Accidental death insurance, made simple and affordable.

Accidental death insurance pays a benefit if the insured dies as the direct result of a covered accident — such as a motor vehicle accident, workplace injury, fall, pedestrian accident, fire, or drowning. Coverage often extends to injuries that lead to death within a set window after the accident, commonly 90 to 180 days. Unlike traditional life insurance, it does not pay for illness or natural causes, which is why it's typically less expensive and treated as supplemental coverage. Benefits are paid to your beneficiary once the insurer verifies the death was a covered accident.

Accidental death insurance pays a death benefit if a covered accident takes your life. Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) includes everything accidental death coverage does, plus benefits for serious non-fatal injuries — the loss of limbs, hands, feet, or sight, or paralysis. Those injury payouts are a percentage of the face value: losing one limb might pay around 50%, while losing two limbs or paralysis may pay up to 100%. The injury benefit is in addition to the face amount, and the full benefit still applies to a later, separate accidental death.

Covered accidents generally include sudden, external events such as motor vehicle accidents, workplace injuries, slips and falls, pedestrian accidents, fires, and drowning. Every insurer has its own definition of a “covered” accident and its own way of paying benefits, so the exact terms are spelled out in the policy. Your beneficiary can collect only if the death or injury is proven to be the direct result of the accident.

Accidental death insurance does not cover death from illness or natural causes. Common exclusions include death by suicide, war, and drug overdose, as well as high-risk activities such as car racing or skydiving — exact exclusions vary by insurer. Many policies also pay a death claim only if death occurs within 90 days of the accident, so an accident that leads to death months later may not qualify. Reading the fine print matters, and your agent can walk you through the specific terms of any policy you're considering.

Generally no exam is required. Between ages 18 and 80, accidental death coverage is typically guaranteed regardless of your health or medical history for qualified U.S. citizens and permanent residents. That makes it a real option for people who can't qualify for traditional life insurance due to conditions like heart disease or emphysema. If you can qualify for a traditional term or whole life policy, we recommend that route first — but accidental death insurance can provide meaningful protection when a regular policy isn't available.

Because it covers only accidents, premiums are affordable — roughly $14 a month can secure about $100,000 in accidental death coverage, with age limits applying. Coverage amounts range from modest supplemental benefits to substantial face amounts, and the cheapest option isn't always the best if the coverage is limited. Comparing carriers on benefit amount, exclusions, and any extra benefits helps you find the best value; a licensed agent can put those options side by side for you.

The Common Carrier Benefit is an enhanced payout that applies if your covered accident happens while you're a fare-paying passenger on public transportation — an airline, train, bus, taxi, or ferry. In that case, the benefit may pay out at two to three times the normal rate. Accidents on private vehicles or charter carriers typically do not qualify. This benefit applies to qualifying death or dismemberment claims, depending on your policy.

Often, yes. Most accidental death and AD&D policies automatically reduce their coverage by 50% at age 70. As long as you pay your premiums, the coverage will not be canceled for as long as the policy is renewable. Your agent can confirm exactly how a given carrier handles benefit reductions and renewals before you decide.