Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance

Accidental death and dismemberment cover, usually shortened to AD&D, pays a benefit if you die in an accident, or if an accident causes a specific serious loss such as a limb, sight, or hearing. The amount paid depends on what happened, set out in a schedule in the policy.
It is inexpensive relative to the sums involved, which is the source of both its appeal and most of the misunderstanding about it. The low premium reflects how narrow the cover is, not a bargain on life insurance.

Reviewed and updated 1 August 2026 against current federal guidance.

Prefer to talk? Call (888) 918-4516 · Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern

How It Pays

Policies work from a schedule expressed as a share of the principal sum, which is the headline benefit amount you chose when you bought the policy.
EventHow it typically pays
Accidental deathThe full principal sum
Loss of two or more limbs, or sight in both eyesCommonly the full principal sum
Loss of one limb, or sight in one eyeCommonly a portion of the principal sum, often half
Loss of hearing or speechA stated portion, varying by policy
Loss of thumb and index fingerA smaller stated portion
ParalysisSome policies include benefits for paraplegia or quadriplegia, at stated portions
The word loss carries a precise meaning in these contracts. It can require actual severance, or permanent and total loss of use, and the difference between those two definitions can decide a claim. Read how the policy defines it.

What It Is Not

AD&D is not life insurance

This is the point that matters most. AD&D pays only if death results from an accident. It pays nothing if death results from illness, and illness accounts for the large majority of deaths.
A household relying on AD&D as its protection for dependants is covered for a narrow slice of the risk and uncovered for most of it. If the goal is to provide for a family should you die, term life insurance is the product built for that purpose, and AD&D is at best an addition to it.
AD&D also pays nothing for injuries that do not cause a scheduled loss. A serious accident that leaves you in hospital for a month with no permanent loss may produce no AD&D benefit at all. Accident insurance and hospital indemnity are the products aimed at that.

Exclusions Worth Reading

AD&D policies tend to carry more exclusions than their simplicity suggests. The specific list varies, but these appear commonly.
Commonly excludedWhy it matters
Death or injury from illness or medical treatmentIncluding complications of surgery, which are not accidents in the policy sense
Self-inflicted injuryStandard across the category
Driving under the influenceA frequent exclusion, and one that can defeat an otherwise clear accidental death claim
Hazardous activitiesAviation other than as a passenger, motorsport, climbing, and similar. Lists vary widely
War and military serviceCommon, with wording that varies considerably
Injury occurring while committing a crimeStandard
Losses occurring after a stated periodMany policies require the loss to occur within a set number of days of the accident

Terms Worth Knowing

TermWhat it means for you
Principal sumThe headline benefit amount. Scheduled losses pay a stated share of it
Definition of lossWhether the policy requires severance, or permanent and total loss of use
Time limit after the accidentDeath or loss usually has to occur within a stated number of days of the accident itself
Beneficiary designationWho receives the death benefit. Worth reviewing after any change in family circumstances
Age reductionSome policies reduce the principal sum at stated ages
Employer-provided coverMany people already hold AD&D through work. Check before buying a second policy

Is It Worth It?

AD&D is cheap because the events it covers are rare and narrowly defined. That can make it reasonable as an addition, and unreasonable as a foundation.

Can make sense when

• You already have life insurance and want to add cover for accidental death
• Your work or commute carries above-average accident exposure
• It is offered at low or no cost through an employer
• You understand it as an extra layer rather than core protection

Worth thinking twice when

• You are relying on it instead of life insurance
• Your dependants would need provision regardless of how you died
• You already hold AD&D through an employer
• Your main concern is injury and recovery costs rather than death or permanent loss
• The activities you actually do appear on the exclusions list

How It Differs From Related Cover

CoverWhat triggers a payment
Accidental death and dismembermentAccidental death, or a scheduled loss such as a limb or sight
Term life insuranceDeath from any covered cause, including illness
Accident insuranceA covered injury and its treatment, whether or not any permanent loss results
Critical illnessDiagnosis of a named condition, as defined in the policy
Disability incomeInability to work, paid over time

What to Check

• Whether you already have AD&D through work, and for how much.
• How the policy defines loss, severance or loss of use.
• The full exclusions list, read against your actual activities and commute.
• The time limit between accident and loss.
• Whether the benefit reduces with age.
• Who your beneficiary is, and whether it is still correct.
• Whether life insurance would serve the underlying goal better.
How supplemental cover fits with major medical →

Sources

Drawn from the following federal sources. Individual policy documents govern what any specific plan covers.

Start with what you are protecting against

A licensed agent can check what you already hold through work, read the exclusions against how you actually live, and tell you plainly when a different product would serve the goal better. No cost, no obligation.
Get My Options
All supplemental coverage →
This page is general information, not advice about your specific situation. Accidental death and dismemberment insurance is supplemental coverage and is not comprehensive medical insurance, nor is it life insurance. It pays only for accidental death or scheduled losses as defined in the policy, and does not pay for death or loss resulting from illness. It does not satisfy requirements to maintain health coverage. Benefit schedules, definitions of loss, exclusions, time limits, age reductions, and availability vary by policy, carrier, and state. Review full policy documents before enrolling, and speak with a licensed agent about your circumstances.

Prefer to talk? Call (888) 918-4516 · Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern

This website provides educational information about health insurance and is a solicitation for insurance. It is a non-government website operated by Prodest Insurance Group, a health insurance agency that presents health plans, which may include Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans, private health insurance, short-term medical insurance, or supplemental insurance based on the consumer's selection. Qualified ACA plans must meet or exceed the essential benefit requirements of the Affordable Care Act; non-ACA plans are not required to provide all of the essential benefit requirements contained in the Affordable Care Act. Pre-existing condition provisions, benefit availability, limitations and exclusions vary by plan type and state. You should review all plan details and product brochures before purchase. To qualify for ACA health insurance coverage outside of the open enrollment period, you must meet special enrollment requirements.

*Eligibility for Affordable Care Act (ACA) Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC) and cost-sharing reductions is based on annual federal income thresholds, household size, and plan availability within the applicable service area. Premium rates, plan availability, and subsidy amounts vary by state and marketplace. Final eligibility and premium obligations are determined by the Health Insurance Marketplace under Internal Revenue Code Section 36B and applicable federal regulations.

Looking for a health insurance quote?

(888) 918-4516

Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern

About COBRA My Policy

COBRA My Policy is a website operated by Prodest Insurance Group, a privately owned non-government website. Prodest Insurance Group, LLC, National Producer Number 19515569. This website serves as an invitation for you to inquire about further information regarding health insurance, and submission of your contact information constitutes permission for a licensed agent of Prodest Insurance Group to contact you with further information, including complete details on cost and coverage of health insurance.

We are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. To ask what information we hold, request deletion, or opt out of contact, use our Privacy Request form.

Copyright © 2026 Prodest Insurance Group