Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance

Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D) can provide benefits, but is it necessary? The additional cost and limited protection offered by accidental death and dismemberment insurance make its purchase difficult to recommend.



About Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
Generally, you can purchase AD&D insurance as a separate policy or as rider (endorsement) on a basic life or health insurance policy. Its name states exactly what it covers; accidental death and dismemberment. However, there are limitations on the coverage. These limitations make accidental death and dismemberment insurance less useful, although it is also usually relatively inexpensive.

The first thing to consider is whether AD&D insurance is a good deal for you. Is it likely you will have to use it? In most cases, life, health, and disability insurance already cover situations AD&D protects against. It can double, or at least add to, the amount of money you receive in case of a covered accident, but it may be wiser and more cost-effective to put the money you'd be paying towards the premium into a standard life or other insurance policy instead. Dave Roush, CEO of Insurance.com, warns consumers that "AD&D is a very, very limited form of insurance. When it comes to insurance, you want to be covered and protected in all instances, not just certain ones."

What Does AD&D Cover?
In the event of a fatal accident or an accident that results in you losing your eyesight, speech, hearing, or a limb, AD&D will pay you or your beneficiaries a specified amount. However, there are stipulations to the coverage. To receive benefits related to an accident, your injuries or death must occur within three months of the accident date. Also, you will only collect benefits if your death or injuries are proven, direct results of the accident.

Dismemberment coverage works on a "per-member" basis. If you lose one member (a hand, foot, limb, sight in one eye, speech or hearing), the insurance company will usually pay 50 percent of the full benefit. If you lose two members, you will receive the whole benefit. Coverage amounts for partial or complete paralysis vary, but are usually 25 or 50 percent.

Optional coverages sometimes include hospital stay coverage after an accident, and spouse and children coverage.

Typical exclusions of AD&D coverage include death during surgery, resulting from a mental or physical illness, bacterial infection, hernia, or a drug overdose. In addition, many policies do not cover risky activities such as skydiving, car racing, and involvement in a war. "It is important to read the fine print when applying for this kind of policy. While it may seem like you're getting better and more adequate coverage, in reality, you're not," reports Roush.

Where to Buy AD&D
AD&D policies are generally underwritten by major insurers and can be purchased through credit card offers or credit unions. Some major life or health insurance companies may include or offer AD&D in their group health or life insurance plans. AD&D coverage can also often be purchased as a separate policy.

Is Accident Protection Worth It?
Accidental death and dismemberment insurance can be a good supplement to a life insurance policy. Depending on the amount of coverage needed, AD&D insurance premiums average around $60 per year. Even with the low cost of accidental death and dismemberment insurance, many would prefer to use the money they could be paying for the policy and put it towards more health or life insurance coverage. Also, since most people die from other causes than accidents, buying AD&D doesn't seem to make a lot of sense.

An accidental death policy (minus dismemberment coverage) is a similar policy to consider. If, for example, you had a $100,000 life insurance policy and you added an accidental death rider, and you were killed in a covered accident, your beneficiary would get $100,000 from your life insurance and $100,000 from you accidental death insurance.

Will It Really Help?
If you're working in a high-risk job, such as construction, the AD&D policy may be a good idea, although high-risk jobs result in higher premiums. It is inexpensive accident coverage, and it won't hurt to have the extra coverage. However, realize that an accidental death and dismemberment policy is extremely specific and thus unlikely to pay a benefit. If you already have a life insurance policy, purchasing a larger benefit amount might not cost much more, and it will cover more circumstances.