Pilot Life Insurance: Underwriting, Rates, Flat Extras, Exclusions & More 

Whether you are involved with commercial or private aviation, great companies can help you. Some of the benefits of working with us include:

Here are some great examples of offers for pilots.

Underwriting Examples

Do you want to know more? Keep reading to get the full nitty-gitty details about pilot coverage.

Life insurance underwriting for pilots depends on several factors, including:

• The type of pilot (private, commercial, military, etc.)
• Pilot ratings
• Total hours flown
• Annual hours flown
• Type of aircraft
• Type of flying.

The best high-risk life insurance for pilots depends on your individual information.

One of our goals when helping pilots is to eliminate or minimize any flat extra expense you may have encountered elsewhere.

If you fly passenger airlines for a living, most life insurers will offer you their best rate classes, provided you qualify medically.

Basic criteria include:

• 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

Coverage is still available if you don’t meet the above, but the best rate classes may not be.

Underwriting may change if you fly for certain foreign commercial airlines or fly planes with less than ten seats.

Underwriting for cargo pilots (UPS, FedEx, etc.) follows the same rules as commercial pilots.

Once you’ve earned your private pilot’s license (PPL), more companies become available to you.

Your total hours, average hours per year, and whether you have an instrument flight rating (IFR) are primary factors in underwriting.

Underwriting wants to know about:

• What type of license do you have?
• What aircraft class rating do you have?
• Do you have your instrument flight rating (IFR)?
• What is the make and model of the aircraft you fly?
• How much time have you had in this aircraft?
• When did you obtain your PPL?
• How many hours do you have:
  • In total?
  • Last year?
  • This year?
  • Expected hours next year?
• Do you expect to change the aircraft you fly in the next two years?
• Have you ever had any FAA violations?

Most companies look for a minimum of 300-500 total hours and an annual average of 26-300 hours per year to consider an offer without a flat extra expense.

Some companies are more lenient with total hours (AIG is 100) if you have an IFR.

When you average 150-300 hours per year, many companies will add a flat extra to your rate, and if you exceed 300 per year, almost all companies will add the flat extra.

We ask you the above questions as part of the underwriting and will then provide you with quotes from each carrier, so you know what to expect in terms of price before you apply.

Life insurance for student pilots typically requires a flat extra expense of $250 – $500 per every $100,000 coverage you buy.

The difference between companies is the medical rate class available.

While many life insurers will only offer a standard or standard plus rate, a few will consider a preferred (John Hancock) and even a preferred elite (AXA) rate.

Most companies use total flying hours as the basis for determining your rate.

100 total hours seems to be the magic number where your offers improve.

So even if you have received your sport/recreational or private pilot certificate, but your total hours are less than 100, you may still be rated like a student pilot.

When you reach 100 total hours, we should re-shop your coverage to see if better offers are available.

Life insurance for student pilots typically requires a flat extra expense of $250 – $500 per every $100,000 coverage you buy.

The difference between companies is the medical rate class available.

While many life insurers will only offer a standard or standard plus rate, a few will consider a preferred (John Hancock) and even a preferred elite (AXA) rate.

Most companies use total flying hours as the basis for determining your rate.

100 total hours seems to be the magic number where your offers improve.

So even if you have received your sport/recreational or private pilot certificate, but your total hours are less than 100, you may still be rated like a student pilot.

When you reach 100 total hours, we should re-shop your coverage to see if better offers are available.

How does underwriting work if you decide to start flying but haven’t actually started your lessons yet?

The simple answer is that you will be underwritten as a student pilot. Here’s why.

Life insurance companies are all too familiar with this scenario, so they ask about your existing aviation history and intentions.

Here’s the aviation question by company:

Life Insurance Company	Aviation Question
Banner Life	Which, if any, do you engage in or plan to engage in the next 6 months?Any activity involving flying
Cincinnati Life	In the last two years, flown or have existing arrangements to fly as a pilot, student pilot or crew member?
Corebridge	In the past five years, has the Primary Proposed Insured flown as a pilot, student pilot or crew member of any aircraft, or have any intention to do so in the next two years?
John Hancock	Have you ever flown or do you intend to fly in the next 2 years as a student pilot, licensed pilot, or crew member in any aircraft, including ultralight planes?
Lincoln National	Other than as a remote pilot, or as a flight attendant on a regularly scheduled airline, within the past two years have you flown as a pilot, student pilot or crew member or do you plan to do so within the next two years?
Minnesota	Has the proposed insured within the last five years, or does the proposed insured plan, within the next two years, to engage in piloting an aircraft (including gliders, ultralight vehicles, or any other type of airframe)?
Nationwide	In the past 2 years, have you engaged in, or do you intend to engage in within the next 12 months: flying as pilot;
North American	In the past 24 months, have you: a. Flown as a pilot or crew member, except on a regularly scheduled commercial airline, or intend to do this in the next 24 months?
Pacific Life	In the past 24 months, have you: a. Flown as a pilot or crew member, except on a regularly scheduled commercial airline, or intend to do this in the next 24 months?
Protective Life	Has the Proposed Insured flown as a pilot, student pilot or crew member, or intend to fly as such within the next 2 years?
Prudential	In the past five years, have you flown as a pilot, student pilot or crew member or do you intend to become a pilot?
SBLI	Other than as a flight attendant or a passenger on a regularly scheduled airline, within the past 2 years have you flown as a pilot, student pilot or crew member or do you plan to do so within the next 2 years.
Symetra	Within the past two years, has Proposed Insured engaged in, or is he or she currently engaging in aviation activities as a pilot or crew.
Transamerica	Except as a passenger on a regularly scheduled flight, has the Proposed Insured flown within the past 2 years, or does the Proposed Insured have plans to fly in the future other than as a passenger?
United of Omaha	flown as a civilian pilot, student pilot or crew member within the last three years or plan such activity in the next two years?

Here’s the bottom line – If you die while participating in private aviation, you can bet that the insurance company will look at your application and history to see if you misrepresented aviation.

If you did, there’s a good chance the insurance company may try to fight the claim, leaving your family in a tough situation.

Your best bet is to get the correct coverage now, and we’ll plan on re-shopping for a better rate once you have more experience.

Life insurance is available for military pilots.

The coverage and underwriting ratings depend on the mission designation(s) and aircraft designation.

Some examples from Prudential include:

• Flat extra of $750 per every $100,000 of coverage for pilots and crew:
  • Attack
  • Bomber
  • Fighter
  • Multi-Mission
  • Observation
  • Anti-Submarine

If you are an instructor for any of the above, the flat extra would be $250 per $100,000.

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

• Standard rates with no flat extra may be available for:
  • Cargo/Transport
  • Special Electronic Installation
  • Search & Rescue
  • Tanker
  • Patrol
  • Trainer
  • Utility
  • VIP

Before finalizing your rates, underwriting looks at your background, current status, deployment, etc.

Most life insurance policies will include coverage for private aviation unless you ask for an aviation exclusion rider.

Underwriting will add a flat extra expense to the policy for some applicants.

The flat extra expense may add $250 – $500 per every $100,000 coverage, based on your individual aviation experience.

As a result of the cost, some pilots may ask for an aviation exclusion rider (AER).

When a policy contains an aviation exclusion rider, your beneficiaries receive nothing if you die while piloting an aircraft.

We’ll show you the options available based on your history

Sometimes, we’ll write two policies, one with and one without the aviation exclusion rider…

This way, if something happens to you, at least a benefit will be paid out, and it helps lower your overall cost.

In some cases, life insurers may exclude aviation for:

• 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.

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.

If you have one of the following conditions, it’s best to shop for companies for the health issue first, and then we can choose the best pilot company.

• Cancer History – Bladder, Breast, Cervical, Colon, Kidney, Prostate, Skin, Testicular, Throat, Thyroid.
• Heart Problems
• Gastrointestinal – Crohn’s Disease, Liver Enzymes, Hepatitis, Ulcerative Colitis.
• Endocrine Conditions – Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, Proteinuria, Thyroid Disease
• Mental Health – Anxiety, Bipolar, Brain, Epilepsy, MS, Stroke,
• Respiratory – Asthma, COVID, Sleep Apnea

We generally advise against aviation exclusions unless there is no other option available for you.

We have life insurers for you if you make your living as a pilot or crew member for certain occupations.

The type of occupation you have may require a flat extra expense.

The chart below indicates how much is added to your rate for every $100,000 life insurance you buy.

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

Life Insurance for Pilots AOPA

You may wonder how our policies compare to the group life insurance policies offered by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, better known as AOPA.

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

With an individual policy, you control the policy, whereas a group policy is controlled by the administrators of the policy.

AOPA offers three group life insurance products:

AOPA 50+ Term Group 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 have no control over that policy.

If you are considering group life, ask for the rate sheet for all ages to see your rate as you age.

You control an individual life insurance policy. You can choose the coverage amounts and term lengths and decide how long you want coverage.

As we’ll show you, most individual policies do not exclude aviation. They include accelerated benefits and other riders and offer conversion privileges.

We offer a no-risk, no-obligation life insurance service.

We’ll provide quotes from top-rated life insurance companies specializing in aviation.

We have both options available for you if you want a policy with full coverage or if you want aviation excluded.

Please take a few minutes to submit your quote request. Thank you.