Life insurance riders are options that offer additional levels of protection in a life insurance policy. These riders or options will usually incur an additional cost since they offer different types or levels of protection than what is offered in the original contract. Below is a list of the riders that may be available in a life insurance policy.

Waiver of Premium Rider will waive the policies premiums if the insured becomes totally disabled. Since periods of disability make it difficult to earn income, this can be a valuable form of protection. Some policies will not allow this rider to be issued after 55 years of age. Most policies will drop the rider at age 60.

Accelerated Death Benefit Rider allows the insured to collect a portion of the death benefit if the insured is diagnosed with a terminal illness. This is usually offered at no charge. Some policies will pay up to 75%. This can help the insured and his/her family through a financially and emotionally difficult time.

Guaranteed Insurability Rider guarantees either the option to purchase an additional policy on the primary policyholder without evidence of insurability or guarantees future increases in protection at optional dates.

Children’s Term Rider provides the insured’s children with their own life insurance protection. This will usually apply to natural children, stepchildren or legally adopted children. The coverage in most cases will terminate when the child reaches 21.

Accidental Death Benefit Rider provides an additional death benefit amount if the insured’s death results from an accidental. This amount is usually the same amount as the face amount and is sometimes referred to as Double Indemnity.

Level Term Rider provides a fixed amount of term insurance that is added to a permanent life policy for a specified period of time. Generally, a level term rider is written for an amount that may be up to several times the death benefit of the permanent policy to which it is attached.

Disability Income Rider provides the insured a monthly income if he or she becomes totally and permanently disabled. This rider will guarantee a specified level of income for as long as the disability lasts or for a specific period of time stated in the rider.