How to Buy Life Insurance for Pilots

Best Life Insurance for Private, Commercial & Student Pilots With No Flat Extra Fees in [2023]

Submitting an application for the best life insurance for pilots and receiving a Preferred Best rate classification is very common with today’s relaxed underwriting—especially when applying with the right life insurance company and having an IFR certification. If you are planning on purchasing pilot life insurance, we will cover everything you need to know step-by-step so you can buy the best policy for the lowest possible rates.

Aviation life insurance is one of our specialties, and we know how to help you apply for pilot life insurance and receive the lowest premiums with no additional fees.  

 

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Most pilots worry about higher-than-normal premiums due to the added aviation risk. Thanks to some of the companies we use, such as Protective Life, you can purchase life insurance with no extra fees and qualify for preferred rates. This also goes for Student Pilots as well.

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Can I Purchase Life Insurance if I’m a Pilot?

Yes, pilots, in many cases, can even receive Preferred Best rates. 

Yes, you can purchase life insurance for pilots as long as you have the necessary training, experience, and proper licensing for whatever type of aircraft you fly, such as:

• Private Aircraft
• Commercial Aircraft
• Helicopters
• Paragliders
• Military Aircraft
• Propeller Driven
• Jet-Powered

Life insurance companies will ask additional questions, but remember, your health history will still be an essential factor. As with all life insurance applications for anyone, regardless of their hazardous sport, hobby, or occupation. Your health will be the most critical category for your application that any carrier will review.

 

Will Being a Pilot Affect My Life insurance Rates?

With experience and IFR certification, most pilots will experience no increase in premiums.

Your life insurance rates can sometimes be affected by being a flyer. There is a much greater risk that life insurance companies are taking on when they consider insuring the life of a pilot, regardless of whether you are a private pilot or a commercial pilot. The two biggest questions are what you fly and how much you fly, just for starters. This could mean you fly a single-engine Piper Cub twice a month for fun and recreation, or you fly a US Air Force F-16 fighter in the military, possibly seven days a week.

 

How to Buy Life Insurance With Medical Conditions?

Regardless of your occupation, sport, or hobbies, your health history will be ranked number one when applying for life insurance. Medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, being overweight, and many other issues will be a life insurance company’s biggest concern. It’s not simply the fact that you are an aviator. Many flyers are concerned that they have a risky classification and don’t realize their health is even more critical on an application.

If you have medical conditions, they have to be taken seriously by an insurance company. When an aviator becomes ill and is flying an airplane, he can’t lie down and take it easy until he feels better like most people can. He has to be at his best while flying, or a crash will become a deadly possibility.

 

What Are the Best Life Insurance Companies for Aviators?

As independent insurance agents, we represent over 40 top-rated life insurance companies. Here is a shortlist of companies that work out very well for pilots and have some of the most competitive rates in the industry. These insurers are also very liberal towards flying into the underwriting department, which is precisely how you land the lowest premiums. Take a look at what we believe to be the top 10 companies to consider for life insurance for pilots:

1. Banner Life
2. AIG American General
3. Lincoln Financial
4. Mutual of Omaha
5. Prudential Insurance
6. Principal Financial
7. Protective Life
8. SBLI Savings Bank Life Insurance
9. Transamerica
10. Symetra

Keep in mind that there is no particular order in which these companies are ranked. No specific life insurance company will be a pilot’s best life insurance company. Many of the rankings will reflect your age, tobacco use status, health history, driving record, credit history, and many other areas of information. Everyone is on a case-to-case basis when applying for aviation life insurance.

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Choosing the right life insurance company to apply with is crucial. Using an insurer who does not have a good experience with aviation life insurance could trigger higher rates or a decline in your application.

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I am a Private Pilot. Can I Buy Life Insurance?

Anytime someone applies for life insurance when involved with a risky sport, hobby, or occupation. The carriers will request that they complete an additional aviation questionnaire, especially if it concerns a private pilot.

Here are some of the questions they typically will ask:

• What type of private aircraft do you fly?
• What kind of license do you have?
• Are you an actual licensed private pilot or a student pilot?
• Are you IFR instrument-rated, and what certifications do you have?
• When did you obtain your (PPL) private pilot licensing?
• How many years have you been flying private aircraft?
• How many hours do you fly approximately per month?
• Have you had any FFA violations to date? If so, what were the violations?
• Are you planning on changing aircraft anytime in the next 1-2 years?
• What make and model aircraft are you currently flying?
• What is your type of aircraft class rating?

