What is a life insurance rider?

Insurance riders are simply add-ons to your policy that will give you specific benefits and protection beyond your base coverage.1 They're a great way for you to tailor your policy to meet your needs now, and down the road. With our life insurance riders, you'll feel confident knowing you have the right coverage for life's ups and downs, like if your health changes, you have a baby, or you're not able to work because of a serious sickness or accident. No matter if it's a whole lifeuniversal lifevariable universal life or term life insurance policy, we have riders you can add to fit your needs.

Get started

Benefits of insurance riders

Affordable coverage

Life insurance riders can be an added expense on top of your base policy premiums, but they are an affordable way to tailor the policy to meet your needs.

Customizable coverage

Insurance riders are a great way to make sure that you'll have an insurance policy that can fit your situation now, and down the road.

Multiple coverage options

You can choose to buy one (or more) riders now, then drop it when it's no longer needed, or you might be able to add others later on.2

Life Insurance Calculator

How much life insurance is right for you?

What insurance riders are offered by Northwestern Mutual?

No matter which kind of life insurance you have with us, we have rider options that can fit your protection goals (FYI—some riders are only available for certain policies). Our most popular life insurance riders are below, but we have lots to choose from.

Waiver of Premium

Premiums will be waived if you become totally disabled3 from a sickness or accident.4

Additional Purchase Benefit

The policyowner can buy more coverage at certain ages regardless of the insured's health, and when the insured has certain life events like getting married or having a child.

Long-Term Care Benefit Riders

Help give yourself the choice and control you'll want if you ever need ongoing care because of chronic illness.5

Questions about insurance riders?We've got answers.

The Northwestern Mutual difference

No. 1 ranked insurance company for consumer experience

Best life insurance company for consumer experience, 20237

Ranking for Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC, ©2017–2024 and TM, NerdWallet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

A++ financial strength rating

AAA, Aaa, and AA+—we've earned the highest financial strength ratings awarded to life insurers from all four major rating agencies.8

Awarded in the Insurance category: Life & Health industry, Fortune® Magazine's annual survey, 2017

No. 1 most admired companies

Fortune® named us one of the World's Most Admired Life Insurance Companies, 20239

Ranking for Northwestern Mutual, 2021 Fortune®
Picture of a financial representative

Ready to find the best insurance riders for you?

Our advisors will help you find the right life insurance rider for your goals and budget.

It's easy to get started—no commitment, just a conversation.