Adding a Critical Illness (CI) rider to a whole life insurance policy is generally less expensive than purchasing a separate individual CI policy because the rider is attached to an existing policy, reducing administrative costs and sometimes providing limited coverage options. While a CI rider may offer a less comprehensive range of covered conditions than a standalone policy, it serves as a cost-effective solution for adding coverage to a primary life insurance policy. Additionally, CI riders often provide a more affordable premium than individual policies, aligning with budget-conscious clients like Maverick​​.