Is it good to add rider with term insurance?

A term insurance rider provides additional protection or extra cover to a term insurance policy that comes at an added cost. 

These riders come with additional benefits that can help the insured in many cases. However, it is not always essential that all such riders are suitable or needed by everyone . 

This piece examines the importance of such riders and what needs to be done before you can opt for one.

Rakesh Goyal, director, Probus Insurance, said, “Riders such as accidental death benefits would be ideal for someone whose work profile or daily routine involves greater danger due to accidents. However, the basic sum assured, which is applicable under the insured’s term plan, would be valuable even if the policyholder does not avail of this rider." 

“On the other hand, disability riders and waiver of premium riders could benefit only those under minimum or moderate risks pertaining to accidents  and disabilities arising out of these.  Critical illness riders are for those who might be at a higher risk of getting such diseases. These riders provide benefits and limited lump sum amount that the dependents or other family members can utilize in non-working situations due to illness," added Goyal. 

The options: You must always compare the available rider options to ensure that the benefits align with your expectations or needs. 

Go with the rider that helps you in the best way possible during the time of need. 

Sajja Praveen Chowdary, head, term life insurance, Policybazaar.com, said, “A rider comes into action when the specified event for which you purchased the term insurance rider occurs. As a policyholder, you must select the appropriate rider in order to receive the required benefits on time." 

The exclusions: There can be situations where the rider may not provide coverage for specific diseases or illnesses. Hence, you must read the policy documents carefully and wisely choose any rider to avoid any unpleasant surprises during the claim process. 

“Some exclusions are consumption of alcohol and drugs, death owing to a pre-existing illness, critical illness arising out of internal and external congenital disorders, self-inflicted injuries, hormone replacement surgery, any dental or cosmetic surgery and so on," said Ankit Agarwal, CEO and co-founder of InsuranceDekho. 

Tax benefits: When you buy term insurance, you get tax benefits. Hence, while availing these sops, make sure you verify the tax benefits available when adding any rider to your actual term plan. 

Agarwal said, “The maximum amount you can claim under Section 80C is 1.5 lakh in a year. The limit includes other eligible investments.  Besides, you can avail of tax benefits under section 80D of the Income Tax Act for health insurance plans that includes plans with critical illness benefits".

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1 min read . Updated: 04 Oct 2022, 12:52 PM IST
Is it good to add rider with term insurance?
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It is preferable to have an accident disability rider added to your policy. (File Photo: AP)

This rider, as the name implies, provides additional coverage in the event of an accidental disability. India remains a hotbed for fatal road accidents. It is preferable to have an accident disability rider added to your policy to help you cope with the severity of such a loss.

I am 27 years old & I already have a health and term life insurance in place. For more comprehensive coverage I would also like to buy a disability rider. Please suggest the benefits & how it works?

- Sagar

Hi Sagar, it is great that you already have a comprehensive protection net in place. Talking about the disability rider- This rider, as the name implies, provides additional coverage in the event of an accidental disability. India remains a hotbed for fatal road accidents. Nobody knows what a sudden casualty will entail. Even if the policyholder survives a major accident, he or she is likely to be permanently disabled. This not only threatens the family’s financial resources, but it also has the potential to eliminate a regular source of income. It is preferable to have an accident disability rider added to your policy to help you cope with the severity of such a loss. For example, if you choose a rider with a cover sum of 25 lakh, the insurer will pay you this cover amount if you become disabled as a result of an accident.

Hi, I am planning to buy a critical illness plan, while I do not have any critical illness now, but for comprehensive coverage, I would like to add a critical illness plan to my protection portfolio. Please guide how it works & what are the things to keep in mind before buying. I already have a health & term insurance plan in place with adequate coverage of 1 crore & 2 crores respectively.

-Sanjeev

Hi Sanjeev, you have a very comprehensive protection portfolio, which is great. Talking about the Critical Illness Plan, it provides maximum benefits to you while working differently from your regular health Insurance plan. When a critical illness, such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, major organ transplant, or any other illness covered by the plan, is diagnosed the insurer is bound to pay the entire sum insured in lump sum regardless of hospitalization costs. The lump sum payment can be used for other expenses too like to pay off hospital bills, home loan installments, investment premiums, day-to-day expenses, and other expenses that may arise as a result of lost income while you are unable to work during the treatment and recovery period. The policyholder can use the lump sum payment to pay off hospital bills, home loan payments, investment premiums, day-to-day expenses, and other expenses that may arise as a result of lost income while you are unable to work during the treatment and recovery phase. However, before purchasing a critical illness plan, it is critical that you understand its various terms and conditions. A critical illness plan typically has a 90-day waiting period from the date the policy is issued. Claims made within 90 days of the policy’s issuance are not approved by the insurance company. Furthermore, in order to file a claim, most insurers require that the policyholder survive for at least 30 days after being diagnosed with a critical illness. However, there are fewer and fewer plans on the market that provide coverage from the first day of illness diagnosis.

Queries answered by Sanjiv Bajaj, Jt. Chairman & MD, Bajaj Capital Ltd.

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Can you add a rider to a term policy?

Term insurance riders can be added to a whole or universal life policy for additional coverage for a fixed amount of time. Disability income riders provide monthly income payments if the policyholder is permanently disabled.

What is rider benefit in term insurance?

Riders are optional, extra terms that go into effect along with your basic policy, often at an additional cost. Simply put, a rider provides additional coverage and added protection against risks. Insurance riders are effective add-ons you can choose in addition to your life insurance policy at economical rates.

What is a rider on term life insurance?

A rider is an optional coverage or feature you can add to your life insurance policy, often for an additional cost. Riders can help cover life events that your standard policy does not. Riders can provide benefits for critical illness and more during your lifetime.

Which rider increases death benefits?

Accidental Death Rider An accidental death rider pays out an additional amount of death benefit if the insured dies as the result of an accident. Normally, the additional benefit paid out on death due to an accident is equivalent to the face amount of the original policy, which doubles the benefit.