Hands, ears and voice
A guitarist with tendon damage or a singer with vocal nodules might feel well in every other way and still be unable to earn. Hearing problems from years on loud stages can do the same. These are the kinds of claims musicians worry about, and they rarely come with a neat recovery date.
Repetitive strain from long practice hours is another common complaint. Many players also carry heavy amps, cases and PA gear into venues late at night, which adds back and shoulder injuries to the list.
Late nights, long drives home after a gig and irregular meals take a toll on general health too. Insurers ask musicians the same medical and lifestyle questions as anyone else, so answer them fully, including alcohol and anything you have been treated for.
Gigs, sessions, lessons and royalties
Your income may come from a dozen places: function band fees, theatre pit work, teaching in schools, private pupils and the odd royalty payment. Insurers want to see the total in your self-assessment return, averaged over a couple of years or more.
Royalties and passive income are a grey area. Some insurers exclude income that would keep arriving while you are off sick, since you have not lost it. We will explain how each insurer treats the parts of your earnings.
Session and function work often comes through fixers and agencies, with fees paid weeks after the gig. That is fine, as insurers care about what reaches your tax return, not when each invoice clears.
- Keep invoices and tax returns showing performance and teaching income
- Mention any salaried post, such as an orchestra or school contract
- Say if you tour outside the UK and for how long
Choosing the right incapacity definition
Insurers sort occupations into risk groups, and musicians can be classed differently from one insurer to the next. The group affects price and the definition on offer. Own occupation cover pays if you cannot work as a musician. A broader definition could decline a claim if you could still teach theory or do admin.
Some insurers allow you to name your specific role, such as violinist or drummer, which helps if a problem affects one instrument. We check the wording before you commit.
If you already have tinnitus or a hearing test has flagged a problem, mention it at application. An insurer may exclude it, but you keep cover for everything else and avoid a dispute later.
Setting the wait between gigs and payments
If you have teaching contracts with sick pay, line up the deferred period with when that ends. If every penny comes from gigs, a shorter wait makes more sense, budget permitting.
Life insurance can pay off a mortgage or provide for children if you die. Musicians on an orchestra or school payroll may have death in service already, though it usually stops if you leave that job.
How we help musicians
We explain your mix of work to insurers so they see a professional musician with a real income. We compare how each one handles irregular and royalty earnings, find the best definition we can for your instrument and help with the forms. If you claim, we help you gather what the insurer needs.