Term insurance is a crucial life insurance product that ensures your loved ones remain financially protected in your absence. While buying a term insurance plan, you pay for a life cover that provides security throughout the policy term. To enhance life coverage, insurance companies offer add-ons or riders at a minimal cost. These optional benefits provide additional protection, such as critical illness cover, disability cover, and accidental death cover.
Let us look at some of the benefits of the different types of term insurance riders available in India 2026.
Term insurance riders or riders in term insurance are the add-on benefits that can be added to the base term plan to enhance the plan’s base coverage. These optional or inbuilt benefits can help you customise the term insurance cover to fit your needs. While inbuilt term riders are free of cost, the optional riders can be included at nominal extra costs paid with the base premium amount. These term life insurance with riders can help you receive protection against various eventualities like critical illness, disabilities, and more.
Note: Know what is term insurance first and then buy a term plan for your loved ones.
Term Plans
Term insurance riders are optional add-on benefits that can be attached to a base term insurance plan for enhanced financial protection. These riders help broaden the scope of coverage by offering additional support during medical emergencies, accidental disability, hospitalization, or other unforeseen situations.
The table below explains the different types of term insurance riders available in India and their benefits:
| Types of Term Insurance Riders | Benefits |
| Accidental Death Benefit Rider | Provides an additional rider sum assured to the nominee if the policyholder passes away due to an accident during the policy term. This amount is paid over and above the base sum assured. |
| Accidental Total and Permanent Disability Rider | Offers financial support if the policyholder suffers total and permanent disability due to an accident. The benefit amount can help manage loss of income and medical expenses. |
| Critical Illness Rider | Pays a lump sum amount on the diagnosis of covered critical illnesses such as cancer, heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure. The payout can be used for treatment, recovery, or household expenses. |
| Waiver of Premium Rider | Waives future premium payments if the policyholder suffers a critical illness or disability as specified under the rider terms, while the policy benefits continue. |
| HospiCare Rider | Provides a fixed payout in case of hospitalization during the policy term. Some plans may also offer higher benefits for ICU hospitalization. |
| Terminal Illness Rider | Pays a part or full sum assured in advance if the policyholder is diagnosed with a terminal illness as defined under the policy terms. |
Term insurance riders can provide additional financial support during unexpected situations. Let us understand how different riders may help policyholders and their families during difficult times.
Rohit had purchased a term insurance plan with an accidental death benefit rider. Unfortunately, he passed away in a road accident during the policy term. Along with the base sum assured payable under the term plan, his family also received the additional rider benefit amount, which helped them manage household expenses and outstanding financial liabilities.
Neha was diagnosed with cancer during the policy tenure of her term insurance plan. Since she had added a critical illness rider to her policy, she received a lump sum payout after the diagnosis as per the policy terms. She used the amount to pay for treatment expenses and recovery-related costs without disturbing her long-term savings.
Amit suffered a permanent disability due to an accident and was unable to continue working. Since he had opted for a waiver of premium rider, his future premium payments were waived while the policy benefits continued during the remaining policy term.
Karan met with an accident that resulted in total and permanent disability. The rider benefit amount received under his policy helped him manage medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and loss of regular income during recovery.
Priya was hospitalized for a prolonged medical treatment during the policy term. The HospiCare rider under her term insurance plan provided additional hospitalization-related benefits that helped her manage daily hospital expenses and ICU-related costs.
Sandeep was diagnosed with a terminal illness during the policy term. Under the terminal illness rider benefit, he received an early payout from the policy, which helped him access advanced treatment and financially support his family during a difficult period.
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Term insurance riders are add-on benefits that enhance your base policy coverage at affordable premiums. They are suitable for individuals looking for additional protection against risks like critical illness, accidental disability, or hospitalization without purchasing multiple separate policies.
