (Everest-class) | High | Usually excluded; optional rider if available | 50-100%+ or decline |
| Professional motorsports | Very High | Usually declined or an extreme surcharge | 100%+ or decline |
| Commercial diving (depth 200’+) | Very High | Specialized underwriting; often declined | Decline common |
⚠️ Disclosure Is Critical
If you skydive and don’t disclose it, then die in a skydiving accident, your claim can be denied as misrepresentation. Some carriers specifically exclude death from certain activities. Others issue policies with activity riders that exclude specific hazards. Always disclose your activities and ask specifically whether coverage applies to your hobbies. Don’t assume inclusion.
Travel and Lifestyle Risks
Travel Risk
Frequent travel to war zones, countries with health crises, or high-crime regions increases risk. Carriers ask about planned travel, residency changes, and dangerous destinations. Temporary visits (business trip, vacation) are usually disclosed without issue. Residency change to a high-risk country (Syria, Venezuela, Gaza) may trigger declines. Travel frequency and duration matter—someone visiting parents in a challenging region occasionally is lower-risk than someone relocating there.
Lifestyle Risk
Heavy alcohol use, illicit drug use, DUIs, criminal history, or reckless behavior can trigger high-risk classification. Carriers assess based on disclosures and underwriting investigation. Recent DUI might add 25-50%; current addiction typically leads to decline; past addiction with sobriety history might be approvable. A history of violence, incarceration, or felonies can make applicants uninsurable due to moral hazard (concern that the applicant creates additional risk).
Travel Often Approved
Business travel to standard countries, family visits, and short-term contracts in developing nations. Temporary, planned, specific-destination travel rarely triggers declines. Most carriers will approve with disclosure.
Travel Often Declined
Active combat zone residency, planned relocation to a high-risk country, and ongoing war/epidemic travel. Carriers decline if the risk cannot be quantified or is considered too high for standard offerings.
⚠️ Lifestyle Honesty Is Essential
Underwriters ask about substance use, DUIs, and criminal history because these create real mortality risk. Lying about addiction, arrests, or DUIs is misrepresentation that voids policies. If you have a complicated past, disclose it fully and work with an underwriter who specializes in high-risk cases. You may still get approved, but lying will result in denied claims.
Real Costs: By Risk Category
Important Note on Pricing
These examples use 2025 typical rates for illustration. Actual premiums vary significantly by carrier, specific circumstances, health status, age, and smoker status. Obtain actual quotes before deciding. These are estimates for comparison only.
Example 1: 45-Year-Old Electrician, Non-Smoker, $250K Term
Standard Office Worker: ~$22/month
Electrician (moderate labor): ~$26/month (18% surcharge)
High-Rise Electrician (high labor): ~$35/month (59% surcharge)
Difference between standard and high-risk: ~$13/month or $156/year. Over 30 years: ~$4,680 extra for high-risk occupation.
Example 2: 50-Year-Old with Well-Controlled Type 2 Diabetes, $250K
Standard Health: ~$40/month
Well-Controlled Diabetes: ~$48/month (20% surcharge)
Poorly-Controlled Diabetes with Complications: ~$80/month (100% surcharge) or decline
Difference between standard and well-controlled: ~$8/month or $96/year. Over 20 years: ~$1,920 extra. Poorly controlled may lead to a decline from standard carriers.
Example 3: 40-Year-Old Skydiver (50+ jumps/year), $250K
Standard Base (non-skydiver): ~$18/month
Skydiving Optional Rider: ~$25/month (39% surcharge)
Some Carriers Decline Skydiving Altogether
Difference: ~$7/month or $84/year. Over 30 years: ~$2,520 extra. However, some carriers exclude skydiving entirely (no rider available), which means death by skydiving won’t be covered. Must shop for carriers that offer riders.
Example 4: 38-Year-Old Professional Race Car Driver
Standard Base: ~$20/month
Professional Racing – If Available: ~$50-$100/month (150-400% surcharge)
Most Carriers Decline Professional Racing
Racing is often uninsurable through standard channels. Specialized high-risk carriers may offer coverage at extreme surcharges or with conditions. Many professional athletes are truly uninsurable or must seek coverage through international carriers.
💡 The Principle: Quantifiable Risk = Priceable
Occupational and health surcharges are typically 10-50% for moderate risks, 50-100%+ for high risks. Activities may be similar. Once surcharges exceed 100-150%, or if risk is unpredictable, carriers decline. The question carriers ask: “Can we price this reliably?” If yes, approval with surcharge. If no, decline.
