# Helicopters and Life Insurance **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 9, 2002, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helicopters-and-life-insurance/131554 "2002-10-09T16:12:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helicopters-and-life-insurance/131554/1 "2002-10-09T16:12:30Z")
My wife has a life insurance policy through her office, of which her company pays for. The policy states (summarization) that it will not pay if death or whatever have you due to a helicopter accident. I’ve done a little bit of research and found this to actually be a common caveat. IE - My insurance through my office says the same thing and it is a different insurer. Guess what? Her job now **requires** her to be on a helicopter from time to time. Should we make a stink with the company so they have insurance that covers her in case of an accident since it is their provided insurance? Is the onus on _us_ to buy additional/different coverage? IIRC, in Canada employers are required to insure their employees while they are on the job. I am checking into this to be positive, but does anyone know if it is fact? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2002, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helicopters-and-life-insurance/131554/2 "2002-10-10T01:23:40Z")
Well, if you’re in Canada I just can’t say for sure… …but here in the US I’d think something like that would be covered under Worker’s Compensation laws IF being in that helicopter is part of her job. Your laws may vary. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2002, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helicopters-and-life-insurance/131554/3 "2002-10-10T03:19:42Z")
Might want to specify in which province she resides and works, for the laws differ between provinces. In Ontario [many occupations](http://192.75.156.68/DBLaws/Regs/English/980175_e.htm) are covered by [WSIB](http://www.wsib.on.ca/wsib/wsibsite.nsf/public/homepage), which is a no-fault insurance regime into which employers must pay. The [survivor benefits](http://www.wsib.on.ca/wsib/wsibsite.nsf/Public/ODSBP2002) are better than nothing, but not worth writing home about. If an employee is covered by WSIB, he or she (or the survivors) can’t sue the employer for the injury or death, so either be willing to get by on the WSIB survivor benefits, or purchase private insurance to meet your needs. Note that although many occupations are required to be under the WSIB regime, many other occupations do not fall under the regime, so check carefully to see if there is WSIB coverage for your spouse. Beyond WSIB, there is no general requirement for employers to pay for insurance for their employees. If your spouse’s insurance does not cover helicopters, then one would think it reasonable to negotiate with the employer for the employer to pay for such coverage. Other provinces, other laws, so ignore the above.