After 20 years with cover in the airlines-Ive now got to get cover myself for self employed/freelancing duties.
If your NOT in a group scheme,there are 5 providers and only 1 will look at pilots.This I stress is for UK folks only,and is limited to $7000 pcm for 48 months with a 13 week deferral. The only provider is Cirencester Friendly,whove been around over 100 years,but primarily deal with agricultural workers-but their underwriter will take me on,having survived 20 plus years "flyin planes".
As a group(along with cabin crew incidentally) we are deemed high risk,I have no idea why
,perhaps Ag flying more so,yes but if done correctly your safe we know.But the reason given is that for a "minor health event", a professional pilot could lose his/her income through loss of Class1.Thereby NO income for the individual,but for the insurance company you could still drive a truck,stack shelves or become a plasterer,all noble pursuits but not exactly what you may have in mind after years of working up the ladder.
But this means,we could still do "other work" therefore,as we are deemed by the insurance industry to be earning way in excess of reality,they will not cover us for a potential "loss".
According to my broker,a surgeon/dentist/vet is in the same boat,lose a finger and your options are limited thereafter.
PM if you need the contact in the UK,hes a good bloke,
IC