No one likes to contemplate it, but accidents result in over 161,000 deaths per year in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, unintentional injury is the fifth leading cause of death in the country. Accidental death and dismemberment insurance, or AD&D, exists to provide families and loved ones with protection against the death or severe injury of a breadwinner or other individual on whom the beneficiaries depend. This affordable form of insurance pays a lump sum in the event of accidental death or death as a result of homicide (as opposed to illness). In addition, policies may pay an additional benefit as a result of events like these:
Generally, the more debilitating the injury, the greater the benefit paid. The benefit could be expressed as a percentage of the full amount or as a lump sum. Considerations Accidental death and disability(AD&D) coverage is generally very affordable compared to traditional life insurance. Additionally, since an individual's health history isn't much of a factor, it's usually much easier for an individual with a challenged health history to get than traditional life insurance. It is frequently offered by workplaces as part of an employment benefit or voluntary benefits package. In the latter case, employees pay the premiums via payroll deduction. Benefits are generally tax-free to the beneficiary if the insured is paying premiums. Note: Accidental death policies may be slower to pay out than traditional life insurance policies. This is because the cause of death matters much more in AD&D situations. In most cases, the insurer will require a “cause of death” from the county coroner's office. If this requires an autopsy, it could take some time. Families should generally not rely on AD&D death benefits as an immediate source of liquidity, if possible. Exclusions Exclusions for self-inflicted injury are common, and generally natural causes such as illness, non-commercial radiation, and war injuries are excluded. Many policies will also exclude death or disability as a result of illegal drug use and even alcohol. The odds AD&D is a particularly good value for younger workers. You are more likely to die from an accident than from natural causes if you are younger than 45. After that point, diseases such as cancer and heart disease become a greater threat. However, it's something worth considering for anyone in a dangerous occupation. Comments are closed.
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September 2022
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501 Bell St.
Dubuque, IA 52001
Phone: (563) 556-0272
An AssuredPartners Agency
In February 2020, The Friedman Group joined AssuredPartners, the 11th largest insurance brokerage in the U.S. This partnership provides us access to additional capital and a national footprint that enables us to continue to negotiate the most favorable coverage terms and conditions for our clients, and allows us to provide an even broader spectrum of risk management support services.
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