Looking at all of the life insurance options can be confusing, and trying to answer the question of what is accidental death insurance, can be even more confusing.
But it doesn’t have to be:
There is an easy way to determine the differences between an accident life insurance policy and a traditional insurance policy so that you can be confident that you are getting the policy that works best for you.
In today’s post, I will go over what accidental death insurance is, how it works and how you can purchase an accidental death insurance policy, sometimes called accidental life insurance policy online.
What Is Accidental Death Insurance
“In Plain English” – Accidental death insurance is the protection against the loss of life caused by accident.
What Is Accidental Death Insurance? (also known as Accidental Life Insurance) will only pay out money to your family if your death is caused by accident.
An accidental death plan will not have any type of underwriting attached to it and will always be guaranteed issue.
There can be age restrictions that can limit you from being able to apply, as some carriers might only cover people between the ages of 21 and 50.
However, outside of that, there won’t be any health issues that can stop someone from getting covered because the policy only pays out if your death is accidental.
Your accidental death insurance plan will still have:
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A Policy Number
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Monthly Premiums
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Beneficiaries
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Death Benefit
Another way to know that you are looking at an accidental death policy is usually the amount of coverage for the monthly premium.
Accidental death insurance plans are the most affordable on the market just because they will only pay out for one cause of death and that is accidental.
When Is A Death Considered Accidental
The first question people ask me when it comes to accidental death is “What is an accidental death? “
It might seem like an odd question when you are reading this; however, when you are about to buy insurance, it is always important to know exactly what you are getting into.
Accidental Deaths can be caused by things like:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Believe it or not, car accidents are no longer the number one cause of death due to accidents.
However, they are only 6,000 deaths behind what has become number one, so they are still a considerable part of deaths caused by accident.
On average car accidents are responsible for around 36,000 deaths per year, and this is with all of our new technology and advancements.
Accidental Poisonings
Not that it is a prize or status that is worth flaunting, but accidental poisonings is now the number one cause of unintentional deaths in the United States.
It beat out car accidents by over 6,000 deaths which are almost unbelievable since in 2012 it was only responsible for around 7,000 deaths per year, vs now with a whopping 42,032 deaths.
Falls
This includes any type of fall associated with death outside of falls in regards to transport vehicles.
So if you are killed by a fall inside of a train, it wouldn’t count in the fall category.
Drowning
Any deaths associated with drowning outside of floods and natural disasters.
Fire-related Deaths
Deaths that come from burns, asphyxiation and falling objects on fire are included in the fire-related accidental death section.
Suffocation (ingested object)
Accidental Death from Suffocation includes deaths from swallowing an object that blocks your air passages like food or toys.
Firearms
Death from firearms is only considered accidental when they result from recreational activities or household accidents involving guns that result in death.
Other Accidental Deaths
Things like:
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Medical Complications
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Air Transport Injuries
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Interaction With Machinery
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Mechanical Suffocation
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Impact Of Falling Objects
As you can see there is a broad list of things that are considered an accident, it is always best to review your policy documents to see what the company believes to be an accidental death.
Accidental Life vs Traditional Life Insurance
It is essential that you have a clear understanding of the difference. Accidental death insurance only pays for one cause of death, and that is an accident while traditional term life insurance coverage usually pays for “All Causes of Death.”
Accidental Death Insurance
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Pays Out For Accidental Death Only
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No Exam Or Underwriting
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Up To $500,000 In Coverage
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Policy Usually Ends At Age 65
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Lowest Monthly Cost
Traditional Life Insurance
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Pays Out For All Causes Of Death
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Exam May Be Required
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Up To $25,000,000 In Coverage
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5, 10, 15 ,20, 30 Year Options
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Medium Monthly Cost
AD vs AD&D
Not all accidental death policies have the “& Disability” attached to them.
Accidental Death And Dismemberment Insurance policies, also known as AD&D have additional benefits that a stand-alone accidental death plan doesn’t.
We show you the differences below:
Accidental Death Insurance
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Pays Out For Accidental Death Only
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No Other Benefits Are Attached
AD&D
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Pays Out For All Causes Of Death
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Pays Out For Loss Of Sight
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Pays Out For Loss Of Hearing
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Pays Out For Loss Of Limb
Keep in mind that when you purchase an accidental death policy its only for that, a death caused by an accident.
If you want additional benefits outside of just death benefits, such as having a percentage payout if you lose site, then you want to be sure it is an AD&D policy and not just an Accidental Death policy.
Accidental Death Insurance Costs & Rates
Accidental death is very inexpensive and below we go over some quick sample rates from one of the carriers that we most recommend for this product.
Accidental Death Insurance Rate Chart
AGE | $100,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 25 – 50 Years Old | $6.00 | $15.00 | $30.00
Is Death By Accident Insurance Worth It?
Accidental death insurance is worth it: you get a solid benefit for a low monthly premium, and it’s a smart option if you don’t medically qualify for traditional life insurance.
Having insurance for a death that was caused by an accident is 100% worth the cost for the amount of benefit you get, for the monthly premium, and for the peace of mind. It is also a great form of coverage to have if you do not medically qualify for What Is PIP Insurance & Do I Need It In Apr 2026? traditional life insurance.
Over 146,000 people died from accidents in 2015, and that number doesn’t seem to be slowing down. There isn’t any reason to purchase this additional coverage and safety net, and if you see it offered as a rider on a traditional life insurance policy, I would always add it for those few extra bucks.