What is NOT covered by your life insurance policy?

Life insurance policies often include certain standard exclusions. These exclusions define situations in which the insurer will not pay the policy benefit. Common general exclusions found in the policy wording include:

• Suicide -If the life assured dies by suicide within a specified period (typically 12 months) from policy commencement or revival, the death benefit is not payable. Instead, the insurer refunds a portion of the premiums paid to the nominee. This suicide exclusion is a standard clause across life insurance plans.
• War or civil commotion -Most life insurance policies exclude claims arising from war, acts of foreign enemy, terrorism, civil war, rebellion, riots or insurrection. If the life assured’s death is caused directly or indirectly by war or war-like operations (whether declared or not) or civil commotion, it is treated as an exclusion. Insurers clarify that no benefit will be paid for death under such conditions, which are beyond the scope of normal coverage.
• Hazardous or Adventurous Activities -Death caused by participation in dangerous hobbies or extreme sports is generally not covered. Policy documents often list activities such as racing (car/bike racing), mountaineering, rock climbing, bungee jumping, skydiving, paragliding, scuba diving, hunting, or other adventurous pursuits as exclusions. If the life assured dies while engaging in these high-risk activities (without informing the insurer or paying an extra premium for coverage), the claim can be denied.
• Criminal or unlawful activity - If the life assured dies while committing a criminal act or engaging in unlawful activities, the claim is typically excluded. Insurers will reject claims if death occurs as a result of the policyholder’s intentional breach of law or involvement in criminal offenses. For instance, death due to gang violence, while fleeing law enforcement, or other felonious activities would fall under this exclusion.
• Influence of alcohol or drugs - Insurers commonly exclude deaths caused by the life assured being under the influence of intoxicating substances. If the death results from drunk driving or overdose of narcotics/alcohol, the policy will not pay out. This exclusion is often cited to discourage irresponsible risk-taking; for example, a death in a car accident while the insured was driving intoxicated may lead to claim denial.
• Pre-Existing health conditions & undisclosed habits -If a death occurs due to a pre-existing medical condition that was not disclosed during application, the life insurance claim can be rejected. Similarly, if the insured had a lifestyle habit (like heavy smoking or a chronic disease) that was hidden and that directly causes death, it falls under exclusion for misrepresentation. Life insurance policies rely on truthful disclosures; death caused by conditions that the policyholder failed to reveal (especially within the contestability period) will not be covered. Death due to HIV/AIDS is often cited under this category as insurers treat it as an excluded cause if it was pre-existing or not disclosed.

Note: The exclusions mentioned above are not exhaustive and provided solely for general informational purposes and may vary by insurer and specific policy terms. For precise details regarding exclusions applicable to your life insurance, please refer carefully to your official policy document.