Realistic Approval Odds
The Reality of High-Risk Underwriting
Approval odds for high-risk applicants vary dramatically depending on specific risk and health status. A construction worker with good health: 75-85% approval. An athlete with a health condition: 30-50% approval. A professional race car driver: 5-15% approval. The question to ask yourself: “Is my risk priceable or unpriceable?” If priceable, approval is likely, just at higher rates. If unpriceable, decline is likely.
| Risk Category | Typical Approval Odds | Key Variable |
|---|---|---|
| Moderate Occupation (electrician, plumber) | 75-85% | Health status, age |
| High Occupation (roofer, scaffolder) | 60-75% | Health, experience, safety record |
| Well-Controlled Health Condition | 70-80% | Condition type, management, duration |
| Poorly-Controlled Health Condition | 10-30% | Prognosis, treatment response |
| Recreational Skydiving, Rock Climbing | 60-80% (with rider) | Frequency, experience, and carrier |
| Professional Motorsports | 5-15% | Carrier appetite; most decline |
| Active Combat/War Zone | Decline (0%) | Risk unpriceable |
| Terminal Illness | Decline (0%) | Risk unpriceable |
Your Actual Options
If You’re Approved at a Surcharge
You’ll receive a policy with elevated premiums. Accept it or shop other carriers (different carriers have different guidelines—a decline from one doesn’t mean decline from all). Consider whether the surcharge is worth the coverage. A 50% surcharge may be acceptable; a 200% surcharge might warrant exploring alternatives (lower face amount, different policy type, waiting for health improvement).
If You’re Declined
Ask why. Is it the occupation? Health condition? Activity? Travel? Once you understand the reason, you can address it: change occupation, improve health management, reduce the frequency of risky activity, or wait for a health condition to stabilize. Then reapply. Different carriers also have different appetites—a decline from a mainstream carrier might be an approval from a high-risk specialist. Shop multiple carriers before accepting a decline as final.
If You’re Truly Uninsurable
Guaranteed issue whole life is available (3-5x normal cost, $10K-$50K limits). Employer group insurance might be available (through your job, regardless of individual health). Some organizations or professional associations offer group coverage. Family members might consider life insurance for themselves instead. Accept that some risks are genuinely uninsurable and make financial plans accordingly.
💡 The Strategy: Accept Reasonable Surcharges, Shop Carriers on Declines
A 25-50% surcharge is often reasonable and affordable. A 100%+ surcharge warrants considering alternatives. A decline shouldn’t be final—different carriers, different standards. High-risk specialists exist specifically to serve applicantswhom mainstream carriers decline. Always consult a broker experienced in high-risk placements before accepting any decline.
Real Examples: Five Different Scenarios
Case Study 1: Occupational Risk (Successfully Priced)
Profile: James, 38, roofer, non-smoker, excellent health, wants $300K coverage.
Application Result: Approved at 40% surcharge. Standard rate would be $35/month; James pays $49/month.
Decision: James accepts the surcharge. He works in construction and doesn’t expect rate reductions. $14/month extra is acceptable for $300K coverage. He gets a 30-year term policy.
Key Lesson: Occupational surcharges are predictable and acceptable to most workers in high-risk fields. This is standard high-risk underwriting working as intended.
Case Study 2: Health Condition (Approved, Well-Managed)
Profile: Maria, 52, accountant, Type 2 diabetes (controlled for 6 years), moderate hypertension, wants $200K.
Application Result: Approved at 30% surcharge. Standard rate $45/month; Maria pays $59/month.
Decision: Maria accepts. Her diabetes is stable, managed, and not causing complications. The 30% surcharge reflects her conditions but acknowledges good control. She gets a whole life for permanent protection.
Key Lesson: Well-managed health conditions are priceless. Carriers reward control—a stable diabetic pays much less than an unstable one. Good management leads to better approval odds.
Case Study 3: Activity Risk (Shoppers Multiple Carriers)
Profile: David, 42, skydiver (100+ jumps/year), otherwise healthy, wants $250K term.
Carrier A Result: Declined (no activity riders available).
Carrier B Result: Approved with activity rider at 35% surcharge. Standard rate $24/month; rider adds $8.40 to total $32.40/month.
Decision: David accepts Carrier B. He shops multiple carriers (as advised) and finds one with skydiving experience. Coverage includes skydiving as defined on the rider.
Key Lesson: Carriers vary in activity tolerances. One carrier’s decline is another’s approved case. Always shop multiple carriers on high-risk factors. The right carrier exists; you must find them.
Case Study 4: Serious Health Issue (Multiple Declines, Eventually Approved)
Profile: Robert, 48, survived stage II colon cancer 3 years ago (currently in remission), wants $300K.
Carrier A Result: Declined (cancer treatment too recent from their guidelines).
Carrier B Result: Declined (requires 5-year remission; Robert only has 3).
Carrier C Result (high-risk specialist): Approved at 100% surcharge (doubling premium) with $300K limit. Standard rate $40/month; Robert pays $80/month.
Decision: Robert accepts Carrier C. The 100% surcharge is steep, but he has coverage. In 2 years, when he hits 5-year remission, he can reapply with mainstream carriers for lower rates.
Key Lesson: Past serious illness isn’t an automatic decline. Mainstream carriers have strict timelines; high-risk specialists are more flexible. The extra cost now may be worth it for coverage, and rates can improve as time passes.
Case Study 5: Uninsurable Scenario (Guaranteed Issue Backup)
Profile: Sharon, 65, advanced COPD (severe, hospitalized twice in the past year), wants affordable coverage for final expenses.
All Standard Carriers: Declined (advanced COPD with recent hospitalizations = unpriceable risk).
No Medical Exam / Simplified Issue Carriers: Also declined (database checks find her hospitalizations and COPD severity).
