{"id":480,"date":"2017-07-26T20:26:28","date_gmt":"2017-07-26T20:26:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/?p=480"},"modified":"2020-12-29T21:01:40","modified_gmt":"2020-12-29T21:01:40","slug":"life-insurance-vs-add-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/life-insurance\/understanding-life-insurance\/life-insurance-vs-add-insurance\/","title":{"rendered":"Life Insurance vs. AD&D Insurance"},"content":{"rendered":"

While it is a grim prospect, it is important to have insurance coverage to protect you and your loved ones if an accident causes a life-changing injury or death. Hospital bills, loss of income, and funeral expenses can be a giant burden to bear otherwise. That\u2019s why so many people purchase life insurance and\/or accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance policies.<\/p>\n

But wait, what\u2019s the difference between a life insurance policy and AD&D insurance? Aren\u2019t they essentially the same thing? Let\u2019s take a look and see the differences between term life insurance and accidental death insurance along with the benefits of having both policies.<\/p>\n

What is Covered By Life Insurance?<\/h2>\n

Basic life insurance pays out a death benefit to beneficiaries in the event of the policyholder\u2019s death. The cause of death does not matter as long as the policyholder\u2019s passing occurs within the time frame listed in the insurance policy, except in the cases of suicide. The terms of a life insurance policies can last for a handful of years or a lifetime. There are also other varying death benefits depending on your policy. While there are a wide range of plans, the three most typical types of life insurance are:<\/p>\n

Term Insurance: A term insurance policy is a life insurance policy that covers anywhere from one to thirty years. At the end of the term, the premium increases due to the insured being older and could be even higher if you develop certain medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. If the insured dies during the term, the beneficiaries will receive the death benefit regardless of the cause of death, except in the case of suicide. This type of plan is very customizable and has a wide range of price depending on the length of the term, your initial health, the size of the death benefit, and other factors.<\/p>\n

Whole Life Insurance: This type of life insurance policy is considered \u201cpermanent insurance\u201d since the policyholder has no intention of allowing the insurance policy to lapse. Premiums for this policy are usually broken down into monthly or annual payments based on the policyholder\u2019s entire life expectancy. One of the bonuses of whole life insurance is that the premium price is set when the policy is issued and it will never increase during the life of the insurance policy.<\/p>\n

Universal Life Insurance: This type of life insurance operates like whole life insurance and term insurance, but with a twist. Like a term policy it has a set time frame of coverage, however it has annuity attached, basically acting like a cash account. This policy can be set up to last throughout the lifetime of the insured, using a combination of the premium and the cash account to keep it enforced.<\/p>\n

What Does Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance Cover?<\/h2>\n

This type of accident insurance is typically a rider that is attached to life insurance coverage, but it can also be purchased as a standalone policy. AD&D insurance provides compensation and coverage in the event that an accident causes the death of the insured or severe injury. While death and extreme injuries can result in a maximum payout, there are some injuries that result in only a partial payment.<\/p>\n

Aside from accidental death, AD&D insurance provides partial or full coverage for hearing loss, speech loss, loss of sight, loss of limbs, loss of fingers, and paralysis. The benefits can be used to pay for medical bills or loss of income as a result of those injuries, if they were acquired from the accident.<\/p>\n

AD&D insurance doesn\u2019t cover all incidences though. Most plans won\u2019t cover severe injury or death as a result of:<\/p>\n