New Jersey Life Producer Practice Exam

If an insured understates her age and this is discovered upon her death, what will the insurer do?

1. Provide full benefits regardless of age

2. Refuse all claims

3. Provide income for retirement

4. Cancel the policy

The correct answer is: Provide income for retirement

In situations where an insured understates their age and this discrepancy is discovered after the insured's death, the insurer typically calculates the benefits based on the corrected age. If the insured were younger than their stated age, the insurer would adjust the death benefit to reflect the appropriate amount that would have been owed if the correct age had been disclosed initially. The primary principle at play is that insurance contracts are based on accurate information, including the insured's age, which influences premiums and coverage amounts. While full benefits might seem like a compassionate option, it would contradict the terms of the contract based on truthful information. Similarly, refusing all claims or canceling the policy outright would not align with the typical practices in the industry. Instead, the insurer would provide benefits adjusted to account for the age discrepancy, ensuring a fair outcome based on the corrected age. This aligning with entitlements is not approached through simply fulfilling retirement income needs, but rather through the provision of life insurance benefits as dictated by the terms of the policy.