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Compare personal accident insurance
Get extra income after an accident for those with high-risk jobs or hobbies, though it's more restrictive than disability or life insurance.
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If you’re injured from an accident, accident insurance offers payout that can cover anything from medical bills, childcare or anything else you need to pay for.
6 reasons to get personal accident insurance
If you’re injured in an accident, lost income and unexpected medical bills can create financial hardship. Some reasons to consider personal accident insurance include:
- You want coverage for items not covered by health insurance. This can include the costs of rehab or transportation and lodging.
- You have a risky hobby or job. Accidents could happen, especially if your hobbies include physical activity and potentially dangerous situations.
- You have a low budget. A policy can be as little as $15 a month depending on factors like where you live, your age and how much coverage you’d like.
- You don’t have savings. If you suffer an accident and aren’t able to work as a result, your policy can provide financial assistance.
- You want to be protected during retirement. Choose term lengths that can cover you until retirement so you won’t have to dip into your retirement savings and investments in case of an accident.
- You’re a contract employee or self-employed. If your job doesn’t allow for sick leave, accident insurance could protect your finances if you’re unable to work.
What does accident insurance cover?
The accidents that are covered varies between insurers. Examples of common injuries you could be covered for are listed below:
- Burns
- Coma
- Concussions
- Cuts and lacerations
- Dislocations
- Eye injuries
- Fractures
You can also receive payouts for specified medical treatments and services, such as:
- Ambulance
- Emergency and non-emergency care
- Hospital admission and confinement fees
- In-patient testing
- In-patient rehab
- Medical testing
- Medical appliances
- Physician follow-ups
- Therapy services
Am I covered for accidental deaths too?
While you can purchase a separate accidental death insurance policy, some personal accident insurance policies also include payout amounts for accidental death, dismemberment or paralysis.
When am I not covered?
Personal accident insurance does not generally cover injuries as a result of:
- Self-inflicted harm
- Prior illnesses
- Committing a crime
- Participating in competitive sports
- Participating in dangerous activities
- Being under the influence
- Pre-existing condition or injury
- War
Other benefits of accident insurance
Having accident insurance has other benefits including:
- Premiums are tax-deductible. You can claim your premiums on your taxes if what you’re paying comes out of your pocket — and not through your employer.
- Disability benefits are included. Most personal accident insurance policies include a benefit payout for a disability. For example, if you suffer a total loss of speech, hearing, sight or the loss of the use of a hand or a foot, you’re considered to be eligible for a total and permanent disability benefit.
- Use your payout to cover any costs. Use your benefits to cover any costs you incur as a result of your accident. This can include counseling, rehab, childcare, clothing or transportation.
What determines the cost of coverage?
There are several factors that can affect the cost of your accident insurance premiums, including:
- Your occupation. People who work in high-risk occupations generally have to pay more.
- Your benefit amount. The higher the lump-sum payouts are for each type of accident, the more you’ll pay.
- Your age. The older you are, the greater your risk of accidental injury and higher your premiums.
Bottom line
If you think you couldn’t afford to pay for bills or extra expenses after an accident, personal accident insurance might be right for you. Consider your lifestyle, savings and other coverage when deciding on a policy.
Shop around and research in order to find the policy that’s the right fit for your lifestyle.
Frequently asked questions
Not usually. Most providers don’t take into account medical conditions or health when you apply for coverage. However, if your injury is caused by a pre-existing condition, you may not get a payout. For example, if you have a disease that causes motor skill problems and you fall while trying to climb a ladder, you might not be covered.
Most insurance companies allow you to add a spouse or child to your plan. However, the cut off for coverage for children is 20 years old.
Megan Shepherd is an insurance editor at Finder, committed to delivering precise, informative content to help readers evaluate their insurance coverage options. A licensed insurance agent in health, life, disability and general lines of coverage, Megan's expertise is also seen on CarInsurance.com and backed by more than four years of providing guidance in the industry. She earned her BS at the University of Texas at Dallas and enjoys tuning up her backhand on the tennis court.
More guides on Finder
- Group accident insurance
Group accident insurance is a great add-on for any employer-provided benefits plan.
I would like to know if accident insurance cover people living in Florida
Hi Brenda,
Thank you for reaching out to finder.
Generally, accident insurance cover is covered in Florida. If you already have a personal accident insurance, you may want to review your policy to find out more if you are covered. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
I constantly travel outside the US, if I was to be injured or worst lose my life in a accident would I be covered by accidental insurance?
Hi Shina,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well with you. :)
You would need to check your terms and conditions, Shina. Every policy is unique and sometimes, they have different ways of defining what constitutes an accident. For this reason, it would be a good idea to directly get in touch with your insurer and confirm.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
From a fall injury that turns bad, severe skin lesion and blisters leading to a hospital stay and during the stay was later diagnosed as bullous pemphigoid by the doctor after a blood test. My question is, can this be claimed from my accident policy as in an injury from the fall? Thank you.
Hi Eve,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I’m sorry to hear about your situation.
Typically, if your fall directly caused the disease, then it should be covered by your policy. However, this can be a case by case basis. For this reason, it would be a good idea to review the terms and conditions of your policy or discuss this with your insurer.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua