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4 Best AD&D Insurance Policies in July 2024
These insurers offer coverage for accidental deaths or injuries, but you may need to buy through your workplace.
Katia Iervasi Assistant Assigning Editor | Life insurance, disability insurance, health care
Katia Iervasi is an assistant assigning editor at NerdWallet. An insurance authority, she previously spent over six years covering insurance topics as a writer, where she loved untangling complicated topics and answering readers’ burning money questions. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication and has studied writing, fact-checking and editing with Poynter. Her writing and analysis has been featured in The Washington Post, Forbes, Yahoo, Entrepreneur, Best Company and FT Advisor. Originally from Sydney, Australia, Katia currently lives in New York City.
Lisa Green Assigning Editor | Insurance, data journalism
Lisa Green leads the life insurance team and oversees insurance-focused data journalism at NerdWallet. A professional journalist since high school, she was an insurance writer at NerdWallet before becoming an assigning editor. Previously, Lisa spent more than 20 years as an editor at The Tennessean in Nashville, where she led business and consumer coverage for several years. At The Tennessean, she was part of a 2011 Pulitzer Prize finalist team for coverage of devastating floods in Middle Tennessee. Her work has also won awards from the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, Investigative Reporters and Editors, and the Society of Professional Journalists. Lisa is an alumna of the Wharton Seminars for Business Journalists at the University of Pennsylvania. She has also studied data journalism with the National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting, business editing with the American Press Institute and writing, editing and news research with the Poynter Institute. In addition to her work at NerdWallet, Lisa is a real estate investor and has taught a seminar on how to earn college scholarships. She is based in Nashville.
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Accidents happen, and accidental death and dismemberment (or AD&D) insurance is designed to help you or your family in the aftermath. It’s usually offered by employers, along with group life insurance, though there are a handful of insurers that sell stand-alone policies.
To finalize this list, our experts looked at insurers that offer comprehensive AD&D policies — not just accidental death insurance, which covers deaths but not injuries. We assessed policy features and the percentages paid out for various injuries, as well as the amount of coverage you can buy.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates consumer experience, financial strength ratings and complaint data.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates consumer experience, financial strength ratings and complaint data.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates consumer experience, financial strength ratings and complaint data.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates consumer experience, financial strength ratings and complaint data.
Available through AIG agents.
NerdWallet rates insurers at the company level, not the policy level. This means our star rating reflects the company as a whole, and not its AD&D insurance policy specifically.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
Bottom line: If your employer offers Prudential’s insurance products as part of its workplace benefits, you may have access to AD&D insurance, either as a stand-alone policy or a rider on your term life insurance policy.
Financial strength ratingThese ratings indicate an insurer’s ability to pay future claims.
Exceptional
Online purchaseThis indicates whether the company offers a way to apply for and purchase policies entirely online.
Yes
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Fewer than expected
Policies offeredTerm policies last a set number of years, while permanent policies typically last a lifetime. No-exam policies don’t require a medical exam.
Term, permanent & no-exam
Pros
Variety of term and universal life options.
Fewer consumer complaints than expected for a company of its size.
Cons
Ranked below average in a recent customer satisfaction survey.
If your employer offers Prudential life insurance, you won’t need to answer additional health questions to get an AD&D policy. Depending on your company’s plan, you might be able to add a rider that has an additional payout if you die in an accident while wearing a seat belt.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
Bottom line: If your employer offers Prudential’s insurance products as part of its workplace benefits, you may have access to AD&D insurance, either as a stand-alone policy or a rider on your term life insurance policy.
Financial strength ratingThese ratings indicate an insurer’s ability to pay future claims.
Exceptional
Online purchaseThis indicates whether the company offers a way to apply for and purchase policies entirely online.
Yes
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Fewer than expected
Policies offeredTerm policies last a set number of years, while permanent policies typically last a lifetime. No-exam policies don’t require a medical exam.
Term, permanent & no-exam
Pros
Variety of term and universal life options.
Fewer consumer complaints than expected for a company of its size.
Cons
Ranked below average in a recent customer satisfaction survey.
If your employer offers Prudential life insurance, you won’t need to answer additional health questions to get an AD&D policy. Depending on your company’s plan, you might be able to add a rider that has an additional payout if you die in an accident while wearing a seat belt.
Pros
Variety of term and universal life options.
Fewer consumer complaints than expected for a company of its size.
Cons
Ranked below average in a recent customer satisfaction survey.
