Participation in extreme or high-risk recreational activities is a standard underwriting question on life insurance applications. Skydiving, rock climbing, BASE jumping, and similar activities can result in exclusion riders, additional flat extras, or higher premiums — but the right carrier can make a significant difference.
What Insurance Companies Look At
- Specific activity: skydiving, BASE jumping, free solo rock climbing, cave diving, wingsuit flying, and motorcycle racing are among the highest-risk activities
- Frequency of participation: a hobbyist who skydives twice a year is treated differently than a competitive skydiver with dozens of jumps annually
- Training and certification: certified skydivers with proper training (USPA license) are viewed more favorably than uncertified participants
- Altitude and technical difficulty for climbing: sport climbing at a gym vs. high-altitude mountaineering carry very different risk profiles
- Safety equipment and protocols
- Future plans: whether you intend to continue the activity after policy issuance
How Carriers Typically Respond
Common responses include: a flat extra premium (an additional dollar amount per $1,000 of coverage), an exclusion rider that excludes death resulting from the specific activity, or standard coverage with no adjustment at carriers that take a more liberal view. Some carriers specialize in adventure sports underwriting and offer competitive options. Shopping the market is essential.
We work with carriers that offer competitive coverage for adventure sports enthusiasts. Contact us to explore your options.