Which of these riders will pay a death benefit if the insured's spouse dies?

• A. Spousal rider with cash value
• B. Family term insurance rider
• C. Waiver of premium rider
• D. Accelerated death benefit rider

Answer: (B)

Riders that add coverage for a spouse are designed to extend life protection to family members. A family term insurance rider specifically creates term life coverage on the spouse, so if the insured’s spouse dies during the rider’s term, a death benefit is paid to the policy owner or beneficiary. That direct link—spouse death triggers a stated death benefit—is why this rider is the best answer for paying out upon the spouse’s death.

The other riders serve different purposes: a waivers premiums rider is about continuing coverage if the insured becomes disabled, not about paying on a spouse’s death; an accelerated death benefit rider lets the insured access part of the death benefit early if terminally ill, which reduces the amount left to be paid at death; and a spousal rider with cash value typically involves permanent coverage on the spouse with a cash value component, but its primary function isn’t as straightforward a死 benefit payout on the spouse’s death as the family term rider.