Pilot Life Insurance: What You Need to Know Before You Apply

Most pilots overpay for life insurance — stuck with high flat extras, exclusions, or the wrong companies. We’ll show you how to find the best pilot life insurance without the usual traps.

When you’re a pilot, life insurance companies treat you differently. They look beyond your health and focus on your flying experience, aircraft, and future flight plans.

Key factors include:

• Type of pilot license (Private, Commercial, Student, Military)
• Total flying hours and hours flown per year
• Instrument flight rating (IFR) status
• Type of aircraft operated
• Future flying intentions
• FAA violation history

The more experience you have, the better your life insurance policy will be.

If you have a significant health history such as cancer history, heart condition, diabetes or gastrointestinal issue, we’ll need to know about that as well.

Once you earn your Private Pilot’s License (PPL), more insurers become options.

Expect questions like:

• When did you get your PPL?
• How many total hours have you flown?
• Hours flown last year? This year?
• Do you hold an IFR rating?
• What make and model aircraft do you fly?
• Any FAA violations?

Hours	Impact
26 – 300 annual hours	Best offers, often no flat extra
150-300 annual hours	Some companies add flat extras
300+ annual hours	Most companies add flat extras

Companies like Prudential, Corebridge Financial, and Protective Life often offer strong rates for pilots with solid experience and clean records.

If you’re just starting, expect a flat extra charge: typically $250–$500 per $100,000 of coverage.

• Most companies offer Standard or Standard Plus rates with a flat extra.
• A few will consider Preferred (John Hancock) or Preferred Elite (Equitable) if your health profile meets the criteria.

Critical Threshold:

Hit 100 total flight hours and your offers improve dramatically. Until then, you’ll likely be rated like a student pilot, even with a sport or private license.

Planning to fly but haven’t begun lessons? Insurers still underwrite you as a future student pilot.

Life insurance companies ask about future intentions on their applications.

Life Insurance Company	Past 2 years or plans in the next 2 years
Banner Life	Asks if you have activity or plan to in next 6 months.
Cincinnati Life	Past 2 years or plans to fly.
Corebridge	Past 5 years or plans in the next 2 Years
John Hancock	Have you ever flown or plans in next 2 years
Lincoln National	Past 2 years or plans in the next 2 years.
Minnesota	Last 5 years or plans in the next 2 years
Nationwide	Past 2 years or plans in the next 12 months
North American	Past 2 years or plans in the next 2 years
Pacific Life	Past 2 years or plans in the next 2 years
Protective Life	Past 2 years or plans in next 2 years
Prudential	Past 5 years or plans to become a pilot

Translation: Don’t try to hide aviation intentions to avoid claim issues later.

Commercial airline and cargo pilots (like FedEx or UPS) can usually qualify for the best rates if they meet basic criteria:

• Age 30 or older
• Minimum of 1,000 total hours
• 100+ hours in your current make/model of aircraft
• Certificate – Commercial or ATP
• Valid medical certificate
• No FAA violations

Rates may differ if you fly small planes (under 10 seats) or for certain foreign airlines.

Military pilot underwriting depends on the mission and the type of aircraft.

• Some examples from Prudential include:
  • $750 flat extra per every $100,000 of coverage for:
    • Attack
    • Bomber
    • Fighter
    • Multi-Mission
    • Observation

• Flat extra of $750 per every $100,000 of coverage for pilots and crew:
  • Attack
  • Bomber
  • Fighter
  • Multi-Mission
  • Observation
  • Anti-Submarine
• Flat extra of $250 per every $100,000 of coverage for instructors.
• Standard rates with no flate extra available for:
  • Cargo/Transport
  • Special Electronic Installation
  • Search & Rescue
  • Tanker
  • Patrol
  • Trainer
  • Utility
  • VIP

Reserve and National Guard pilots and crew may obtain “standard” rates for the above if they fly less than 125 hours per year and are not on extended duty.

