Accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance sometimes appears as an option when reviewing workplace benefits or considering add-ons to a life insurance policy. When it does, the natural question is whether it’s worth having.

In most situations, our answer is no.

The reason is simple: AD&D only pays if death or disability is caused by an accident. If you were to die from illness or become disabled due to a medical condition (which is how many of these situations actually occur), the policy generally doesn’t pay.

In this video, you'll learn how AD&D works, why it usually isn’t great value for what it covers, and the one situation where it might still make sense.

If you’re exploring your options, a good place to start is by getting quotes for life insurance or disability insurance, which are designed to provide broader, more comprehensive coverage.