If you are in good health and your flight credentials are in order. Then, you should not have problems applying for life insurance. Whether you fly a small single-engine airplane to a multiple-engine jet, the concept will be the same.

 

What is a Flat Extra Fee?

Flat extra fees are what many pilots end up paying when they do not apply with the correct life insurance companies.

A flat extra charge is sometimes added for risky occupations or sports. A flat extra cost can usually range between $1.00 to $15.oo per every $1,000 of the face amount, otherwise known as your death benefit. Flat extra fees are added to the base premium of the policy. Here is a simple example using a $5.00 charge as follows:

For example, a male age 30 applies for a $100,000 20-year term policy with a premium of $700.00. The insurance company approves his application, and since he is a private pilot, the carrier issues the policy with a $5.00 flat extra charge. Now here comes the math behind it:

The $100,000 policy costs $700.00 annually, and the flat extra is $5.00. The cost of the flat extra would be $5.00 times 100 because his face amount is $100,000. Therefore, the flat extra charge becomes an additional $500.00 for a total of $1200.00 per year.

Flat extra charges can vary depending on the exact risk factor involved. However, the average flat extra for a student pilot is just $2.50 for every one thousand dollars in coverage.

If you plan to purchase life insurance and have sufficient experience, training, and certifications can eliminate flat extra fees.

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There are often no flat extra charges added to the premium at all. Especially if the aviator has sufficient experience and IFR certification, a Preferred Best Health Class is also possible.

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What Are Aviation Exclusion Riders?

Some carriers will allow you to exclude actual flight coverage from the policy. If you feel comfortable applying for life insurance with an aviation exclusion attached, you can do so. An exclusion will allow you to purchase a policy without any reference to flying. With this exclusion, there will be no coverage for a fatal crash. Not all companies offer these aviation exclusions.

Some pilots want to purchase life insurance and are not worried about the possibility of a fatal crash. Having an exclusion will eliminate the possibility of any additional cost in the policy for being a private or a commercial pilot, for that matter. You have to consider this before you sit down and apply it carefully.

Suppose you are purchasing life insurance to settle the demands of a divorce court. Most judges will never approve of buying a policy for pilots with an exclusion rider.

 

Is it Difficult to Buy Life Insurance for Commercial Pilots?

Purchasing life insurance for professionals is similar to private pilots but not the same. For example, suppose you fly passenger airlines for a commercial airline company. Most life insurance companies will offer you their best rate classes, such as preferred and preferred, if you qualify for the medical requirements.

It would also help if:

• Your current age is at least 30 years of age or older.
• You have over 1,000 total hours of flying time. 
• You do not have any FAA violations.
• You have a valid and up-to-date medical certificate.
• Have at least 100 hours of experience in the current make and model of the airplane you fly.
• You hold a certification, either commercial or Airline Transport Pilot ATP Certification.

Life insurance coverage is usually offered if you don’t qualify for the above. However, being eligible for the best rate available may be impossible. With today’s more relaxed underwriting, purchasing life insurance for professional pilots is simple. 

How Can I Get Life Insurance for Helicopter Pilots?

Applying for life insurance for helicopter pilots is similar to life insurance for airplane flyers. The information the life insurance companies are asking for will be as follows:

• Total Pilot in Command hours of helicopter experience.
• Do you have any accidents or violations on your record?
• What type of pilot licenses do you currently have to date?
• Average pilot in command hours annually.
• Total pilot in command hours from last year.
• What kind of helicopter do you fly, including the make and model?
• What is your Federal Aviation Administration certification date?
• Are you planning on changing helicopters next year?

As with all types of aircraft flown, private or commercial, the more experience and training classes and certifications, the better your chances of getting the lowest rates possible.

 

Is It Possible to Get Life Insurance for Student Pilots?

Student pilots are not as high risk as you believe because they usually fly with an experienced instructor.

Students purchase their life insurance the same way an experienced pilot would. The only difference is that the student pilot cannot qualify for preferred rates like the professional and certified pilots. But, as with anything else, this will come in time. As they say, everyone has to start someplace.

