Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance

A life insurance rider is simply an optional benefit, feature, or type of coverage that you can add to a policy for an additional cost. No matter if it's whole life, universal life, variable universal life or term life insurance, you can enhance your policy so that it's tailored to your unique needs. Want to know more about the riders NM offers? Take a look here.

Generally speaking, yes. If your life insurance carrier offers multiple riders that interest you, you can typically add as many or as few as you'd like. Connect with an advisor to find out which riders make sense for you.

Supplemental life insurance (sometimes called voluntary life insurance or contributory life insurance) is any policy that you buy to supplement or augment an existing policy. For example, if you have your own life insurance policy but qualify for AD&D coverage through your employer, that would be considered a form of supplemental insurance. Supplemental insurance can help you increase your coverage while also filling any gaps.

Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance covers death or dismemberment caused by an unforeseen incident. Typically, it covers loss of life, limbs, sight, speech, or hearing. The policy pays a lump sum to beneficiaries if the insured dies in an accident. It also helps with injuries that aren't fatal, like losing a limb, fingers, or toes, or being permanently paralyzed.

Unlike traditional life insurance, AD&D doesn't cover death from natural causes or illnesses. Coverage often includes specific incidents like a car accident, a fall, drowning, and exposure to hazardous environments. Want to know more? Talk to an advisor to see what's best for you.

Both Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) and life insurance are meant to protect against the unexpected, but they differ in what they cover.

Life insurance pays a benefit to your loved ones after you pass away, regardless of the cause, be it natural causes, illness, or an accident. In contrast, AD&D insurance only covers accidental death or serious injury that causes loss of limbs, sight, or hearing. The policy only pays a benefit if the death or injury is accidental, typically excluding natural causes and illnesses.

Whether you need both will depend on your situation. Many people opt to have both policies to make sure they have coverage for a broader range of possibilities. Talk to an advisor to see what's best for you.

Accidental death and dismemberment coverage pays an additional benefit if you die as the result of an accident or experience a serious injury that results in paralysis or the loss of a limb or vision. The amount you receive for an accidental injury will depend on the type and severity of the injury as outlined in your policy. While an AD&D policy through work can be a great benefit, there are other ways to make sure that you have the coverage you need. Connect with an advisor to talk about your insurance options.

To be considered accidental under AD&D insurance, a death must usually meet the following requirements.

Unexpected and Unplanned:

Death must happen unexpectedly and without warning, like a car accident, a fall, or drowning.

External Cause:

The incident causing the death must originate outside the body, and not due to natural causes like illness or disease.

Violent:

The death usually involves some form of violent action, which can include homicide or accidental firearm discharge.

Sole Cause:

The accident must be the sole and direct cause of death. If the person had a medical condition or illness that caused the death, it might not be considered accidental.

Timely Death:

The death must happen within a specific period after the accident, usually within 90 days.

Want more AD&D policy details? Talk to an advisor today.

If you purchase AD&D coverage through your employer, the amount of coverage will usually be equal to the death benefit provided by the base group policy. If you purchase AD&D coverage on your own, you can often tailor the coverage amounts to your needs.

Yes. If you're a business owner looking to add group life insurance through Northwestern Mutual, you also have the option of including AD&D coverage for your employees.

If you have an individual life insurance policy through Northwestern Mutual (and not a group policy), then accidental death and dismemberment coverage cannot be added on. That being said, all of Northwestern Mutual's life insurance policies already pay out in instances of accidental death, and we have additional options to cover you if an injury prevents you from working. Connect with an advisor to go over your options.

Accidental death and dismemberment insurance can be an inexpensive way to increase coverage. If it's available to you, it may be a good option as an add-on to a more comprehensive life insurance policy. However, it might also be worth considering other insurance options to get the coverage you need. Connect with an advisor to find the right life insurance for you.

Yes. Accidental death and dismemberment insurance is a form of supplemental coverage that your employer may offer in addition to group life coverage.