Andrew Gideon wrote
For what type of insurance?

Aircraft liability and hull, of course.

Obviously when I speak about increased proficiency offsetting
increased exposure, there are limits on both ends.

For example, if one is going to fly less than 5 hours a year or so, I
would argue that less is better - there is no proficiency to speak of,
so minimizing exposure is best. By the same token, if one is going to
fly more than 250 hours a year or so, there is no extra proficiency to
be gained. The extra time merely increases exposure.

In general, an aircraft owner is going to fly more than 5 but fewer
than 250 hours a year. There are exceptions, but they are few and far
between.

My insurance company won't even cover you in a PA-30 if you haven't
logged 80+ hours in make and model in the past year. Others will -
but at much higher prices. Many people I know get lower rates for
flying more than 100 hours a year. However, I have yet to see a break
past that point. Nobody I know will give you an additional discount
for 200, or 500. Clearly there is a crossowver point where increased
exposure to risks largely beyond the pilot's control offsets the risk
reduction through increased proficiency.

There is no increased premium for those flying over 500 hours a year,
but I strongly suspect this is only because there are not enough
people with that kind of utilization on a personal airplane.

Commercially employed pilots typically fly 500+ hours a year. At that
point, the increased proficiency seems to be offset by increased
exposure. Being a commercial pilot is one of the most hazardous
occupations out there.

I've a private cert (with instrument rating). I plan to upgrade to
commercial in the future. My life insurance agent, though, thought that
this would adversely impact my life insurance.

I suspect that once he understands that you are only going to have the
rating, and are not actually going to fly commercially, this may not
be a problem.

More, he seemed to have difficulty getting me the insurance increase
(appropriate now that I'm a parent) I wanted because I was a pilot. He'd
no similar difficulty for my wife.

Certainly. Being a pilot is going to mean SOME increased risk
regardless of how proficienct you are.

I'm wondering if this is typical, or if I should be shopping elsewhere.

It's typical enough, but there are a few companies that claim to offer
their best rates to pilots. No experience with them - I have no life
insurance at all.

Michael