AD&D pays only for unintentional death or specific dismemberment events — it pays nothing for the vast majority of how people actually die. As a standalone product it is overpriced for what it covers; as a free or near-free rider on a group life policy it is harmless padding. The honest rule: do not buy AD&D as your life insurance, and do not let an agent inflate its importance because the commission is good. If you want death-benefit coverage, buy term.