Overview: Employers typically offer plans that are linked to your salary or with set amounts like $50,000 or $100,000. Depending on your employer, you might be able to add a rider that reimburses your spouse or child for tuition and day care if you die in an accident, or one that pays extra if you die in a car while wearing a seat belt.
Since Prudential’s AD&D policy is a type of group life insurance, you won’t need to prove you’re in good health. You can sign up during open enrollment, or if you’ve experienced a qualifying event such as switching jobs or getting married.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
Bottom line: Each employer sets its eligibility requirements for this AD&D policy, though in most cases you’ll need to work at least 30 hours a week to qualify.
Financial strength ratingThese ratings indicate an insurer’s ability to pay future claims.
Exceptional
Online purchaseThis indicates whether the company offers a way to apply for and purchase policies entirely online.
No
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Fewer than expected
Pros
Maximum AD&D benefits can reach $1 million.
Cons
Life insurance products are only available through the workplace.
Available nationwide through the workplace, Sun Life AD&D policies offer coverage up to $1 million, depending on your company. If you change jobs, you may be able to keep your coverage — and this portability is a great perk.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
Bottom line: Each employer sets its eligibility requirements for this AD&D policy, though in most cases you’ll need to work at least 30 hours a week to qualify.
Financial strength ratingThese ratings indicate an insurer’s ability to pay future claims.
Exceptional
Online purchaseThis indicates whether the company offers a way to apply for and purchase policies entirely online.
No
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Fewer than expected
Pros
Maximum AD&D benefits can reach $1 million.
Cons
Life insurance products are only available through the workplace.
Available nationwide through the workplace, Sun Life AD&D policies offer coverage up to $1 million, depending on your company. If you change jobs, you may be able to keep your coverage — and this portability is a great perk.
Pros
Maximum AD&D benefits can reach $1 million.
Cons
Life insurance products are only available through the workplace.
Overview: Sun Life’s AD&D policy typically pays out 100% of its face value for accidental deaths, and 50% if you lose a limb (such as an arm or leg) or your speech, hearing or sight in one eye. It also pays 25% if you lose a thumb and index finger on the same hand.
Most employers choose a maximum benefit between $10,000 and $1 million, and some offer portability, which means you can take your coverage with you if you change jobs.
Sun Life AD&D policy details
Policy name: Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
Bottom line: The policy stands out for its “increasing benefit,” which means the value of the coverage you buy increases by 5% each year you keep it (up to a total of 50% over 10 years).
Financial strength ratingThese ratings indicate an insurer’s ability to pay future claims.
Strong
Online purchaseThis indicates whether the company offers a way to apply for and purchase policies entirely online.
Yes
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Far more than expected
Policies offeredTerm policies last a set number of years, while permanent policies typically last a lifetime. No-exam policies don’t require a medical exam.
Term, permanent & no-exam
Pros
Apply online or over the phone.
Get an instant decision in most cases.
No medical exam required for any policy.
Cons
Limited rider options.
Low maximum coverage amounts.
Unlike other insurers, TruStage sells AD&D policies through credit unions. Besides offering an increasing benefit, TruStage lets you customize your policy by adding riders that pay out an additional sum if you are diagnosed with certain conditions.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
Bottom line: The policy stands out for its “increasing benefit,” which means the value of the coverage you buy increases by 5% each year you keep it (up to a total of 50% over 10 years).
Financial strength ratingThese ratings indicate an insurer’s ability to pay future claims.
Strong
Online purchaseThis indicates whether the company offers a way to apply for and purchase policies entirely online.
Yes
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Far more than expected
Policies offeredTerm policies last a set number of years, while permanent policies typically last a lifetime. No-exam policies don’t require a medical exam.
Term, permanent & no-exam
Pros
Apply online or over the phone.
Get an instant decision in most cases.
No medical exam required for any policy.
Cons
Limited rider options.
Low maximum coverage amounts.
Unlike other insurers, TruStage sells AD&D policies through credit unions. Besides offering an increasing benefit, TruStage lets you customize your policy by adding riders that pay out an additional sum if you are diagnosed with certain conditions.
Pros
Apply online or over the phone.
Get an instant decision in most cases.
No medical exam required for any policy.
Cons
Limited rider options.
Low maximum coverage amounts.
Overview: TruStage’s AD&D policy is sold through credit unions and doesn’t require you to fill out a health questionnaire or take a life insurance medical exam. Along with covering accidental deaths, TruStage’s AD&D policy typically pays out between 5% and 100% of the policy’s face value if you lose your speech; hearing; or a foot, hand, eye or digit — such as a finger — due to an accident.
