At first thought, accidental death insurance seems quite simplistic and obvious without the need for much explanation.  But you know me. Why let something obvious go without an explanation. You might be surprised at the number of inquiries I get asking what exactly constitutes an accidental death.  You might also be surprised to learn the true broad nature of the coverage and the many attributes of an accidental death insurance plan.

Among insurance policy definitions, accidental death is usually a loss of life due to any reason other than natural causes; natural causes meaning disease or old age.  Therefore, even if there is an intentional taking of life (apart from suicide), as in you get killed, the loss is valid and insurable.  Murder or loss of life in an act of war or terrorism is considered an accidental death even though there may be intent (at least by someone) to kill and end a life. A suicide bomber in Afghanistan isn’t covered by accidental death, but anyone who dies because of the act could be.

Other common claim scenarios arise due to slip and falls, accidental weapon wounds, car and motorcycle accidents, drowning, pedestrian and bicycle accidents, head traumas, work-related machinery malfunctions and plane crashes.  In a world as busy as ours is today, “accidental” death could be worth a look and consideration for anyone and everyone.

Life insurance is the best first-step in mitigating risk due to accidental death, but term and permanent life platforms don’t always fit into every client’s equation.  Cost is a major issue.  The annual cost of an accidental death policy is a fraction of the annual premium associated with most other versions of life insurance.  Insurability can also a factor.  Many prospects who don’t qualify for traditional life insurance plans due to adverse health histories  or adverse work related situations such as long term missionaries or civilian contracting in a war zone usually have the ability to qualify for an accidental death plan.

I frequently see the need for accidental death insurance for travel and business purposes.  It has become very common for clients wanting additional death benefits for business trips and family vacations outside the United States. If terrorism continues to spread we may see more people buying short term policies that cover isolated events such as the just finished political conventions or the Super Bowl or the upcoming Olympics.

Bottom line. Since 2001, war and terrorism coverage has become important for anyone traveling internationally.  Our accidental death products automatically include coverage for acts of war and terror at no additional cost to the client, and we can cover U.S. residents traveling anywhere in the world including war zones and political hot spots.  If you have questions or want to know what kind of coverage we can put together to custom fit your situation, call or email directly. My name is Ed Hinerman. Let’s talk.