Fisherman’s life insurance [Quick summary]

  • Life insurance for fishermen is available, but there isn’t a specific life insurance policy designed for people who work in the fishing industry
  • Your ability to get life insurance and the cost of your premiums will depend on your specific role and working environment
  • Factors such as the type of vessel you work on and how much time you spend at sea for your job will be taken into account during the application process
  • Some insurers may consider your occupation as high risk, which could either result in higher monthly premiums or a refusal of your application
  • Comparing policies and quotes from different insurers can help you to find affordable life insurance options for fishermen
  • In the UK, there are around 10,000 fishers working on registered vessels[1], and commercial fishing is known to be one of the most dangerous industries in the world[2]

Can you get life insurance for fishermen?

Yes, fishermen can get life insurance, but your own personal circumstances will dictate your eligibility and the price you pay.

If you’re fisherman looking for affordable life insurance, it’s important to explore your options and compare quotes from various insurers.

This is because some insurers may offer you better rates than others based on your occupation.

At Reassured, we can provide the information and support you need to help you find the right cover to protect your family should the worst happen.

We also have a dedicated impaired risk team who have a good track record of helping those with high-risk occupations find some form of cover through us.

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Do fishermen need life insurance?

With commercial and deep-sea fishing being some of the most dangerous jobs in the world, it makes sense for fishermen to have adequate life insurance in place.

A life insurance policy can bring peace of mind and help to financially protect your family in the event you were to pass away due to an accident at sea or from an illness.

It could help to cover a range of essential costs after you’re gone, such as:

  • Mortgage repayments
  • Household bills
  • Family living costs
  • Childcare or school fees
  • Funeral costs

How much life insurance do you need?

Find out how much life insurance may be right for you by using our simple calculator. Fill in the costs you would like your policy to cover.

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£121,687 is the estimated average outstanding mortgage per household in the UK.

Our property is generally the largest financial commitment any of us will make.

Your life insurance should cover this significant debt should you no longer be around.
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According to Money Advice Service, full-time childcare in the UK now costs £242 a week.

The loss of a parent could result in the need for additional childcare whilst the surviving parent increases their hours to account for lost income.

Your life insurance cover should factor in this additional required outgoing.
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The average level of debt (minus a mortgage) in the UK is £15,385.

Factoring in any outstanding debts in your name when arranging life insurance ensures this burden is not passed to loved ones.
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You may wish to leave your loved ones an inheritance or lump sum gift upon your passing.

Factoring in the gift amount when arranging your cover will ensure the pay out amount will be sufficient to provide your loved ones with this selfless gesture.
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According to SunLife, the average cost of a UK funeral is now £4,417, whilst the total cost of dying is £9,493.

This is a 130% increase over the past 16 years and shows no signs of slowing down.

A significant cost which should be factored into the amount of life insurance you secure.
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If you are one of the 65% of the UK who are lucky enough to have savings, this could be used as protection if you were to pass away.

Any pay outs from existing life insurance policies and investments can also be used as financial protection for your loved ones if you were no longer around.

Factor this into your required cover amount.
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Your total cover estimate

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Let us find you our best quote.

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How does being a fisherman affect life insurance?

Working in the commercial fishing industry means that you may face potential dangers every day as part of your job, whether that be extreme weather conditions or sub-zero waters.

As a result, applying for life insurance as a commercial fisherman will involve additional questions about your specific job and working environment.

This is so insurers can accurately assess the level of risk you pose (the likelihood of a claim on your policy) and determine the outcome of your application.

Questions you may be asked include:

  • What is your job in the fishing industry?
  • What type of boat or vessel do you work on?
  • How often do you work offshore/at sea?
  • Do you work in the UK or internationally?
  • Do you have any specialist training for your job?

Whether your occupation affects your eligibility for life insurance and the cost of your monthly premium will depend on your individual circumstances.

In some cases, fishermen may require specialist life insurance if their job poses a significant risk, and where standard insurers aren’t able to offer cover.

