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Your guide to Accidental Death Benefit

Your guide to the Accidental Death Benefit

Provided by Legal & General

Accidental Death Benefit within your Insurance offers some protection while your life insurance application is being processed. Learn about death insurance with Sainsbury’s Bank.

What is Accidental Death Benefit?

Serious accidents are an unfortunate and unexpected fact of life. Sometimes when you apply for life insurance, we are unable to give you an immediate decision on your application. That’s why Accidental Death Benefit is included with your life insurance policy, at no extra cost.

Accidental Death Benefit offers some protection while your application is being processed.

Death insurance will start when we get a completed application form from you online or over the phone. Cover lasts for 90 days or until:

  • Your application is accepted.
  • Your application is postponed.
  • Your application is declined. 
  • You notify us that you no longer want to go ahead. 

How does the Accidental Death Benefit work?

Accidental Death Benefit pays a cash sum if you pass away within 90 days of an accident. According to Legal & General, an accident is defined as an incident where bodily injury occurs due to accidental, violent, external, and visible means, resulting solely and independently in death. The maximum payment would be either the cover amount you applied for (across all applications) or £300,000, whichever is lower.

Is Accidental Death Benefit right for me?

Accidental Death Benefit means that if the worst were to happen before your Life Insurance policy is approved, your partner or family wouldn’t be left out of pocket. 

It’s included with your life insurance policy while we process your application, giving you peace of mind at no extra cost.

Unlike life insurance, there’s no medical required for Accidental Death Benefit. This means any pre-existing health conditions and lifestyle choices won't affect the premium that you pay.

You can also choose to add your partner onto your accidental death policy if they’re aged 18-84 and live with you.

What isn't covered by the Accidental Death Benefit?

The benefit will not be paid if your application is to replace an existing policy with Legal & General, while you remain covered under the existing one.

The benefit will not be paid out if you die from:

  • Suicide, intentional and serious self-injury or an event where, in Legal & General’s reasonable opinion, you took your own life
  • Taking part or attempting to take part in a dangerous sport or pastime
  • Taking part or attempting to take part in an aerial flight other than as a fare paying passenger on a licensed airline
  • Committing, attempting or provoking an assault or criminal offence
  • War (whether declared or not), riot or civil commotion
  • Taking alcohol or drugs (unless these drugs were prescribed by a registered doctor in the United Kingdom)
  • Accidents that happened before your application

For further details, please read the policy summary.

Whether you want to leave your loved ones with a cash gift or help protect your mortgage, there’s a policy to suit you.

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For questions and quotes

Call 0800 027 7166* More phone options

Lines are open:
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*Telephone calls may be recorded for security purposes and monitored under Legal & General's quality control procedures. Calls free from a landline and mobile if calling from the UK.

Frequently asked questions

What is covered under accidental death benefit within your insurance?

Accidental death benefit pays out a cash sum if you die within 90 days of an accident. This includes:

  • An accident where a bodily injury is sustained.
  • An accident caused by accidental, violent, external and visible means.
  • An accident which results in death independently of any other cause. 

Is accidental death benefit within your insurance a good idea?

With Sainsbury’s Bank, accidental death benefit within your insurance is included with your life insurance policy at no extra cost. It protects your partner and family if you were to die before your life insurance policy application is approved.

What does accidental death not cover?

Accidental death benefit doesn’t cover the following:

  • Death by suicide.
  • Death as a result of taking part in a dangerous sport or hobby.
  • Death as a result of committing or provoking an assault or criminal offence.
  • Death from taking alcohol or drugs – unless prescribed by a registered doctor in the UK. 
  • Accidents that happened before your application. 

What’s the difference between term insurance and accidental death insurance?

The key difference between term insurance and accidental death insurance is that an accidental death benefit is only paid out for accidental death. Life insurance however pays out for a wide range of different causes of death.