Flat Extras: A flat extra is a charge added for increased risk.

It typically ranges from $250 to $750 per $100,000 of coverage, unless you qualify without a flat.

Our job is to minimize or eliminate it whenever possible.

Aviation Exclusion Rider:

You can choose to exclude coverage if death is from private aviation.

• Removes pilot-related death coverage
• Lowers premiums
• Risk: If you die while flying, your family gets nothing.

We strongly recommend avoiding exclusions unless no other options exist.

In some cases, the insurance company will decline to offer aviation coverage:

• Applicants under the age of 16
• Applicants over age 70-75 (varies w/ companies)
• Motor vehicle history of DUI/DWI.
• History of alcohol or substance abuse.
• Some medical conditions.
• Medical table ratings of 100% or greater.
• International flying.

Smart Strategy: Sometimes we structure two policies: one with an exclusion (cheaper) and one without (full protection) to balance protection and cost.

If you’ve been denied life insurance due to a medical issue, let us know, as some companies are better than others with health conditions.

Your flying job impacts your life insurance rates. Here’s how insurers typically view it:

Occupation	Flat Extra Required?	Amount of Flat Per $100,000 of coverage
Corporate	Yes/No	Zero – $250
Crop Dusting	Yes	$350 – $500 for planes built for this purpose. $500-$750 if plane is converted to this use.
Fire Fighting	Yes	$350 – $750

Whatever your occupation, please provide us with the full details, and we’ll find you the best rates.

Group life insurance through the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, better known as AOPA seems convenient but comes with tradeoffs.

• AOPA Group Life Pros:
  • Simple application
  • No aviation exclusions
  • Good for young pilots
• Cons:
  • Premiums rise every 5 years
  • Coverage shrinks at age milestones
  • You don’t control the policy, the group does.

You have to carefully weigh AOPA to individual policies

• Individual Policies Pros:
  • Lock in rates for 10 to 40 years
  • Full control over the policy
  • Custom coverage amounts available
  • Better long-term value

Bottom line: Group coverage through AOPA is fine as a supplement to having your own individual policy.

We offer pilots individual term life insurance and universal and whole life insurance.

• Available for ages 50-74
• Coverage amounts – $5,000 – $50,000
• Decreases to 50% at age 75, 25% at age 80
• Rates increase every five years
• No exam
• Accelerated death benefits
• No general aviation exclusion
• Convertible to a whole life plan

According to the AOPA website, “Proof of good health is required for coverage approval. This may or may not include a medical exam.”

Whatever your occupation is, let us know the full details, and we’ll find you the best rates.

• Available for under age 30 – under age 66
• Coverage amounts – $5,000 – $1,000,000
• Decreases by 50% at age 70, 75% at age 75
• Coverage terminates at age 80
• Tobacco and non-tobacco rates
• Premiums must be paid quarterly
• Accelerated death benefits
• No general aviation exclusion
• Convertible to whole life

Proof of good health is required.

• 10-year group level term – age 20-66
  • $50,000 – $1,000,000
• 20-year group level term – age 20-56
  • $200,000 – $1,000,000
• Rates stay level for the term unless the entire group changes
• Three rate classes – Preferred, Select, and Standard
• Dependent children rider available
• Accelerated death benefits
• No general aviation exclusion
• Convertible to individual whole life

Group life insurance is inexpensive and simple when you’re younger, but you do not have control over the policy.

You have questions about life insurance for aviation, and we have the answers!

You fly with precision — your life insurance should be no different.

We specialize in helping pilots get the right coverage, without overpriced flat extras or nasty exclusions.

• No-pressure quotes from top aviation-friendly insurers
• Full coverage or exclusion options based on your needs
• Smart strategies to save you thousands over the life of the policy.

Don’t gamble with bad coverage – get life insurance built for pilots, by experts who know how to land you the best deal.

Request your free quotes here.