What is the 'accidental death benefit' (ADB) rider and how does it affect the death benefit payout?

ACCIDENTAL DEATH BENEFIT (ADB) RIDER — also called 'double indemnity' — pays an additional death benefit on top of the base policy face amount if the insured dies as a result of a covered accident.

Typical structure: ADB rider amount = base face amount; so if the base policy is $250,000 and the insured dies in a covered accident, the total payout is $500,000 (base + ADB). DEFINITION OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH (per the policy): Must be accidental (not intentional); must be death from bodily injury (external, violent cause); must occur within a specified period of the accident (typically 90 days); EXCLUSIONS from ADB coverage (common): Death while intoxicated; death from drug use; aviation (some policies exclude non-commercial flight); hazardous occupations or hobbies; illness, disease, or medical condition (even if triggered by an accident); self-inflicted injuries; war or military service.

Age limitations: ADB riders typically terminate at age 65 or 70 — the rider is based on actuarial mortality for accidents, which decreases in relative terms for older individuals.

Premium: ADB riders are inexpensive additions to base policies — accidental death probability is low for most insured populations.

Suitable for: Working-age adults in moderate-risk occupations; clients who can't afford large base policies but want extra coverage for the accident scenario; NOT a substitute for adequate base coverage — natural death from illness is far more likely.