Medical Examination

An examination required of applicants for life insurance for medical underwriting purposes. Depending on the amount of coverage applied for, a medical examination could include blood work, diagnostics, or even a complete physical examination. Examinations are typically conducted by a paramedical examiner in the home or office of the applicant.

Level Term Insurance

A type of term life insurance in which the death benefit and payable premiums are fixed and level over the term of the policy. Level term insurance policies are typically issued for terms of 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years. Premiums are higher for longer term policies.

Dividend

A cash payment made to policyholders from the profits of a mutual life insurance company. The profit comes from excess premiums collected to cover the current year’s insurance costs. Dividends can be received as cash, used to pay a portion of the premium or applied to the policy to purchase paid up additions of insurance.

Decreasing Term Insurance

A type of term insurance in which the death benefit is scheduled to gradually decrease over the term of the policy. The insured pays a level premium because the cost of insurance decreases each year. Decreasing term insurance is often used to protect a mortgage.

Conversion Privilege

A provision offered in certain life insurance policies to allow a policyholder to convert an existing policy into a different type of policy without evidence of insurability. The most common type of conversion is from a term policy into a permanent policy in which the new premium is based on the insured’s attained age at … Read more

Conditional Receipt

An acknowledgment by the life insurer of a premium payment made by an applicant that also provides interim coverage while the application is being processed in underwriting. A conditional receipt can be revoked should underwriters uncover any medical conditions that might change the rating of the policy.

Broker

A person licensed by the state to sell insurance. Because they have selling agreements with multiple companies, they can work on behalf of the client to search the market for the most suitable insurance products for their situation.

Cash Value

The savings component of life insurance in which a portion of each premium payment is applied. In life insurance policies, the cash value is allowed to accumulate tax-free. Over time, the cash value growth will have the effect of lowering the amount at risk for the insurer because, at the death of the insured, the … Read more

Beneficiary

The individual or entity designated by the policyholder to receive the death benefit proceeds when the insured dies. A policyholder can name several beneficiaries which are often designated as a primary (first to receive benefits) and contingent (receives benefits if the primary beneficiary is already deceased).

Annually Renewable Term

A type of life insurance policy that provides a death benefit with no cash value and is renewed each year with no evidence of insurability. The premium is adjusted upward each year based on the insured attained age.