Life provisions & riders
The standard clauses every life policy contains, plus the optional add-ons (riders) and the choices owners make. Heavily tested. All STABLE.
Standard provisions
Section titled “Standard provisions”- Free look — a window (e.g., 10–30 days, VERIFY by state) to return the policy for a full refund.
- Grace period — time after a missed premium during which coverage continues (commonly ~30 days; VERIFY).
- Incontestability — after the policy has been in force a set period (commonly 2 years), the insurer cannot contest it for misstatements (except, often, fraud/ non-payment). Protects beneficiaries from late denials.
- Reinstatement — restore a lapsed policy within a period by showing insurability and paying back premium + interest.
- Misstatement of age/sex — if age/sex was misstated, the benefit is adjusted to what the premium would have bought at the correct age (not voided).
- Suicide clause — suicide within the first ~2 years usually limits payout to a refund of premiums, not the face amount.
- Entire contract — the policy + attached application are the whole contract; nothing can be incorporated by reference later.
Notice several of these protect the beneficiary by limiting how/when the insurer can challenge the policy — a recurring exam theme.
Beneficiaries
Section titled “Beneficiaries”- Primary vs contingent (paid if the primary predeceases the insured).
- Revocable (can be changed anytime) vs irrevocable (needs the beneficiary’s consent to change).
- Per stirpes (by branch — a deceased beneficiary’s share passes to their heirs) vs per capita (by head — split among surviving named beneficiaries).
The three “options” families
Section titled “The three “options” families”- Nonforfeiture options (what happens to cash value if you stop paying): cash surrender, reduced paid-up insurance, or extended term insurance.
- Dividend options (for participating policies): take cash, reduce premium, leave to accumulate at interest, buy paid-up additions, or buy one-year term.
- Settlement options (how the death benefit is paid out): lump sum, interest only, fixed period, fixed amount, or life income.
Common riders
Section titled “Common riders”- Waiver of premium — waives premiums if the insured becomes totally disabled.
- Accidental death (double indemnity) — extra benefit for accidental death.
- Guaranteed insurability — buy more coverage later without proving insurability.
- Accelerated death benefit — access part of the death benefit early if terminally ill.
Policy loans
Section titled “Policy loans”Permanent policies let the owner borrow against cash value; unpaid loans + interest reduce the death benefit. An automatic premium loan (APL) can pay a missed premium from cash value to prevent lapse.
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