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From diet and smoking to travel and even your hobbies, your choices can impact your premiums, your cover and in some cases, whether a claim is paid. Understanding how your lifestyle and activities affect your policy can help you avoid surprises later and make sure your cover works exactly as intended.
Lifestyle: Your everyday choices can shape your premiums and your cover
When you apply for life cover, insurers typically use underwriting to assess your personal level of risk. In simple terms, the insurer considers how likely it is that your health or lifestyle could lead to an earlier-than-expected claim. Factors such as smoking, vaping, weight, diet, exercise habits, BMI, chronic conditions and medical history all play a role here. The higher the health risk, the higher your premium may be. In some cases, poor health or unmanaged conditions may also lead to exclusions, premium loadings or reduced benefits. For example, smokers can pay significantly more than non-smokers because smoking increases the risk of serious illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
Lifestyle can also influence claims because life insurance depends heavily on full and honest disclosure. If you do not accurately share important information such as smoking habits, diagnosed conditions or other material health risks when you apply, or when required later, your insurer may reassess the claim. Non-disclosure or misrepresentation could lead to reduced benefits or even a rejected claim if the omitted information materially affected the insurer’s understanding of your risk. This is why honesty is one of the most important parts of protecting your cover.
As a 1Life policyholder, your responsibility is to disclose relevant lifestyle and health information truthfully and keep us updated when policy terms require it. For example, if you start a new job after taking out cover, this may affect your risk profile and should be disclosed according to your policy terms. The same principle applies to serious health developments or material lifestyle changes that could affect underwriting. The good news is that healthier choices may also work in your favour over time. If you improve your health or quit smoking, you may be able to request a review of your premium or benefits.
Hazardous pursuits: What happens if I don’t disclose a hazardous hobby?
Some hobbies are more than just fun, they can also increase your insurance risk. Hazardous pursuits can be defined as dangerous or extreme activities that increase the likelihood of death or disability beyond normal day-to-day living. Examples can include rock climbing, scuba diving, paragliding, hang-gliding, boxing, cage fighting and speed contests such as drag racing. As these activities may raise the chance of injury or death, they can affect both your premiums and your cover terms.
Depending on the nature and frequency of the activity, insurers may apply special conditions, increase premiums, exclude claims linked to that pursuit or in some cases decline cover for that specific risk altogether. For example, if you regularly participate in a dangerous motorsport, your insurer may exclude claims arising from that activity while still covering other causes of death. This is not necessarily a punishment, it is a way for insurers to price cover according to actual risk exposure.
If you take part in a high-risk activity and fail to inform your insurer when required, a claim linked to that pursuit could be disputed, reduced or rejected. This is especially important if you take up a hazardous hobby after your policy starts. Your responsibilities as a policyholder include informing your insurer about these activities so your policy can be adjusted appropriately. In short, if your lifestyle becomes riskier, your insurer needs to know. Transparency helps protect your family from unexpected claim complications later.
What must I disclose?
You should inform your insurer about:- Starting or resuming smoking
- New or dangerous hobbies
- Occupational changes
- Extended travel outside South Africa
- Major health diagnoses
If you are unsure what you need to disclose to your insurer, contact their client services team for assistance. They’ll be happy to help.
1Life policyholders can update their policies on the online policyholder portal or the WhatsApp service centre.
Protect your policy through your honesty
Your 1Life policy is designed to change lives, but it works best when it reflects your real lifestyle and circumstances. Healthy habits may help you access more affordable premiums, risky activities may require special terms and life changes may require updates to keep your cover secure. Whether it is your smoking status, your hobbies or your travel plans, transparency is one of the smartest ways to protect your policy.
Ultimately, life insurance is not just about preparing for the unexpected. It is also about understanding how the way you live today can shape the protection you leave behind tomorrow. Your lifestyle choices influence how your insurer assesses risk, prices your policy and evaluates claims. Honest disclosure, timely updates and policy reviews help ensure your 1Life cover performs as expected when it matters most.