Compare personal accident insurance

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 are if you:

• Want coverage for items not covered by health insurance. This can include the costs of rehab or transportation and lodging.
• Have a risky hobby or job. Accidents could happen, especially if your hobbies include physical activity and potentially dangerous situations.
• 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.
• Don’t have savings. If you suffer an accident and aren’t able to work as a result, your policy can provide financial assistance.
• 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.
• Are self-employed or a contract worker. 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

Insurance also provides 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 doesn’t generally cover injuries as a result of:

Other benefits of accident insurance

Having accident insurance has other benefits including:

• Premiums are tax-deductible. 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.

• Benefit amount. The higher the lump-sum payouts are for each type of accident, the more you’ll pay.

• 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 life insurance policy that’s the right fit for your lifestyle.

Frequently asked questions

How will a pre-existing condition disqualify me from accident insurance?

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.

How do I add dependents to my accident insurance coverage?

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.

Written by

Megan B. Shepherd

Editor, Loans & Insurance

Megan B. Shepherd is a personal finance editor at Finder where she helps people navigate the financial world of loans. Her personal finance expertise has been featured on Forbes, Nasdaq, MediaFeed, Fox News, Time, Reviews.com, and carinsurance.com, adding invaluable information related to personal loans, financial strategies and smart borrowing tactics. Megan graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a BS in Business Administration with an entrepreneurial focus. She's worked as a certified financial adviser and has earned certificates of completion from A.D. Banker & Company. See full bio

Megan B.'s expertise

Megan B. has written 37 Finder guides across topics including:

• Personal loans, business loans and home loans
• Underwriting guidelines
• Life, disability, car, health, accident, critical illness, dental and vision insurance
• Policy comparison