California Life and Health Insurance Practice Exam

Under what circumstances might an insurance company adjust benefits after a misstatement of age?

1. For late payments

2. Upon the death of the insured

3. If the insured is under 18

4. When the insured is still alive

The correct answer is: When the insured is still alive

When considering the adjustment of benefits after a misstatement of age, the correct context involves the situation where the insured is still alive. In such cases, if an insured individual misrepresents their age, the insurance company may recalculate the benefits based on the correct age. This is because premiums and coverage amounts can be significantly influenced by the insured's age at the time of policy issuance. If the misstatement is discovered while the insured is living, the insurance company has the right to adjust the benefits to what they would have been had the correct age been provided initially. The adjustments could involve increasing or decreasing the benefits and premiums accordingly. This practice helps ensure that the policy operates fairly and equitably based on the actual risk presented by the insured's true age. The other circumstances mentioned, such as late payments or actions taken upon the death of the insured, do not pertain to the situation of adjusting benefits due to age misstatement in the same immediate manner. In cases of death, insurance companies will generally take into account the correct age at that time, but the adjustments as a direct response to misstatement of age are primarily addressed while the insured is still alive. Additionally, the age of the insured being under 18 may not trigger the