Basic Plan Types - Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)

Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance pays the insured or its beneficiary a substantial lump sum benefit when an accident results in death or the loss of a body part. Often people think travel insurance means flight accident insurance. Flight accident insurance is a type of AD&D that pays a benefit only when an airplane accident results in death or the loss of a body part. Common Carrier AD&D is a type of AD&D that pays a benefit only when an accident involving a common carrier results in death or the loss of a body part. Finally, the broadest type of AD&& is 24-Hour AD&D which pays a benefit when any accident results in death or the loss of a body part so long as the accident occurs during a covered trip.

Accidents due to terrorism may or may not be covered depending on the policy. Acts of war, and nuclear, chemical, and biological attacks are usually excluded, but policies that waive the exclusions can be purchased at a considerable cost.