Optional Benefit / Rider / Add-On

An optional benefit, also called a rider or add-on, is an additional feature that can be purchased to enhance your existing health, dental, life, or disability insurance plan. Optional benefits allow you to customize coverage by adding protection that suits your personal needs, rather than relying only on the base plan design.

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Common examples include hospital cash benefits, travel medical coverage, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), vision care, or higher prescription drug limits. In life or disability insurance, riders might include return of premium, waiver of premium, or critical illness coverage. Each add-on has its own cost, eligibility rules, and maximums, and premiums are adjusted accordingly.

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Optional benefits provide flexibility for individuals who want extra security or wish to tailor their plan to specific life stages, such as growing families, frequent travelers, or self-employed professionals.

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Example:

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If your base health plan does not include dental coverage, you can add a dental rider for an additional monthly premium.

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What to Watch For:

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Always review how each optional benefit integrates with your main policy. Riders may have separate waiting periods, exclusions, or renewal terms. Some can only be added at the time of application, while others can be added later with underwriting approval.