What are common life insurance riders?

This answer is about Life insurance.

Living-benefit riders

• Accelerated death benefit (ADB) — access a portion of the death benefit early if you become terminally, chronically, or (sometimes) critically ill. Often included at no extra cost.
• Long-term care rider — accelerates the death benefit to pay for qualifying long-term care needs, typically for an additional charge.
• Chronic illness rider — similar to LTC riders but with a different qualification trigger.

Premium-protection riders

• Waiver of premium — the insurer waives your premium if you become totally disabled and unable to work.
• Disability income rider — pays a monthly income if you become disabled (availability varies).

Coverage-adjustment riders

• Guaranteed insurability rider (GIR) — buy additional coverage at set future dates without new medical underwriting.
• Term conversion rider — convert term coverage to a permanent policy without new underwriting (often standard on term policies).
• Return of premium (ROP) rider — refunds premiums if you outlive the term of a term policy; adds significant cost.

Family and additional-benefit riders

• Child term rider — level term coverage for eligible children under one attached rider.
• Spouse or 'other insured' rider — term coverage for a spouse on the same policy.
• Accidental death benefit (ADB) — pays an extra death benefit if death is caused by an accident.

Availability, cost, and definitions vary by insurer and state — read the actual rider language, not just the marketing name.