Thanks for your reply Pedro. To play devil’s advocate, using critical illness insurance as an example, suppose you suffer a heart attack and make a claim. You would have paid $50/mo more with the second policy and received the exact same benefit as with the first policy.

There are arguments for and against the rider and your decision will depend on many factors, like your cash flow, risk tolerance, etc. It’s too simplistic to say that everybody should or shouldn’t get the rider. It will vary case by case.

That’s because people look at it wrong.
You’re thinking about “buying insurance or saving my money”

Remember, when you have a return of premiums rider, you get the money for the rider + the money for the premiums.

So for example:
Policy: $100/mo
Policy w/ return of premiums: $150/mo

You are ALREADY spending the $100/mo. For extra $50/mo you’re getting the $50 + $100 back for every month.

It’s actually superior than any other guaranteed investment.

The riders mentioned in the post are the most common ones. Return of premium riders are usually for critical illness and disability insurance policies.