Protective Life Insurance Company, Birmingham, Ala., has released a new universal life insurance chronic illness rider that offers an affordable option for consumers' chronic care needs. The optional feature applies to Protective's ProClassicSM universal life policy or West Coast Life's LifeTime Advantage PlusSM universal life policy, and can provide an important source of funds in the event of certain chronic illness conditions by accelerating the payment of a portion of the policy's death benefit.