| Riders are additional conditions and benefits you | | | | The disability income rider guarantees a specified |
| can add to your life insurance policy for a fee to | | | | level of income for as long as the disability lasts |
| tailor the policy to meet your specific needs. You | | | | or for a specified time should the insured become |
| need to evaluate each rider based on the cost | | | | totally and permanently disabled. These riders |
| and benefits of the rider in your specific situation. | | | | usually also waive the premiums due on the life |
| Some common riders available are listed below. | | | | insurance policy for a period of time. The income |
| Accidental Death and Dismemberment Rider for | | | | payments are generally limited to a percentage of |
| Life Insurance Explained | | | | the face value of the policy; often the payments |
| An accidental death and dismemberment rider is a | | | | are limited to 1% of the face value so the |
| low cost rider which is available with most term | | | | disability rider is not as beneficial to the insured as |
| and whole life insurance policies. The rider | | | | a separate disability policy which provides a larger |
| increases the amount your beneficiaries receive if | | | | monthly income in the event of disability. |
| you die in an accident and pays out a set amount | | | | Renewability/Guaranteed Insurability and |
| to you if you lose an eye or a limb. | | | | Convertibility Riders for Term Life Insurance |
| Many consider these riders unnecessary. The | | | | Explained |
| increased death benefit is only available if you die | | | | If you are purchasing a term life insurance policy |
| in an accident and the dismemberment portion will | | | | and considering renewing the policy in the future a |
| only cover loss of a limb or eye and not a | | | | renewability or guaranteed insurability rider is a |
| debilitating disease that prevents you from earning | | | | good idea. These riders guarantee the policy's |
| a living. If you are looking for insurance to cover | | | | renewability at the end of the term without |
| your family's expenses if you can no longer work | | | | additional proof of your insurability. In order to |
| you are better off purchasing a comprehensive | | | | take advantage of this provision, you are often |
| health insurance policy or a separate disability | | | | required to renew your policy within a set number |
| insurance policy. These policies provide better | | | | of days and failure to do so will void the |
| coverage than a dismemberment rider and offer | | | | guarantee. Some of these riders expire at a |
| a better value for most individuals. | | | | certain age so read the rider carefully to make |
| Family Income Benefit and Disability Income | | | | sure it covers your specific needs before |
| Riders for Life Insurance Explained | | | | purchasing the rider. |
| The family income benefit rider pays the death | | | | A convertibility rider allows the insured to convert |
| benefit and a monthly income to the beneficiary | | | | a term life policy to a whole life term or annual |
| for a specified duration if the insured dies before | | | | renewable term policy if desired before the end |
| the end of the specified term. For example, a | | | | of a specified time regardless of your medical |
| fifteen year rider will pay the beneficiary a | | | | history or condition. Converting your term policy |
| monthly income or a lump sum equal to the | | | | to a permanent policy means never having to |
| monthly income specified if the insured dies | | | | worry about outliving your insurance protection as |
| before the fifteen year period for the remainder | | | | long as you are able to make the required |
| of the fifteen year period. This rider may be | | | | premium payments to keep the permanent policy |
| useful if you are providing a substantial portion of | | | | in effect. If you are at all interested in converting |
| the family's income in providing a regular income | | | | your term policy at a future date to a whole life |
| for a transitional period after your death in | | | | policy this rider would be useful. |
| addition to the death benefit. | | | | |