Can I get Life Insurance if my job is risky?
The answer is yes. You can get life Insurance, however you may face an increase in premiums compared to someone who is working in a desk job.
People who work in dangerous jobs who are looking for life insurance to protect themselves and their families or indeed their business will be asked to give additional occupational information in order to be assessed by underwriting.
How much will Life Insurance cost me given that I am in a high risk job?
The underwriters will look at each case individually. The more risky your job is deemed to be, the higher your premium
If your job involves any of the following, then it would be put into the high risk category.
Manual work
A lot of driving
Operating machines
Working at heights
Military work
Aviation
Working at sea
Using explosives
Exposure to chemicals or other dangerous substances
Just because you fall into one of these categories, it doesn’t automatically mean that you won’t get standard rates for your Life Insurance policy. For example in relation to working at heights, you will be asked how high up you work. If it is over 15 metres, then this would be considered risky. You would also be asked how many hours in a typical working week you work outside at heights of over 15metres. If you work below this threshold, you may still qualify at standard rates.
How does a high risk occupation affect your chances of getting Income Protection?
Working in a risky occupation can obviously lead to more injuries and can also reduce the chances of you going back to work after a serious injury. Payouts for people who are working in a risky occupation and have suffered an injury at work usually end up paying out right up until retirement age. Because of this, it is quite difficult to get Income Protection if you are working in a job which is classified as risky.
Can you get Serious Illness cover if you are in a risky occupation?
It really depends on your occupation. If there is a high risk of an accident at work which could result in loss of limbs or paralysis, then there may be exclusions on particular illnesses from the policy. This type of scenario could be particularly relevant for people working in the defence forces or fire service.
If you have a query in relation to your own occupation or would like to get a quote, please get in touch with our Dublin life insurance broker team today.