Waiver of Premium
If you become totally disabled and can't work, this rider waives your premium payments while keeping your coverage in force.
Customize your coverage
RIDERS
How to customize your Guardian life insurance policy
Life Insurance Riders: How to Customize Your Guardian Policy
A rider is an optional add-on that changes or expands what your life insurance policy covers. Some riders are available on term policies, some on whole life, and several work on both. Below is a breakdown to help you understand your options before you meet with your agent.
Rider availability, cost, and exact names can vary by state and policy series. Talk to us for the specific riders available on your policy.
Riders Available on Term Life Policies
Waiver Plus
An enhanced version of waiver of premium that may offer broader disability protection.
Accelerated Terminal Illness (Living Benefit) Rider
Lets you access a portion of your death benefit early if you're diagnosed with a terminal illness — money you can use for medical care or any other need while you're still alive.
Accidental Death Benefit
Pays an additional death benefit if death occurs as a result of a covered accident.
Guaranteed Renewability
Guarantees you can renew your term policy at the end of the level term period without new medical underwriting (premiums increase with age).
Term Conversion / Extended Conversion
Allows you to convert your term policy into a whole life or universal life policy — typically without a medical exam — within a set window (often the first 5 years, with an extended conversion option available for longer).
Charitable Benefit Rider
Directs a portion of the death benefit to a qualifying charity of your choice, often at no additional cost.
Riders Available on Whole Life Policies
Waiver of Premium
Same protection as above — premiums are waived if you become disabled, while your policy and cash value continue to grow.
Guaranteed Insurability Option (GIO)
Lets you purchase additional coverage at set future intervals or life events (marriage, birth of a child, etc.) without proving insurability. Especially valuable on policies for children or young adults.
Accelerated Benefit / Living Benefit Rider
Provides early access to a portion of the death benefit if you're diagnosed with a terminal or chronic illness.
Long-Term Care Rider
Allows you to use a portion of the death benefit to help pay for qualifying long-term care expenses.
Index Participation Feature (IPF)
Links a portion of your policy's cash value performance to an index like the S&P 500, with any additional growth reflected in your dividends.
Paid-Up Additions Rider (PUAR)
Lets you use extra premium payments to purchase small amounts of fully paid-up additional insurance, which increases both your death benefit and cash value growth over time — a popular tool for accelerating cash value.
Accidental Death Benefit
Adds an extra payout if death results from a covered accident.
Charitable Benefit Rider
Directs part of the death benefit to a charity of your choosing.
Universal Life & SafeGuard360
Guardian's universal life and hybrid SafeGuard360 policies (which combine whole life, long-term care, and disability income in one contract) may offer additional or overlapping riders, including disability income and long-term care benefits built into the base design. These are worth a separate conversation since they function differently from a traditional add-on rider.
Life Insurance Riders: FAQ
What is a life insurance rider?
A rider is an optional add-on to your life insurance policy that changes or expands your coverage — for example, adding a benefit for disability, illness, or extra death benefit protection. Riders let you tailor a policy to your specific needs instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all contract.
Do riders cost extra?
Some do, some don't. Riders like Waiver of Premium or Long-Term Care typically add to your premium. Others, like the Charitable Benefit Rider, are often included at no additional cost. Your agent can walk you through the cost of each rider on your specific policy.
Can I add riders to a term life policy?
Yes. Common term riders include Waiver of Premium, Accidental Death Benefit, Accelerated Terminal Illness Rider, Guaranteed Renewability, Term Conversion, and Charitable Benefit.
Can I add riders to a whole life policy?
Yes. Whole life riders often include Waiver of Premium, Guaranteed Insurability Option, Accelerated Benefit Rider, Long-Term Care Rider, Index Participation Feature, Paid-Up Additions Rider, and Accidental Death Benefit.
What's the difference between Waiver of Premium and Waiver Plus?
Both waive your premiums if you become disabled and can't work, keeping your policy in force. Waiver Plus is an enhanced version that may offer broader disability protection — your agent can confirm what's available on your policy series.
What does the Accelerated Terminal Illness Rider actually do?
It lets you access part of your death benefit while you're still alive if you're diagnosed with a terminal illness, so you can use the money for medical bills, care, or anything else you need.
What's a Long-Term Care Rider?
It allows you to use a portion of your death benefit to help cover qualifying long-term care expenses, such as nursing home or in-home care, if you need it.
What is the Guaranteed Insurability Option (GIO)?
It lets you buy additional coverage in the future — often tied to life events like marriage or the birth of a child — without having to prove you're still insurable. It's especially useful on policies for children or young adults, since it locks in future coverage regardless of health changes.
What is a Paid-Up Additions Rider (PUAR)?
It lets you apply extra premium payments toward small amounts of fully paid-up insurance, which increases both your death benefit and your policy's cash value growth over time. It's a common strategy for building cash value faster in a whole life policy.
Can I convert my term policy into a whole life policy later?
Yes, if your policy includes a Term Conversion rider. This typically lets you convert within a set window (often the first 5 years) without a new medical exam. An Extended Conversion rider can lengthen that window.
Are riders available in every state?
Not always. Rider availability can vary by state and by policy series. Your agent can confirm exactly which riders apply to your policy.
Do I need to decide on riders when I first buy my policy?
Some riders, like Guaranteed Insurability Option, need to be added at the time of purchase. Others can potentially be added or adjusted later, depending on the rider and policy terms. It's best to review your options with your agent both at purchase and during regular policy reviews.
How do I know which riders are right for me?
It depends on your goals — income protection, family planning, cash value growth, or legacy giving all point to different riders. A policy review conversation with your agent is the best way to match riders to your actual situation.
Why riders matter
Riders let clients tailor a policy to their actual life circumstances — protecting income if they become disabled, guaranteeing future insurability for a growing family, accelerating cash value growth, or making sure a portion of their legacy goes to a cause they care about. Not every rider fits every client, which is why a policy review conversation matters more than a one-size-fits-all package.
Have questions about which riders make sense for your situation?
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This content is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute a complete description of any Guardian policy or rider. Riders are optional, may require additional premium, may not be available in all states, and are subject to the terms of the policy contract and underwriting approval. Please consult your policy illustration and a licensed Guardian agent for details specific to your coverage.