Snowboarding Exchange

What is high risk life insurance, you ask? It’s what it sounds like–it’s life insurance underwritten on a person who is considered to be more likely to meet their untimely death in the near future. More likely than the average person, that is, who compares with you agewise and genderwise.

Now, lots of people know about the different risk factors involved in getting a life insurance policy, as far as premiums go. You’ll have to answer medical questions; probably have to take a medical exam; have to report whether or not you use tobacco; report your occupation; answer some personal questions about your lifestyle; and, all other things being equal, males pay more than females because on average they die younger.

If you have serious medical problems, including being obese, you can be classified as “high risk” and have to pay very high premiums and possibly take a smaller death benefit. Some companies won’t even want to deal with you. Everyone understands that pretty much.

Yet, “high risk” life insurance premiums might also have to be shelled out by you to get a certain policy when you thought you were going to be a Standard or even Preferred Risk. What do we mean by this?

Well, consider that you are 28 years old, female, married with one child, you don’t smoke, you workout four times a week, you have a perfect BMI, you have nothing significant in your medical history on file at the national archives, and you have an office job. You are going to get some Preferred Plus rates, aren’t you? You are going to get a bargain of a life insurance policy, aren’t you? Not so fast. You love whitewater rafting. You love snowboarding and downhill skiing. You love going bear hunting with your dad and your brothers every Winter. You love going on those trips where people swim with great white sharks.

Guess what? You are “high risk”, at least in the eyes of many underwriters for many different life insurance providers. You see, there are underwriters who care more about your personal lifestyle than they do about any of the standard measures of risk. People today, even smokers, live longer on average than ever. Medical treatment and knowledge of health are greater than ever. So. If you want to put yourself in harm’s way on purpose–and from an actuarial and underwriter’s point of view, that’s what you’re doing with the snowboarding, the shark swimming, the bear hunting, and your other lifestyle habits–then you are far more likely to die an accidental death than the average person. You will pay some very high life insurance premiums for that lifestyle.

Now, there’s some good news about all of this. There are life insurance companies who specialize in “high risk” clients. They are prepared to underwrite you for much more reasonable rates. They want the kayakers, the black diamond skiiers, the Indy 500 drivers. They have underwriting standards that are tailored to those people who love to take extra risks.

Consult the Internet or a local life insurance broker to find out about these companies who specialize in high risk life insurance.