With “most of the life insurance companies,” student pilots will receive a “standard” rate classification and will most likely receive a flat extra charge of $2.50 per thousand. This does not hold when using our favorite company for pilots, Protective Life. 

*We are partnered with some of the highest-rated companies that do not add flat extra charges to student pilots. This allows student pilots to purchase a life insurance policy at very affordable rates.

 

Does Life Insurance Cover Flying Lessons?

In short, yes, it does. When taking flying lessons, you fly with a certified instructor, eliminating high-risk factors. If you currently have life insurance coverage in the form of an individual or group policy. The life insurance you currently have will cover your demise if you have a fatal plane crash while taking flying lessons. If you are planning on purchasing a life policy in the future, there will be questions on the application about flying that you will have to answer. All companies have their criteria for life insurance and flying lessons.

 

How Can I Find the Best Term Life Insurance?

You will have several plan designs to choose from when you apply for coverage. However, term life insurance for pilots will be the most cost-effective product. Term products cost far less than the other choices, such as universal life or whole life and permanent life insurance. In addition, the term typically comes in terms such as 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years. As a result, term products always have the best life insurance rates for pilots.

Many people will purchase terms with considerable face amounts for the most financially costly to cover mortgages, car payments, and college tuition. They can add a much smaller universal life plan designed to cover the rest of their lives after the term policy expires. Whole life is far too expensive, and many companies have eliminated it from their product line. Here is a list of your primary choices for life insurance:

• Term Life Insurance 
• Universal Life Insurance 
• No Exam Life Insurance 
• Return of Premium Life Insurance 

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Compare term life insurance quotes for pilots on our instant rate comparison system. Review over 40 top-rated insurers side-by-side.

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Should I get a Medical Pre-Screen Before I Apply?

Medical pre-screens are very helpful when choosing the right company to apply with. 

Requesting a medical pre-screen will help your agent choose the right company to fit your specific health history. Pre-screening will also help your agent if you have any hazardous sports, hobbies, or an occupation that will impact your rates too. Pre-screens eliminate any surprises during or right after your application has been submitted. This is a professional and straightforward approach to applying for life insurance, regardless of whether this is pilot life insurance.

 

Should I Purchase My Life Insurance From a Broker?

Purchasing life insurance for pilots will require an independent insurance agent. An independent agent does not work for an insurance company. They have your best interests in mind. Independent agents use companies that specialize in aviation. A captive agent, such as a State Farm representative, works for their insurance company and has their insurance company’s best interest in mind.

An independent agent is also known as a broker, and they usually represent all the top-rated life insurance companies in the nation. Access to all these companies allows the brokers to custom-fit the most applicable carriers to the applicant. We zero in on these companies to get our clients the lowest possible rates at any time. Captive agents are stuck using their only company, usually an auto insurance company that dabbles in life insurance. 

 

Can I Apply for Life Insurance Over the Telephone? 

We recommend completing the form on the right and running our website quoting system. This will give you an idea of your options and life insurance rates for your age. This will also help you decide how much of a face amount you can apply for. Our modern application system consists of simple and quick telephone applications. 

We are using a new high-tech SnapApp application system. This refined 15-minute telephone application will save you time and allow you to explain your answers to the questions. 

 

How Can I Compare Life Insurance Quotes for Pilots?

If you want to get a head start and compare life insurance quotes for pilots, activate our instant quoting system on our website. If you are in good health and an experienced pilot, use preferred in the health classification drop-down menu. Make sure to choose the correct gender; female rates are about 15% lower than male rates. Compare over 40 of the most competitive life insurance companies in less than a minute.

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Activate our quoting system to visualize the rates you can expect for your age, face amount and term length choices. We highly recommend downloading and completing our Aviation Questionnaire which will allow us to give you a very accurate rate quote based on your specific details.

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In Conclusion

There is no cost or obligation when working with an experienced independent agent. You may contact us seven days a week to answer all your questions. You will find that getting preferred rates for private and commercial pilots is simple.

Hopefully, this blog post has helped you learn more about obtaining airplane pilot life insurance. It is straightforward and much easier than you ever thought.

All the best,
Jack Venturi
708-334-6226

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If you have questions about life insurance for pilots, contact us today and let us help you at no cost or obligation. We are brokers and work for our clients, not insurance companies. Our job is to help you get approved for the best policy at the lowest rates. You can also set up a specific time to get all your questions answered. 

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