Disability Insurance Articles

How Being A Pilot Affects Disability Insurance

2010-08-26

Historically, it has been difficult for pilots to secure disability insurance. Pilot insurance of any kind comes with intrinsic risks that simply do not exist in other fields. In fact, pilots are often told that they are uninsurable.

Not only is flying-professionally or for personal enjoyment-considered more dangerous than most past times, but there is also an issue of the strict medical qualifications that are required to maintain a pilot's license. Should a pilot fail to pass a simple medical test he could be grounded and in a position to collect disability insurance, making him a higher risk to insure.

Though corporate aviation companies attempt to attract top pilots, many of them are unable to offer their new hires adequate disability insurance due to the steep premiums. In smaller companies, it can be left entirely up to the pilot to find his own disability insurance.

While pilots who go to work for aviation companies might have to settle for whatever insurance their employer is able to offer, private pilots have an even tougher time securing disability insurance. Agricultural pilots who regularly take to the skies to apply pesticides and fertilizer have historically been denied insurance, making it especially difficult for them to take care of their families when disability strikes.

A pilot must perform due diligence as he begins to look for disability insurance. While there are companies out there who do offer such insurance, not all of them are reputable. In fact, entire web sites have been set up to complain about particular pilot insurance companies. Before signing a contract or paying a fee, a pilot should investigate the reputation of an insurance company by checking with the Better Business Bureau for the number of complaints that have been filed against them.

A good disability insurance broker should also be able to steer a pilot toward a reputable insurance company. The nice thing about working with a broker is that he can help by laying out the different plans and rates available, saving the pilot the time it would take him to gather the information himself.

In spite of the difficulty involved in finding good disability insurance, the necessity for it exists. Not only will a pilot be covered in case of injury or accident, but he'll also receive payment if a periodic physical reveals a medical problem that needs treatment or further investigation, or if he encounters a short-term disability of some sort.

While it can be a challenge for a pilot to find adequate disability coverage, it is not impossible. A little research, coupled with the assistance of a knowledgeable insurance broker, can get him on his way.