Big Protection Against Life's Accidents. Tiny Price.
Accidental death & dismemberment coverage pays your family a lump sum if the unexpected happens - no medical exam, no health questions, and six-figure coverage often costs less than $25 a month.
Written by Brian Greenberg, CEO / Founder & Licensed Insurance Agent|MDRT member since 2013 · Licensed in all 50 states|Last reviewed: June 2026Quick answer: Accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance pays a lump sum if you die or are seriously injured in a covered accident. There is no medical exam and no health questions, and six-figure coverage often costs less than $25 a month.
Why People Add Accidental Death Coverage
It's not a replacement for life insurance - it's the cheapest way to add a serious layer of protection on top of it, or to get covered when health rules out everything else. Most families stack AD&D on top of affordable term life insurance. You can also check any carrier's complaint record through the NAIC's Consumer Information Source.
Extremely Affordable
Because it only covers accidental death, premiums are a fraction of traditional life insurance - often $10 to $25/month for six-figure coverage.
No Medical Exam or Health Questions
Your health doesn't matter for accident-only coverage. Smokers, diabetics, and people with prior declines pay the same low rates.
Fast, Simple Approval
Applications take minutes and approval is nearly immediate. Coverage can start the same day you apply.
Stacks With Other Coverage
AD&D pays in addition to any other life insurance you own - a low-cost supplement that boosts protection during your highest-risk working years.
What AD&D Covers - and What It Doesn't
AD&D pays only when death or dismemberment results directly from a covered accident. It never pays for death from illness - heart attack, stroke, cancer, or infection - which is why it costs so little. Accidents remain a leading cause of death for working-age adults, per the Insurance Information Institute's mortality statistics.
That trade-off makes it a smart supplement for working years when accident risk is a real concern, and a genuine option for people whose health blocks traditional underwriting. We'll tell you honestly whether AD&D or a real life policy serves your family better. If illness coverage matters too, look at living benefits riders instead.
Typical Covered Events
- Motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents
- Accidental falls, drowning, and household accidents
- Workplace and machinery accidents
- Dismemberment, loss of sight, speech, or hearing (partial benefit)
- Common-carrier accidents (many policies pay double)
Death from illness or natural causes is never covered. Exclusions vary by carrier - your agent will walk you through the specifics.
Accidental Death FAQ
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