You desire additional coverage for you family. ADB can provide you with the coverage you need even if your primary insurance doesn't. Your loved ones may be able to receive a payout to help with unexpected expenses like funeral costs and living costs. ADB riders can be added to existing insurance policies to increase coverage.
Accidental death and dismemberment insurance (also known as AD&D insurance) provides coverage for your loved ones in the event that you are injured or die from an accident. AD&D insurance is similar in that it offers a death benefit but doesn't pay a payout to your beneficiaries if you are ill.
You can find accidental death insurance as a single policy but it is often packaged as a rider to a standard life insurance policy. A policy that covers accidental death is very similar to regular life insurance. The policy pays a death benefit to your beneficiaries, but it does not cover you if you are killed in an accident.
You have been declined for term life. Some health conditions like diabetes and a history of breast cancer may make it difficult to qualify for term life. Because of the higher chance of injury or death, high-risk jobs such as piloting or construction workers can impact your eligibility. Accidental death doesn't mean you have to worry about any occupational restrictions or health issues.
Most accident-related death policies do not cover high-risk activities like skydiving or scuba diving. They also won't pay for injuries sustained during these activities. The list can change by the insurance company so it is important to find a company that does not exclude high-risk hobbies. Most insurers will also pay a higher death benefit to passengers who are in "common carrier" accidents. Common carriers include trains, planes, subways, ferries, and taxis, as well as other licensed modes of transport.
Anybody can experience an accident. ADB policies are designed to protect you and your family from unexpected expenses.
AD&D insurance is one way to protect your family's assets.
Typically, accidental death covers exceptional circumstances, such as exposure to the elements, traffic accidents, homicide, falls, drowning, and accidents involving heavy equipment. AD&D insurance is supplemental life insurance and not an acceptable substitute for term life insurance.
Accidental death insurance
While accidents only accounted for 5.4% of deaths in the United States in 2016, they made up 30.2% of deaths for people between the ages of 25 to 44. This is why accidental death insurance typically isn't worth it if you're near retirement age or just need coverage for end-of-life expenses.
When accidental deaths occur, though, typical causes of accidental death or dismemberment claims are motor vehicle accidents, falls, poisoning, drowning, and gunshot injuries. Death by homicide is also considered an accidental death. But not every death resulting from such causes would be considered accidental.