What is the relationship between riders and the original insurance contract?

Riders enhance the original insurance contract by adding additional coverage or modifying existing terms, providing policyholders with broader protection or addressing specific needs that were not included in the base policy. Essentially, they serve to customize the insurance coverage to better align with the insured's circumstances. This is why the correct answer emphasizes that riders provide coverage above and beyond the original contract.

In the context of insurance, it’s important to understand that riders do not replace the original contract; instead, they supplement it by introducing new provisions or extending existing ones. They also do not impact the cancellation status of the policy or solely alter premium rates; rather, they are designed to improve coverage rather than serve as modifiers of the contract's basic structure in those ways. This makes the role of riders significant in tailoring insurance products to meet specific needs while retaining the integrity of the original policy.