Life Insurance Would an accidental death policy pay for a cocaine overdose? By Barbara Marquand | Updated on July 1, 2016 Why you should trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing honest and reliable information so that you can make the best financial decisions for you and your family. All of our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. We maintain strict editorial independence from insurance companies to maintain editorial integrity, so our recommendations are unbiased and are based on a comprehensive list of criteria. No, typically an accidental death policy would exclude death caused by intoxication or illegal drug use. Other exclusions usually include loss caused by the commission of a felony by the insured, active duty or training in the military or suicide. Accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) policies pay out a benefit if you die from an accident or lose a limb or eyesight. Some also provide benefits for paralysis or coma. Policies specify that to receive benefits, the injury or death must occur within a certain time frame after the accident, and your death must be a direct result of the injuries sustained in the accident. The policy would not pay out if death resulted from a physical or mental illness. AD&D coverage is sold through standalone policies, which can be purchased individually or through a group. Coverage may also be offered as a rider on life insurance policies. Many employers offer AD&D insurance for their employees because it provides coverage to supplement life and disability insurance at a relatively small price. Accidents account for only about 5 percent of deaths, which is why the premiums for AD&D are low. AD&D insurance should be considered a supplemental policy, not a replacement for life insurance, which provides protection whether you die from an accident or illness. For more, see the basics of accidental death and dismemberment insurance. Related Articles Can I take out a life insurance policy on my spouse? By Penny Gusner What happens to the cash value of my whole life insurance policy when I die? By Nupur Gambhir What is guaranteed cash value in a life insurance policy? By Laine Adley Can I withdraw money from my term life insurance? By Nupur Gambhir Do life insurance policies pay out if a person dies of old age? By Les Masterson Can you cash in a paid up life insurance policy? By Les Masterson