Which insurance riders are actually worth buying?

Every term plan comes with a menu of optional add-ons. Some meaningfully strengthen your cover; others mostly add cost. The right answer depends less on the rider itself and more on what happens to your household if your income stops.

Critical illness cover

Pays a lump sum on diagnosis of a listed serious illness. This is the rider we most often recommend, because your health insurance pays the hospital while your income stops entirely, and a serious illness can mean months away from work. It matters most for sole earners and the self-employed, who have no sick leave to fall back on. Read how each illness is defined; that wording decides your claim.

Accidental death and disability

Adds a payout if death or disability results from an accident. Usually inexpensive. It's most worth considering if you travel a great deal by road or work in a physically hazardous environment. The permanent disability portion is arguably the more valuable half, since it covers a scenario where you survive but can no longer earn.

Waiver of premium

If you become disabled or critically ill, future premiums are waived and the policy continues. It's a quiet, sensible protection, it stops your cover lapsing at precisely the moment you can least afford to pay for it.

How to decide

• First make sure your base cover is adequate. A larger sum assured usually beats a smaller one loaded with riders.
• Then add riders that match a real risk in your life, not a hypothetical one.
• Compare the rider against buying the same protection standalone, a separate critical illness policy sometimes offers wider cover for similar money.

We'll price your plan both with and without riders so you can see exactly what each one costs and what it buys. Sometimes the honest recommendation is to skip them and put the money into higher base cover.

This guide is general information to help you understand your options, not financial or tax advice. Please consider your own circumstances and consult a qualified professional where needed.