Standalone insurance policies, on the other hand, may offer broader and more comprehensive coverage for specific financial or medical needs.
| Riders | Standalone Policies |
| Added to the base term insurance plan | Purchased separately |
| Usually available at lower premiums | May have higher premiums |
| Easy to manage under one policy | Separate policy management required |
| Offers additional coverage | May provide broader coverage |
Riders can be a cost-effective way to strengthen your term insurance coverage, while standalone policies may be suitable for people looking for more extensive protection.
Adding riders to a term insurance plan helps enhance the base policy coverage by providing additional financial protection against situations such as critical illness, accidental death, disability, hospitalization, or terminal illness.
Health-related riders such as critical illness riders may qualify for tax deductions under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961, subject to prevailing tax laws and policy conditions.
Yes, term insurance riders can be worth the additional premium as they offer broader financial coverage and added protection at comparatively affordable costs.
You should choose riders based on your financial responsibilities, medical history, lifestyle risks, existing insurance coverage, and long-term protection needs.
Yes, certain riders such as HospiCare or critical illness riders may provide fixed payouts or lump sum benefits that can help manage expenses during hospitalization or recovery.
Choosing the right term insurance rider depends on your financial responsibilities, lifestyle, health conditions, and future protection needs. Since every individual’s requirements are different, it is important to select riders that match your personal and family situation.
The table below can help you understand which rider may suit different needs:
| If You Want Protection Against | Suitable Rider |
| Financial impact of accidental death | Accidental Death Benefit Rider |
| Loss of income due to permanent disability | Accidental Total and Permanent Disability Rider |
| Expensive medical treatments and major illnesses | Critical Illness Rider |
| Difficulty paying premiums after disability or illness | Waiver of Premium Rider |
| Hospitalization-related expenses | HospiCare Rider |
| Advanced-stage or life-threatening illnesses | Terminal Illness Rider |
Before adding any rider, it is important to compare the coverage, exclusions, claim conditions, and premium costs carefully to ensure the rider aligns with your long-term financial needs.
Note: Check out the best term insurance plan in India and choose one that suits your requirements.
Note: You should also check the benefits of term life insurance if you are planning to purchase the term insurance plan.
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Varun has spent years in the insurance space, but what drives him isn't policies or premiums — it's the conversations he's had with real people. A young father in Pune wondering if his salary is enough. A newly married couple in Jaipur putting off "the insurance talk" for later. A mother in Chennai who never knew her husband was underinsured until it was too late. These stories stay with him. As Head of Term Insurance at Policybazaar, Varun knows the numbers well — 52.4% of Indians are aware of term insurance, yet only 9.6% own it. And 87% of families don't realise they're leaving their loved ones with far less protection than they actually need. But behind every statistic, he sees a family that just needed someone to sit with them, explain it simply, and help them take that one step. That's exactly what Policybazaar's term insurance is built to do. In his words, "Most people aren't avoiding protection — they're just waiting for someone to make it easy. That's what we're here for."
˜The insurers/plans mentioned are arranged in order of highest to lowest Sum Assured(SA) offered by Policybazaar’s insurer partners offering term insurance plans on our platform, as per ‘first year premium of life insurers as at 31.03.2025 report’ published by IRDAI.
Policybazaar does not endorse, rate or recommend any particular insurer or insurance product offered by any insurer. For complete list of insurers in India refer to the IRDAI website www.irdai.gov.in
Rs. 400/month is starting price for a 1 crore term life insurance for an 18 year-old male, non-smoker, with no pre-existing diseases, cover upto 30 years of age, rounded off to nearest 10.
Rs. 400/month (Rs.13/day) is starting price for a 1 crore term life insurance for an 18 year-old male, non-smoker, with no pre-existing diseases, cover upto 30 years of age.
+Rs. 230 is starting price for a 50 lakhs term life insurance for an 18 year-old male, non-smoker, with no pre-existing diseases, cover upto 30 years of age, rounded off to nearest 10.
+Rs. 8/day is starting price for a 50 lakhs term life insurance for an 18 year-old male, non-smoker, with no pre-existing diseases, cover upto 30 years of age, rounded off to nearest 10.
