Life Insurance For Construction Workers

When taking out life insurance, your line of work can impact your ability to get cover - or it could make things more expensive. Here we’ll explain all the details you should know about life insurance for construction workers, including how to get a quote with realistic costs and the types of policies worth looking at.

Can you get life insurance if you work in construction?

Yes, this is definitely possible as it’s a common profession here in the UK. However, the construction industry includes a wide range of roles, some of which involve more risk than others. For example, some work may involve heavy machinery, heights, or dangerous materials. But, some jobs may not be so hands-on, with minimal risks.

Some insurers may charge higher premiums for construction workers needing life insurance, but this isn’t always the case. You can still get a competitively priced policy to financially protect yourself and your family from the worst-case scenario. But, there’s a variety of other factors that will make a difference.

How your application gets assessed

When an insurer evaluates your application, there are several key areas they look at. Some of these will be specific to construction workers and then others are important factors regardless of your profession:

• Construction role: The type of work you do can help inform them of any risks. For example, a scaffolder working at heights might have more potential risks than a construction site manager. So, your specific job could impact your life insurance options and costs.

• Materials: Insurers will want to know if you work with any hazardous materials like asbestos or explosives. They may also want to be made aware if you have to operate heavy plant machinery or work in more dangerous environments (perhaps underground or at sea).

• Type of cover: There are a few different types of life insurance policies you can choose between, each with benefits and drawbacks. Typically, whole-of-life insurance policies are more expensive than term policies, but the amount of cover you need also impacts things.

• Age and health: The age at which you take out the life insurance policy can affect the assessment. Also, whether you have any existing health conditions or potentially harmful habits, like smoking, can make a difference.

Depending on your circumstances, insurers might offer policies with additional terms and exclusions, or request higher premiums (your monthly payment) to offset any perceived added risks associated with your type of construction work.

Types of life insurance policies for construction workers

The main types of life insurance policies available to people from all professions will still apply to construction workers. However, specific forms of life insurance may be more relevant and useful if you work in construction.

Whole-of-life policy

With whole-of-life insurance, this covers you throughout life and tends to be more expensive because it’s guaranteed to pay out at some stage. However, it may not always be the most economical for construction workers.

This is because, due to the nature of your work, you may have to start the policy with higher premiums. You’re then stuck with that level of payment, even if you change careers or move into a less hazardous role within construction.

Term policy

A term policy only covers you for a fixed period, the ‘term’. They can be cheaper because you’re only covered for the duration of the term, and this type of life insurance can be a bit more flexible.

For example, if you’ll only be working in construction for another 20 years, you could get a life insurance term policy for that period of time. It’s also possible to use a ‘decreasing term’ life insurance policy where your level of cover reduces over time.

Income protection insurance

Although it’s not a policy to cover death, income protection insurance can be particularly useful for construction workers as a standalone policy or as an additional benefit. It provides regular payments to replace part of your income (usually between 50% and 65%) if you can’t work due to an accident or sickness.

Policies tend to payout until you can start working again. If that’s not possible, it can pay until you retire, die or reach the end of an agreed term. You’re usually able to make multiple claims, so it could cover you throughout your career if you need. And, there can be extra support available - like help with rehabilitation.

How to get a quote online

Before providing a quote, insurers are likely to want specific information about your construction work, including the type of role and any associated risks. Trying to find a quote yourself can be frustrating because some online platforms may say you can get cover, but only later in the process you find out it’s not what you need.

A quick discussion with a broker is going to save you a lot of time and energy when getting a quote. It only takes a few minutes for them to get an idea of your work and what type of insurance you need. They’ll give you accurate quotes quickly because they know which insurers provide the best life insurance for construction workers.

If you want to have a free, no obligation initial chat with one of our life insurance advisors who specialises in construction workers, you can get started here:

Get bespoke life insurance advice & quotes today

Speak To An Adviser

Life insurance policy extras

Alongside your underlying life insurance (whether you opt for whole-of-life or a term policy), there are added benefits that could be particularly useful for construction workers:

• Accidental death benefit: This covers you if an accident or injury results in death. Sometimes only certain situations are covered, or there are restrictions, like death occurring within 90 days of the accident.

• Dismemberment insurance: This involves a payout from a serious injury that doesn’t lead to death.

• Critical illness cover (CIC): This allows you to receive a pre-agreed lump sum if you get seriously ill, but insurers vary in what their critical illness cover will pay out for.

Some insurers will include extra benefits like these in their life insurance policies. But, others offer them for an additional fee. Insurers may exclude certain types of construction workers from accessing these benefits, due to the higher potential risks.

Why choose Teito for your life insurance needs?

Finding the right life insurance policy as a construction worker can be slightly complex and sometimes requires a bit more effort. Your insurance options can depend on your specific role along with the type of cover you need - and you want to be sure you can rely on your policy when you or your family need it most.

Our brokers can assess your circumstances and help you find the most suitable life insurance policy that’s tailored to your type of construction work. They also have direct relationships with insurers, meaning they can get you quotes not advertised elsewhere.

Here are some more of the reasons construction workers choose us to find them the best life insurance policy:

• We can get you tailored quotes in minutes

• Our advisors have 5-star ratings on leading review sites

• Your first chat is free with no obligation to proceed

• Access to the best life insurance deals for construction workers

Ready to take advantage of a free, no-obligation chat with an advisor who specialises in life insurance for construction workers? Get started here.