A rider is an optional add-on to an insurance policy that provides additional coverage beyond the base plan. Riders allow you to customize your policy to match your specific needs without switching to a completely different plan. In Canadian health insurance, common riders include vision care, travel medical insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), out-of-country emergency coverage, and enhanced drug coverage. Adding a rider increases your premium but lets you get targeted coverage for benefits that matter most to you. Riders are selected at the time of application or at renewal and can sometimes be removed later. Not all riders are available with all plan types — guaranteed-issue plans may have fewer rider options than underwritten plans.