At Reassured, we work with specialist insurers as well as major insurers, allowing us to identify those which may be best suited to your circumstances.

Why not contact our dedicated team to find out your available options?

Types of life insurance for fishermen

There are different policy options available through our award-winning broker service.

Commercial fisherman can apply for any of these policies and tailor their cover to suit their unique needs and budget.

Level term life insurance

  • Offers cover for a set term (2 - 40 years)
  • Pays out a fixed lump sum if you pass away during the term
  • Could help to protect an interest-only mortgage
  • Includes free terminal illness cover

Decreasing term life insurance

  • Offers cover for a set term (2 - 40 years)
  • Fixed lump sum pay out reduces throughout the term
  • Could help to protect a repayment mortgage
  • Includes free terminal illness cover

Family income benefit

  • Offers cover for a set term (2 - 40 years)
  • Pays out in monthly payments (instead of a lump sum) if you pass away during the term
  • Could help to cover family living costs and mortgage repayments

Whole of life insurance

  • Offers cover for the remainder of your life
  • Pays out a fixed lump sum when you pass away
  • Could help to pay an inheritance tax bill or funeral costs

Over 50s life insurance

  • Offers cover for the remainder of your life
  • Guarantees to pay out after the waiting period (12 or 24 months depending on the insurer)
  • Guarantees acceptance if you’re a UK resident aged 50 - 85
  • No medical exam or questions
  • Pay out amount can be up to £20,000 depending on your age, smoking status and budget
  • Quotes start from just 20p a day through Reassured +
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How much is life insurance for fishermen?

The cost of life insurance for a fisherman will depend on your specific role, as well as your health, lifestyle and chosen policy details.

Monthly premiums are typically calculated based on your:

The policy sum assured (pay out amount) and the length of cover will also determine the cost.

As a fisherman, it’s important to compare quotes from different insurers as they’ll each assess your application differently.

Get your free, no-obligation quotes through Reassured today.

Critical illness cover for fishermen

Critical illness cover for commercial fishermen could be available, but it will depend on your specific role and individual circumstances.

Critical illness cover can provide you with financial protection in the event you fall critically ill during the policy term.

Illnesses covered vary between different insurers but typically include:

  • Cancer (advanced cases)
  • Stroke
  • Heart attack
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Blindness

The cost and terms of a critical illness policy are defined based on your age, health, lifestyle and occupation.

Having a high-risk occupation could affect your premiums, and exclusions may apply (for example, any claims relating to your occupation may be excluded).

See our critical illness cover guide for more information on this policy.

Income protection for fishermen

Like with critical illness cover, income protection for fishermen could be available depending on your individual circumstances.

Income protection is designed to help replace your income in the event you’re unable to work due to an illness or accident.

It can provide monthly tax-free payments either for a set period, until you’ve returned to paid work, or retired.

Due to the increased risk of injury while working onboard vessels and offshore, securing income protection as a fisherman could be more difficult than other types of cover.

You may also be limited in terms of the amount of cover you can secure and when you’re able to make a claim (for example, work related accidents may be excluded).

Although, it’s still worth exploring your options if you’re the main earner of your household.

At Reassured, our advised team can provide quotes from the whole of the market for income protection insurance to help you find the best deal.

How to find the best life insurance for fishermen

With the potential dangers of working in the commercial fishing industry, it’s important to make sure you have the right protection in place should the worst happen.

Offshore and deep-sea fishermen may be considered as high-risk by some insurers but that doesn’t mean all life insurance options aren’t available.

At Reassured, we have many years of experience helping those with high-risk occupations find some form of cover from our panel of major UK insurers and specialists.

We can put you in touch with the insurers who are most likely to offer you the best terms and price based on your circumstances.

Make the most of our award-winning, FCA-regulated service to see if we can help you secure cheaper life insurance for fishermen.

Compare Free Life Insurance Quotes »

Sources:

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/fishing-industry-in-2022-statistics-published

[2] https://hec.lrfoundation.org.uk/whats-on/stories/deadly-work-the-dangers-of-fishing-and-how-to-make-it-safer

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