Life insurance, by its very nature, is deeply personal. It transforms the vulnerable into the secure.
It can also leave you wondering β how does that all work, anyway?
Keep reading for answers to a few curious questions youβve probably wondered about life insuranceβ¦ but were too afraid to ask.
Q: I have a dangerous hobby. Can I still get life insurance?
A: In many cases, yes β but expect to answer some questions and (probably) pay a little extra to account for the additional risk.
Before giving you a quote, your local insurance agent may ask you to fill out a written questionnaire to understand more about your hobby. At ERIE, that includes hobbies such as:
- Rock climbing
- Vehicle racing (stock cars, drag racing, motorcycles, etc.)
- Aviation
- Sky diving
- Scuba diving
The questionnaire will ask you some basic information to understand your hobby. This could include:
- How long youβve been doing this hobby
- How frequently you participate
- Any training, education, or certifications youβve received
- If you ever get paid or hired for your hobby (as opposed to just doing it for fun)
- Future goals or plans for your hobby
Itβs important to be honest when filling out your questionnaire. If you fudge the details in an attempt to seem less riskyβ¦ that could be grounds for denying a claim later on. Your completed questionnaire is sent to the life insurance underwriter, who determines the scope of the risk β and ultimately helps calculate the rate youβll pay.
For example: Letβs say youβre into rock climbing. Does that mean you climb indoors with friends once in a while at the local gym? Or are you planning a trip to the Himalayas to go ice climbing alone? Similarly, if you have a private pilot license β are you taking occasional short trips for business? Or are you regularly stunt flying in air shows on the weekends?
You get the ideaβ¦ itβs all about calculating that risk.
Q: If I quit smoking, can I get re-rated to save money on life insurance?
A: First things first: Good for you!
As for your life insurance: Generally speaking, yes β you can ask your local agent to get your existing policy re-rated. Before you do, though, youβll likely have to show some stability in those lifestyle changes for a year or two to prove that youβre in this for the long haul.
What happens next may differ, depending on the circumstances. (Your agent can explain the specifics as they pertain to you.)
If you quit smoking because youβre just ready to live a healthier lifestyle β great! With no complications, you could get bumped from the βsmoker βto the βnonsmokerβ rate classification (and likely save some money in the process).
But, if you quit for a medical reason β such as a diagnosis of COPD or lung cancer β thatβs a health concern that could impact the cost savings youβd otherwise see from quitting smoking. Your agent will ask you to fill out a questionnaire to get the specifics on why and how you quit.
Q: What if I lose 50 pounds? Could I get re-rated then?
Similar to the smoking example above, expect some follow-up questions about your weight loss. For example: βHow and why did you lose the weight?β There are risks that come with weight loss surgeries, such as gastric bypass or lap band surgeries. Similarly, if you dropped a bunch of weight without even trying toβ¦ that could be the sign of a worrisome chronic illness or depression. If you start or stop taking certain medications because of your weight loss, that could also affect your rate.
But what if your weight loss is the product of good olβ fashioned discipline, diet, and exercise? Once you show you can keep it off (and provide any necessary test results and information), you could get bumped to a more favorable rate class.
Remember, insurance rates are all about data and probability. When it comes to weight loss, most carriers will add at least 50% of the weight back when they calculate your new rate. Why? Statistically speaking, if you drop a bunch of weight, studies show youβre likely to gain at least some of it back.
Ask your ERIE agent about re-rating your policy if or when your circumstances change.
TALK TO A LOCAL ERIE AGENT FOR A LIFE INSURANCE QUOTE
Have a weird or embarrassing insurance question? Donβt be shy: Our local agents are licensed professionals β theyβre not here to judge.
Talk to your local ERIE agent to get the conversation started.
LEARN MORE ABOUT LIFE INSURANCE
Read about ERIEβs life insurance offerings or check out these related blog posts:
- I Have Life Insurance Through Work. Isnβt That Enough?
- Donβt Let These 6 Reasons Hold You Back from Buying Life Insurance
- 8 Tips for Buying Life Insurance for the First Time
- Term vs. Whole Life Insurance: Which Do You Need?
ERIE life insurance products and services are provided by Erie Family Life Insurance Company (home office Erie, PA), a member of Erie Insurance Group, and are not available in New York.
Article originally posted on www.erieinsurance.com(opens in new tab)

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