TruStage also pays out an additional amount if you were wearing a seat belt or protected by an air bag at the time of the accident. Finally, you can add cancer, heart attack and stroke coverage to your policy for a fee, and you’ll receive an extra lump sum of money if you’re diagnosed with one of those conditions.
TruStage AD&D policy details
Policy name: AD&D Insurance.
Availability: May not be available in all states. Sold through participating credit unions.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
Unlike some AD&D policies that are only available through employers, you can buy Corebridge Financial coverage (formerly AIG Life & Retirement) outside of work, directly from an agent.
Financial strength ratingThese ratings indicate an insurer’s ability to pay future claims.
Strong
Online purchaseThis indicates whether the company offers a way to apply for and purchase policies entirely online.
No
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Far more than expected
Policies offeredTerm policies last a set number of years, while permanent policies typically last a lifetime. No-exam policies don’t require a medical exam.
Term, permanent & no-exam
Pros
Has 18 different length options for term life insurance, extending as long as 35 years.
Cons
High number of customer complaints to regulators for a company of its size.
Applicants that want to buy AD&D coverage directly and without much hassle should consider Corebridge Financial. There are no waiting periods, and you can buy coverage over the phone without a medical exam.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
Unlike some AD&D policies that are only available through employers, you can buy Corebridge Financial coverage (formerly AIG Life & Retirement) outside of work, directly from an agent.
Financial strength ratingThese ratings indicate an insurer’s ability to pay future claims.
Strong
Online purchaseThis indicates whether the company offers a way to apply for and purchase policies entirely online.
No
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Far more than expected
Policies offeredTerm policies last a set number of years, while permanent policies typically last a lifetime. No-exam policies don’t require a medical exam.
Term, permanent & no-exam
Pros
Has 18 different length options for term life insurance, extending as long as 35 years.
Cons
High number of customer complaints to regulators for a company of its size.
Applicants that want to buy AD&D coverage directly and without much hassle should consider Corebridge Financial. There are no waiting periods, and you can buy coverage over the phone without a medical exam.
Pros
Has 18 different length options for term life insurance, extending as long as 35 years.
Cons
High number of customer complaints to regulators for a company of its size.
Overview: Applicants must be from 18 to 80 to apply. There is no waiting period for this policy, which means coverage can start the same day you apply. You do not have to complete a medical exam or answer questions about your health to qualify for coverage. Plus, your occupation doesn’t impact your eligibility. You can buy coverage over the phone with an agent, and coverage can start the same day.
Corebridge Financial AD&D policy details
Policy name: Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance.
Availability: Not available in all states. Available direct to consumers through an agent.
NerdWallet’s life insurance ratings are based on consumer experience, complaint index scores from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for individual life insurance, and weighted averages of financial strength ratings, which indicate a company’s ability to pay future claims. Within the consumer experience category, we consider ease of communication and website transparency, which looks at the depth of policy details available online. To calculate each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale.
These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
How we review life insurance companies
In our life insurance reviews, our editorial team considers the customer and the insurer. These are some of the factors we take into account:
Policies offered. There are many types of life insurance on the market, and they fall into three key categories:
Term life insurance offers temporary coverage and a guaranteed payout if the policyholder dies during the term.
Permanent life insurance typically lasts a lifetime and builds cash value that can be borrowed against in the future.
No-exam life insurance issues coverage without the need for a medical exam.
Financial strength. We use AM Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims. For life insurance, NerdWallet typically recommends considering insurers with ratings of A- or higher. Here’s the breakdown:
Exceptional: A+, A++.
Strong: A-, A.
Moderate: B, B+.
Complaints. These ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The best life insurance companies have fewer than the expected number of complaints.
Buy online. This indicates whether an insurer allows you to apply for and buy a policy completely online.
To recap, AD&D policies pay out only if you’re killed or seriously injured in an accident. They don’t cover deaths due to natural causes, illnesses and surgeries.
If you want coverage for those types of deaths, look into a term life insurance policy. And if you already have life insurance but want to make sure you’re covered for accidents, you could buy a personal accident insurance policy. These policies kick in if you’re injured in an accident.
NerdWallet’s life insurance ratings are based on consumer experience, complaint index scores from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for individual life insurance, and weighted averages of financial strength ratings, which indicate a company’s ability to pay future claims. Within the consumer experience category, we consider ease of communication and website transparency, which looks at the depth of policy details available online. To calculate each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale.
These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2020-2022. To assess how insurers compare with one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
