Riders Vs. Add on Covers
  • What are riders?
  • What are add-ons?
  • Know the difference
Riders Vs. Add on Covers
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Simran saxena
Written By:
Simran

Simran saxena

Health and Term Insurance

Simran has over 3 years of experience in content marketing, insurance, and healthcare sectors. Her motto to make health and term insurance simple for our readers has proven to make insurance lingos simple and easy to understand by our readers.

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Anchita Bhattacharyya

Anchita Bhattacharyya

Health, Term & Life Insurance

Anchita has over 6 years of experience in content marketing, insurance, and healthcare sectors. Her motto to make health and term insurance simple for our readers has proven to make insurance lingos simple and easy to understand by our readers.

Himanshu Kumar

Himanshu Kumar

Term Insurance, Content Writer

Content Manager with heart, mind, and soul dedicated to creating impactful content that exceeds the market standard, delivers and reaches the readers conveniently. Besides producing high-ranking content, my focus lies in creating content that solves user queries and adds value.

Himanshu Kumar

Written By: Himanshu Kumar

Updated on Jan 15, 2025

Himanshu Kumar

Anchita Bhattacharyya

Term Insurance, Content Manager

Content Manager with heart, mind, and soul dedicated to creating impactful content that exceeds the market standard, delivers and reaches the readers conveniently. Besides producing high-ranking content, my focus lies in creating content that solves user queries and adds value.

Reviewed By: Anchita Bhattacharyya

15 min read

Rhishabh Garg
Written By: Rhishabh Garg
Rhishabh Garg
Rhishabh Garg Term Insurance Head
Rhishabh Garg is the Business Unit Head of Term Insurance at Policybazaar.com. He has over 10 years of experience and currently plays a crucial role in shaping the future of term insurance in the company. Rhishabh also has experience in customer services and crafts new strategies for organizational success, one of which is Policybazaar’s claim assistance program.
Santosh Agrawal
Reviewed By: Santosh Agrawal
Santosh Agrawal
Santosh AgrawalChief Business Officer
Santosh Agarwal is the Chief Business Officer of life Insurance at Policybazaar.com and has over a decade of experience in the insurance domain. She has helped shape Policybazaar's life insurance vertical and ensures the effective execution of the company's overall strategy. Santosh is also responsible for the Term Insurance for Women domain at Policybazaar.com and educates the masses about its importance and benefits.

Riders Vs. Add on Covers: A Comprehensive Guide

When you are buying health insurance, there are so many aspects that your policy would not cover. Say, for example, consumable items, critical illness, accidents, maternity and much more. But, you can get them covered by including riders and add-ons.

What are these?

Technically speaking, riders and add-ons, both work similarly with your health insurance policy. It enhances your base health insurance policy by giving additional coverage. But, both are different in their own ways. Let me tell you how.

What is a rider in health insurance?What is an add-on cover in health insurance?
Riders refer to the additional benefits that you can buy on top of your base health insurance coverage.Add-on covers are the additional coverage benefits that you can purchase alongside your base health insurance policy.

The definition is quite similar, right? Check out the section below to know the difference between the two.

Key Takeaways

  • Riders and add-on covers are both ways to enhance your base health insurance policy by providing additional coverage.
  • Both riders and add-ons can be cost-effective ways to improve your health insurance coverage.
  • Choosing between riders and add-ons depends on your individual needs and the flexibility you desire. Consider factors like cost, desired coverage, and compatibility with your base plan.

Difference between add-ons and riders in health insurance

BasisHealth insurance ridersHealth insurance add-ons
BuyingYou can purchase the riders from the existing insurer.You can purchase the add-on from the existing insurer or separate insurer.
Plan AssociationRiders are associated with your base health plan.Add-ons are not associated with any health plans, hence you can buy them from any insurer.
Terms and ConditionsIt amends the terms and conditions of the base health insurance policyIt does not amend the terms and conditions of the base policy.
Policy DocumentsNo new policy documents are issued for the rider. It comes within your plan.A separate policy document is issued for the add-on cover.
AvailabilityMost health insurance plans offer riders.Not all health insurance plans come with add-on coverage.

Types of Health Insurance Riders

  • Critical illness rider- Provides coverage in case, the policyholder is diagnosed with a critical illness like cancer, kidney failure etc.
  • Personal accident rider- Gives extra financial benefits, in case of accidental death or disability.
  • PED coverage from day 1 rider- If you are suffering from any pre-existing disease like hypertension, diabetes, thyroid, etc. this rider will benefit you by giving coverage from day 1.
  • Room rent waiver rider- This rider will help you in waiving off the room rent for better rooms than your base health plan covers. This means if you want to choose a better room for accommodation during hospitalisation, then you can do so without any extra cost.
  • Maternity rider- A perfect rider if you are planning a family. This rider will give you coverage during the most beautiful time of life when you are embracing a new life. It will cover right from day one of your pregnancy to the post-natal care.
  • OPD riders- This rider allows you to opt for OPD treatments, like doctor consultations, diagnostic processes, pharmacy, etc.
  • Hospital daily cash rider- As the name suggests, it will provide you with the daily cash during hospitalisation. It will help you pay for the cost of transportation, food, consumable items, surgical accessories, and other procedures that might not be covered by a basic health plan.

For more details on health insurance riders, read here.

Types of Add-ons in Health Insurance

  • Inflation shiels- It will protect you against inflation in the country by multiplying your sum insured every year.
  • Consumables cover- Usually, a basic health insurance plan does not cover consumables like gloves, syringes, clothes, etc. These items are used during the hospitalisation but are not part of medical services. A policy like the Star Extra Protect add-on covers these items.
  • No-claim bonus safeguard- This add-on by Aditya Birla Health Insurance makes sure that there should be no impact or reduction on any no-claim bonus accrued at the renewal.
  • Home care treatment- This add-on gives coverage for domiciliary treatment. With this add-on cover, you can avoid unnecessary trips to the hospital and get required treatments at home.

To know more about add-ons in health insurance, click here.

Choose your coverage wisely!

Chronic diseases are on the rise nowadays. Having an additional coverage can help you in the difficult times. However, by understanding the difference between riders and add-on covers, you can make informed decisions when customizing your health insurance plan. Riders in health insurance offer a tightly integrated way to expand your base policy’s coverage, while add-on covers provide more flexibility in terms of purchase and plan association. Whether you choose riders, add-ons, or a combination of both, remember to carefully review the terms and conditions to ensure they align with your specific needs and budget. With the right enhancements, your health insurance policy can provide comprehensive protection for you and your loved ones.

I hope after reading this information about riders vs add-ons health insurance has solved all your queries. To know more about such information, visit PolicyX.com.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I purchase both riders and add-on cover for my health insurance policy?

Yes, you can purchase both riders and add-on coverage to enhance your health insurance coverage.

2. Can I purchase a rider at any time during my policy term?

The availability of riders may vary depending on your insurer and the specific policy. Some insurers may allow you to add riders at any time, while others may have restrictions or require specific conditions.

3. Are riders and add-on covers expensive?

The cost of riders and add-on covers varies depending on the specific coverage, your age, health status, and other factors. However, they can be a cost-effective way to enhance your overall health insurance protection.

4. How do I determine if a rider or add-on cover is worth the cost?

Consider your individual needs, risk tolerance, and budget. If you are concerned about specific risks or require additional coverage, a rider or add-on cover may be very valuable.

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Simran saxena

Written By: Simran Saxena

Simran has over 3 years of experience in content marketing, insurance, and healthcare sectors. Her motto to make health and term insurance simple for our readers has proven to make insurance lingos simple and easy to understand by our readers.