+Rs. 12/day is starting price for a 75 lakhs term life insurance for an 18 year-old male, non-smoker, with no pre-existing diseases, cover upto 30 years of age, rounded off to nearest 10.
+Rs. 497/month is starting price for a 1.5 crore term life insurance for an 18 year-old male, non-smoker, with no pre-existing diseases, cover upto 30 years of age.
+Rs. 487/month is starting price for a 2 crore term life insurance for an 18 year-old male, non-smoker, with no pre-existing diseases, cover upto 30 years of age.
+Rs. 626/month is starting price for a 3 crore term life insurance for an 18 year-old male, non-smoker, with no pre-existing diseases, cover upto 30 years of age.
+Rs. 905/month is starting price for a 5 crore term life insurance for an 18 year-old male, non-smoker, with no pre-existing diseases, cover upto 30 years of age.
+Rs. ₹361/month is the starting price for a ₹1 crore loan cover with an 8% interest rate for an 18-year-old male, non-smoker, with no pre-existing diseases, loan tenure up to 20 years, rounded off to the nearest 10
+Rs. 1,267/month is starting price for a 7 crore term life insurance for an 18 year-old male, non-smoker, with no pre-existing diseases, cover upto 30 years of age.
*The full refund of premium is available on availing the one-time option of refund of premium. Total premium paid for policy (paid for add-ons) will be the special exit value, payable on availing the one-time option of refund of premium if you wish to completely exit the policy.
+Rs. 447/month is starting price for a 1 crore term life insurance for an (NRI) 18 year-old male, non-smoker, with no pre-existing diseases, cover upto 30 years of age.
+Rs.679/month is starting price for a 2 crore term life insurance for an (NRI) 18 year-old male, non-smoker, with no pre-existing diseases, cover upto 30 years of age.
+Rs. 910/month is starting price for a 3 crore term life insurance for an (NRI) 18 year-old male, non-smoker, with no pre-existing diseases, cover upto 30 years of age.
+Rs. 1,374/month is starting price for a 5 crore term life insurance for an (NRI) 18 year-old male, non-smoker, with no pre-existing diseases, cover upto 30 years of age.
+Rs. 1,924month is starting price for a 7 crore term life insurance for an (NRI) 18 year-old male, non-smoker, with no pre-existing diseases, cover upto 30 years of age.
Women
+Rs. 400/month is Starting price for a 1 crore term life insurance for an 18 year-old Female, non-smoker, with no pre-existing diseases, cover upto 30 years of age, rounded off to nearest 10.
Rs. 461/month is the starting price for a 1 crore term life insurance for an 24 year-old female, non-smoker, with no pre-existing diseases, cover upto 54 years of age.
1,642/month is the starting price for a 1 crore term life insurance for an 44 year-old female, non-smoker, with no pre-existing diseases, cover upto 74 years of age.
Prices offered by the insurer are as per the approved insurance plans | #All savings and online discounts are provided by insurers as per IRDAI approved insurance plans | Standard Terms and Conditions Apply | **Tax Benefits are subject to changes in tax laws.| Policybazaar Insurance Brokers Private Limited
We will respond in the first instance within 30 minutes of the customers contacting us. 30-minute claim support service is for the purpose of giving reasonable assistance to the policyholder in pursuance of the claim. Settlement of claim (including cashless claim) is the responsibility of the insurer as per policy terms and conditions. The 30-minute claim support is subject to our operations not being impacted by a system failure or force majeure event or for reasons beyond our control. For further details, 24x7 Claims Support Helpline can be reached out at 1800-258-5881
For more details on risk factors, terms and conditions, please read the sales brochure carefully before concluding a sale
Policybazaar Insurance Brokers Private Limited | CIN: U74999HR2014PTC053454 | Registered Office - Plot No.119, Sector - 44, Gurgaon, Haryana – 122001 | Registration No. 742, Valid till 09/06/2027, License category- Composite Broker Visitors are hereby informed that their information submitted on the website may be shared with insurers. Product information is authentic and solely based on the information received from the insurers.
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