People who enjoy playing sports are typically healthier and in better shape than people who don’t. However, life insurance companies consider athletes a higher risk than people who simply exercise. Fortunately, you can get coverage with some companies that are more lenient when it comes to sports — but expect to pay a slightly higher premium than you would if you stayed on the sidelines.
When analyzing life insurance providers, we assess the insurer’s reputation in the industry, as well as its product lineup, rider selection and underwriting standards. To determine industry reputation, our editorial team researches each company’s financial strength, accreditations and ratings, and reads customer reviews.
The 5 best life insurance providers for people who play sports
The following five life insurance companies stand above the rest when it comes to underwriting leniency for sports and competitive rates.
- Best for extreme sports and other high-risk activities: Mutual of Omaha
- Best for people okay with exclusions: Principal
- Best for people wanting to give back: Foresters
- Best if you have a health condition: Bestow
- Best overall life insurance company for sports: Prudential
Best for extreme sports and other high-risk activities: Mutual of Omaha
$2,000 – $500,000+
Coverage range
18 – 68 years
Issue age
Mutual of Omaha doesn’t officially specialize in life insurance for extreme sports and high-risk activities, but you’d be forgiven for thinking that. Its competitive rates and lax underwriting guidelines allows most thrill seekers to buy a policy, regardless of sport or hobby. It also offers permanent life insurance, including a guaranteed issue whole life policy that functions as final expense coverage.
- Competitive rates for people involved in sports and high-risk activities.
- The company is financially strong, meaning you can rest assured that claims will be paid.
- Universal life policies offer permanent protection with flexible premiums and cash value growth.
| Coverage range |
$2,000 – $500,000+
|
| Term lengths |
10, 15, 20 and 30 years
|
| Issue age |
18 – 68 years
|
Best for people okay with exclusions: Principal
$200,000 – $5,000,000
Coverage range
20 – 70 years
Issue age
Principal takes a different approach to people involved in sports and high-risk hobbies by excluding those activities. You’ll have coverage the rest of the time, but your benefit won’t be paid out if you passed away while playing the sport or due to an injury from it. The benefit of this is Principal won’t charge you higher rates for being involved in those activities.
- Rates aren’t higher for sports since those activities are excluded.
- Fast approval process of 15 days or less.
- Convenient online portal allows you to view your policy and pay your premium.
| Coverage range |
$200,000 – $5,000,000
|
| Term lengths |
10, 15, 20, or 30 years
|
| Issue age |
20 – 70 years
|
| Medical exam required |
No
|
Best for people wanting to give back: Foresters Financial
$10,000 – $500,000+
Coverage range
18 – 85 years
Issue age
Foresters Financial will contribute an amount of its own money equal to 1% of your death benefit to the charity of your choice if you pass away while the policy is in force.
Foresters offers standard term life insurance options and has lenient underwriting guidelines that mean it’s easier to get a policy if you play sports. It also offers various member benefits, such as discounts on financial and legal services, emergency grants and terminal illness loans.
- Donation equal to 1% of your death benefit to the charity of your choice.
- Underwriting allows sports and other high-risk activities.
- Local agents provide personalized service.
| Coverage range |
$10,000 – $500,000+
|
| Term lengths |
10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years
|
| Issue age |
18 – 85 years
|
Best if you have a medical condition: Bestow
$50,000 – $1,000,000
Coverage range
21 – 55 years
Issue age
Have a pre-existing condition from being active like tennis elbow or knee pain? You can get a quote and sign up online without getting a medical exam, plus enjoy some of the best rates and high maximums on term life insurance for no-exam policies. However, you won’t be able to get a policy if you’re over 55 or live in New York state.
- $1 million max, no medical exam required
- Easy online quotes and signup
- Cheap, basic coverage with few add-ons to pay extra for
- No cancellation or annual fees
| Coverage range |
$50,000 – $1,000,000
|
| Term lengths |
10 or 20 years
|
| Issue age |
21 – 55 years
|
| Medical exam required |
No medical exam
|
Best overall life insurance company for sports: Prudential
$100,000 – $10,000,000
Coverage range
18 – 75 years
Issue age
Prudential is a financially strong insurer with classifications that serve many types of people — including athletes. Prudential offers a variety of plans, but its specialty is term life insurance. Outside of its more lenient underwriting standards, Prudential also has a number of riders to customize your policy with.
- Offers a term policy that covers you until age 65, no matter what age you are now.
- Term policies can be bought as a return of premium or annual renewable policy.
- Flexible and lenient health classifications allow for different health conditions and athletic activities.
| Coverage range |
$100,000 – $10,000,000
|
| Term lengths |
10, 15, 20, or 30 years
|
| Issue age |
18 – 75 years
|
Financial ratings for the providers we reviewed
The financial strength of a life insurance company helps determine its ability to quickly pay out claims. Financially strong mutual companies can also pay out dividends to permanent life insurance policyholders, though these are never guaranteed.
| A.M. Best | A+ | A+ | A+ | A | A+ |
| Moody’s | Aa3 | A1 | A1 | N/A | N/A |
| Standard & Poor’s | AA- | AA- | A+ | N/A | AA- |
| Fitch | AA- | N/A | AA- | N/A | AA- |
| J.D. Power | 3 out of 5 | 4 out of 5 | 3 out of 5 | N/A | N/A |
Customer reviews
We looked to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to help us determine customer service levels and find customer reviews for each life insurance provider. Ratings and reviews reflect each company as a whole, not solely its life insurance component.
| Prudential | D- | 1 out of 5 stars |
| Mutual of Omaha | A+ | 2 out of 5 stars |
| Foresters | A+ | 3 out of 5 stars |
| Principal | A+ | 1 out of 5 stars |
| Legal & General | A+ | N/A |
Bottom line
Playing sports can make finding affordable life insurance more difficult than it should be with many providers, but it’s not impossible. Try getting a quote from life insurance companies that have more lenient underwriting guidelines and consider asking to exclude coverage relating to injuries caused while playing your sport, if you’re comfortable with that.
Before deciding on a life insurance provider, be sure to check out our list of the overall best life insurance providers.
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