Guaranteed Issue: Approved for $35K at $180/month. A two-year waiting period applies to COPD-related death.
Decision: Sharon accepts guaranteed issue. She’s aware the cost is high and coverage is modest, but it provides peace of mind for funeral costs. The waiting period doesn’t concern her because her COPD is unlikely to remit.
Key Lesson: When truly uninsurable, guaranteed issue becomes the only option. It’s expensive and limited, but it provides something. This is exactly what guaranteed issue is designed for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a high-risk occupation disqualify me from insurance?
Direct answer: Almost never. Surcharges, not declines.
Most occupations are priceable. Roofers, construction workers, miners, and similar high-risk jobs get surcharges (25-50% typically), not declines. Even professional divers and stunt performers can often get coverage with significant surcharges or through high-risk specialists. Only occupations with unpredictable or extreme risk (active military combat, professional cage fighting) face automatic declines.
Can I change occupations to get better insurance rates?
Direct answer: Yes, but rates are locked in at application.
Your policy is rated based on your occupation at application time. If you’re rated as a roofer and later become an office manager, your rates won’t automatically decrease (most policies don’t allow mid-policy occupation downgrades). However, you could apply for a new policy at your new occupation and potentially convert your old policy. Always notify your carrier of occupation changes to ensure coverage is accurate, but be aware that rate reductions usually require new applications with underwriting.
If I’m declined for high-risk reasons, can I reapply later?
Direct answer: Yes. Circumstances change.
If you’re declined due to unstable health, you can reapply after improvement and stabilization. If you’re declined due to dangerous activity, you can reapply after retiring from it. If you’re declined due to an occupational hazard, you can reapply after changing jobs. Most carriers don’t deny you permanently—they delay or adjust pricing. When circumstances improve, reapply. Different carriers may have different guidelines depending on the time passed.
Does hiding my high-risk activity mean it won’t be covered?
Direct answer: Absolutely. And your claim will be denied.
If you skydive, don’t disclose it, then die in a skydiving accident, your death benefit can be denied as misrepresentation. The carrier will investigate your death and discover the skydiving. Your beneficiary receives nothing. Disclosure might cost you a surcharge, but it guarantees claim payment. Non-disclosure guarantees claim denial if your death involves the undisclosed activity.
What if my risk factor improves after I’m approved?
Direct answer: Your rates stay the same unless you renegotiate.
Life insurance rates are locked in at application. If you were rated with high blood pressure at 150% and later control it perfectly, your rates don’t automatically reduce. However, many policies allow conversion or amendment if risk improves significantly (remission from cancer, occupation change, health stabilization). Ask your carrier about opportunities to re-rate your policy if circumstances improve. You may need to reapply for lower rates.
Are high-risk carriers just expensive, or do they deny more?
Direct answer: They charge more but approve more; they specialize in higher risk.
High-risk specialists exist to insure people mainstream carriers decline. They charge higher premiums because they accept higher risk, but their approval rates are actually better for high-risk applicants. A mainstream carrier might approve 20% of applicants with serious health issues; a high-risk specialist might approve 60%. The trade-off is cost. If you’ve been declined by mainstream carriers, high-risk specialists are your next stop.
Should I get less coverage to avoid high-risk surcharges?
Direct answer: Not usually. Surcharges apply to any amount; lower coverage just means less protection.
A surcharge is typically a percentage (e.g., 50%) applied to your coverage amount. Choosing $150K instead of $300K means you pay 50% of the standard $150K rate, not a lower surcharge percentage. You’re just getting less coverage. Instead of reducing coverage, consider accepting reasonable surcharges or exploring other options (term instead of whole life, lower face amount but standard policy type). Underinsurance is worse than a modest surcharge.
High-Risk Doesn’t Mean Uninsurable
Dangerous jobs, health conditions, risky activities, and travel can make insurance more expensive—but rarely make it impossible. We specialize in high-risk placements: we understand occupational classifications, health underwriting, activity pricing, and which carriers accept what risks. We’ll find the carrier most likely to approve you at the best rate.
Call Now: 888-211-6171
Licensed agents available Monday-Friday, 8 AM – 8 PM EST. We work with high-risk specialists and mainstream carriers to find the best options for your situation—not just the cheapest, but the best coverage for who you actually are.
Disclaimer: High-risk classifications vary by carrier and underwriting guidelines. Information presented reflects 2025 market conditions and typical carrier practices for high-risk occupations, health conditions, activities, and lifestyle factors. Actual premiums, surcharges, face amount limits, and approval odds vary significantly by specific circumstances, age, health status, smoker status, and individual carrier guidelines. Premium examples are illustrative and should not be relied upon for financial planning. Approval is not guaranteed for any high-risk case; different carriers have different risk appetites and underwriting standards. Some risks are truly unpriceable and may result in declines even from specialized carriers. Misrepresenting occupations, health conditions, activities, or lifestyle factors on your application can result in policy denial and claim rejection. Always disclose all material information accurately. This article is educational; consult with a licensed insurance professional experienced in high-risk placements for personalized recommendations based on your specific situation.
