How your pastimes could affect your insurance cover
Not all hobbies are treated equally
From cycling and AFL to bushwalking and rally driving, what you do in your spare time can directly influence the kind of insurance cover you get, and how a future claim might play out.
“Pastimes can be anything that’s not work. It can range from being a hobby or something that you like to do, playing a game, getting outdoors, anything outside your nine-to-five.”
—Kellie Pearce, Skye Wealth Adviser
Insurers assess every application for risk. While most everyday activities are fine, certain pastimes can lead to exclusions, longer waiting periods, or additional checks before approval.
What counts as a pastime?
A pastime isn’t something you did years ago; it’s something you’re doing now or plan to do soon.
“For insurance purposes, it’s something that we’re doing now, or something that we intend to do in the near future. It doesn’t necessarily mean in the past.”
If you’ve booked lessons or paid for a course, say scuba diving, skydiving, or flying, that’s considered an intention and it needs to be disclosed.
But a casual “one day I might” thought doesn’t count until you’ve made real plans.
Real example: rally driving exclusions
Kellie knows firsthand how insurers treat high-risk pastimes.
“I do motor rally. I get in a car that’s fully caged, with a helmet and proper belts, and co-drive with my husband in a rally car. We’ve competed in rally events in Australia. And I’ve got an exclusion for that in my cover.”
That exclusion means that if she’s injured during a rally event, her income protection wouldn’t cover that incident.
“If you were just driving normally and something happened, you’d still be covered. It’s just when you’re in that particular activity that you wouldn’t be.”
Understanding when exclusions apply is key. It’s not about limiting your lifestyle, but about clarity on when your policy does and doesn’t respond.
Past passions vs. current hobbies
Phil once worked as an acrobat and shared how past activities are viewed.
“That was many moons ago. If I applied for cover today, it wouldn’t impact it because I did that a long time ago.”
Insurers look at current or ongoing activities. So if you’ve left behind a risky pastime, like acrobatics, contact sport, or motorsport years ago, it won’t affect your new application.
Australia’s most common pastimes
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW, 2024) found that 8 in 10 adults participate in some kind of sport or physical activity.
Here’s what the numbers show:
Sport and movement are part of everyday life for most Australians, which is why insurers pay close attention to injury statistics.
Which pastimes can affect your cover?
Most pastimes, like tennis, skiing, indoor cricket, and bushwalking, are no issue. But certain sports with higher injury rates or competition levels can lead to exclusions or longer wait times, especially for income protection.
“Bushwalking, no exclusions. Soccer, fine, unless you’re paid. Aussie Rules, different terms depending on how often you play and at what level.”
Why? Because insurers consider how likely injuries might cause time off work.
“Many insurers put an extended wait on income protection. Instead of 30 or 60 days, they might make it 90. So by the time you’d be eligible to claim, you’ve often already recovered.”
The data behind insurer decisions
AIHW’s 2023–24 figures recorded 62,100 sports-related injuries that led to hospital admissions:
Cycling and AFL both appear frequently in injury data due to falls, breaks, and concussions. These patterns influence how insurers structure their risk rules.
When cycling gets complicated
Kellie recalled a client who wanted to start cycling again.
“A young mum said she wanted to go back push-bike riding on cycle paths off the road. The insurer came back and said if you’re on an unpaved path, we’ll have an exclusion. If you’re riding on the road, we’re okay.”
It seemed counterintuitive, but statistics showed more injuries on gravel than sealed roads.
“We’ve had other clients in the same situation with the same insurer and had no issues. Sometimes insurers change their stance based on recent claims.”
In this case, the client’s adviser found another insurer that was comfortable with her intended cycling style, an outcome made possible by comparing providers.
“That’s the value of advice. If one insurer says no, we can push back or find another who’ll offer better terms.”
E-bikes, motorbikes, and new trends
E-bikes are rising in popularity, and insurers are paying attention.
“There are two types of e-bike riders, the ones riding late at night after a few drinks, and the people using them for fitness or commuting. More women are taking them up because they help with hills.”
While there’s no standardised view yet, insurers may start distinguishing between recreational and competitive e-bike use as data grows.
Kellie also rides a motorbike in northern New South Wales and noted that her policy has NO EXCLUSIONS, even though the statistics are striking:
Motorbikes make up about 4.5% of registered vehicles but around 21% of road fatalities.
Even though fatalities are high, insurers look at total claims. If it’s a tiny percentage overall, they may not restrict all motorbike riders.
That’s data-based underwriting. Insurers rely on claim trends, not assumptions.
Horse polo vs. water polo
It might surprise some people that not all sports are treated equally, even when they sound similar. Insurance outcomes can vary widely between activities that appear equally physical or risky on the surface.
“Horse polo comes with exclusions for trauma, TPD, and income protection. Water polo, no worries”
In other words, while both involve fast-paced action and physical contact, the type of risk matters more than the intensity of the sport itself. Horse polo involves high-speed riding, powerful animals, and the potential for serious injury from falls or collisions. Those elements make it statistically riskier, which is why insurers often apply exclusions or limit certain types of cover.
“If you’ve watched Olympic water polo, it looks brutal, but insurers are fine with it. Give me horse polo any day.”
Water polo, on the other hand, may look chaotic. Players grab, kick, and wrestle in deep water, but the overall injury severity and claim frequency are much lower. From an insurer’s standpoint, that difference in data and outcomes drives their decisions.
So, it’s not about which sport appears more dangerous. It’s about the evidence behind it. Insurance companies rely on injury records, hospitalisation rates, and claim history when deciding where exclusions apply.
Staying transparent helps your cover
It’s really important to declare what you intend to do, but also to work with someone who can make sure you’re covered, or know exactly when you’re not.
Your adviser can help review exclusions, remove them when they no longer apply, or match you with an insurer that better suits your lifestyle.
Not everything is black and white. One insurer might say no, another might say yes. That’s why comparing options matters.
Key takeaway
Your lifestyle and your insurance are connected.
Whether you love a casual weekend ride or live for competition, understanding how your pastimes are assessed ensures you’re protected for the life you actually lead.
Resources
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2024): Participation in sport and physical recreation in Australia
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2024): Injury in Australia: Sports Injuries
Department of Infrastructure (2024): Motorcycle Safety Statistics