Occupations that are commonly placed in the high-risk category include those that involve:
*Risk levels are to be taken as a rough guide. Quotes are based on a 40 year old non-smoking male living in Sydney. Information last checked on November 2021 and are subject to change.
| Occupation | Risk level | Average monthly premium* |
|---|---|---|
| Office Worker | Low risk | $82.21 |
| Construction supervisor | Medium | $82.21 |
| Train driver | Medium to high | $82.21 |
| Wrecker | High | $82.21 |
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Each insurer will vary in the way it assesses the risk of your job. However, as a general guide, it usually depends on:
It's worth pointing out that just because you work in one of these professions it doesn't necessarily mean that you will automatically be classified as high risk.
Insurance providers will instead use further criteria to determine the likelihood of you suffering injury, illness or death as a result of your occupation, some of which include:
| Risk | Details | How does this rating impact my policy? |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Low to no manual work e.g. office workers, retail supervisors | Likely no effects |
| Medium | Worker that involves manual labour e.g. a tradesmen | Higher premiums |
| Medium to high | Heavy manual work e.g. A factory machinist | Higher premiums |
| High | Jobs that involve dangerous activities and environments eg, a miner | Higher premiums or exclusions |
| Non-insurable | An extremely risky job e.g. firefighting (for some brands) | No cover |
| Individual consideration | An occupation that's not listed by the insurer | Further assessment of job required |
Life insurers take several steps to assess whether or not you are a high-risk applicant. Each insurer employs a team of underwriters who determine whether or not your application for cover will be accepted and, if so, whether any terms and conditions will apply to your cover.
To determine whether an individual is high risk, the insurer may:
Once the underwriters have all the information needed to calculate your level of risk, they can then decide whether or not to offer you cover. If cover is provided there may be terms and conditions attached, such as premium loadings or specific exclusions.
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