dtdesola
Registered
So here's a question: I'm a father and a husband and am reasonably safety conscious, I would not knowingly put myself at unreasonable risk given the impact I know it would have on my family. I don't walk around in bubble wrap either. I ride my bicycle to work every day, water ski, and play just about every sport known to man.
My wife and I recently applied for life insurance. One of the questions on the form was, "have you ever SCUBA dived?". At that point I hadn't, so my answer was truthfully no. Since then my wife and I have become certified, however. When my wfie went to buy life insurance and, being an honest individual, indicated that she had SCUBA dived, we discovered her rate essentially doubled.
Now this is troubling to me on a few levels. I am trained in statistics and have respect for them as a tool. They predict hurricane paths, life expectency, and the likelihood that a newly aquired player for the Boston Red Sox will manage to produce effectively in any given season. It's the basis insurance companies generally use to establish premiums, too. So why the big increase? Is SCUBA, statistically speaking, a dangerous sport? I've just finished reading a thread where the table was produced comparing the rate of deaths for SCUBA to be approximately on PAR with bowling (.04) as opposed to football (2. something). There are no questions on insurance forms asking you if you've ever played football or baseball...and that brings me to my next concern. Are these insurance companies behaving unethically by discriminating against divers? In truth, I'd rather that be the case than come to the conclusion that dving is pretty dangerous.
Please spare me the remarks that everything is dangerous and that anything can happen etc. I know that. I'm really looking for some informed opinions about the rates and seriousness of accidents that occur in SCUBA as opposed to other common activities, and whether respondents feel the insurance quotes are justified.
THANK YOU! This forum is FANTASTIC!!!!
My wife and I recently applied for life insurance. One of the questions on the form was, "have you ever SCUBA dived?". At that point I hadn't, so my answer was truthfully no. Since then my wife and I have become certified, however. When my wfie went to buy life insurance and, being an honest individual, indicated that she had SCUBA dived, we discovered her rate essentially doubled.
Now this is troubling to me on a few levels. I am trained in statistics and have respect for them as a tool. They predict hurricane paths, life expectency, and the likelihood that a newly aquired player for the Boston Red Sox will manage to produce effectively in any given season. It's the basis insurance companies generally use to establish premiums, too. So why the big increase? Is SCUBA, statistically speaking, a dangerous sport? I've just finished reading a thread where the table was produced comparing the rate of deaths for SCUBA to be approximately on PAR with bowling (.04) as opposed to football (2. something). There are no questions on insurance forms asking you if you've ever played football or baseball...and that brings me to my next concern. Are these insurance companies behaving unethically by discriminating against divers? In truth, I'd rather that be the case than come to the conclusion that dving is pretty dangerous.
Please spare me the remarks that everything is dangerous and that anything can happen etc. I know that. I'm really looking for some informed opinions about the rates and seriousness of accidents that occur in SCUBA as opposed to other common activities, and whether respondents feel the insurance quotes are justified.
THANK YOU! This forum is FANTASTIC!!!!