22/01/2026
"Is it too late for me to get cover?"
It's heartbreaking when pilots reach out with this question after a health issue has already surfaced.
The answer is often yes. Too late for that condition, at least. For some, no cover is available at all.
And by then, it's not just their health at risk, but their income, their home, and their family's financial security.
I speak to far too many pilots who only discover the importance of protection when their medical is under threat. As pilots, we're trained from day one to be proactive, not reactive. We plan ahead. We manage risk. We don't wait for an engine failure before running the emergency checks.
Yet when it comes to our finances, many do exactly that.
I've been on the wrong side of this myself. When my flying career ended unexpectedly due to medical issues, I did have some protection in place. I'd taken advice from another pilot - because as we all know, us pilots are experts in everything. Except we're not.
Although I'm glad I had some protection, I really wish I'd had the RIGHT protection. A seven-figure mistake that I get to live with. That lesson is why I'm so vocal about this now.
Here's the reality: Once you have a diagnosis, that condition is likely excluded from any new policy. If it's something that could affect your ability to fly, like back problems, mental health concerns, cardiac issues - you've just lost the protection you needed most.
Protecting your income early isn't pessimistic. It's professional. You've invested years and significant money becoming a pilot. Protecting that investment should be a priority, not an afterthought.
And when you do it, get proper advice - not just what your mate in the crew room recommends.
If you're flying and healthy right now, that's your window. Don't wait until you're already fighting fires.
