Life insurance policies vary, so the specific risks not covered by a particular policy depend on the type and the terms of the policy. However, there are a few risks generally not covered by most life insurance policies, such as:
Suicide: Most life insurance policies contain a “suicide clause” meaning that if the policyholder dies due to suicide, his or her family will not receive death benefits.
Hazardous Activities: Life insurance policies typically do not cover families of policyholders who die due to participating in dangerous activities such as mountain climbing, scuba diving, parachuting, or skydiving.
Illicit Activity: Policies generally do not offer benefits to the families of policyholders who die from participating in illegal activities.
War: Most life insurance policies do not cover deaths due to war.
Mental Illnesses: Some policies do not cover victims of mental illness, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other psychological disorders.
Natural Causes: Some insurance policies do not cover deaths due to natural causes, such as cancer or heart disease.
It's important to read the fine print on your life insurance policy before signing. Be sure to ask your insurance representative any questions you may have to make sure that your policy covers the risks you are concerned about.