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LIFE

Introduction

Exam Breakdown – revised exam breakdown

West Virginia Life Insurance Examination
89 Total Questions (78 scored, 11 pretest)

Completing the Application, Underwriting, and Delivering the Policy

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) Privacy

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act stipulates that in general, an insurance company may not disclose nonpublic personal information to a nonaffiliated third party except for the following reasons:

• The insurance company clearly and conspicuously discloses to the consumer in writing that information may be disclosed to a third party;
• The consumer is given the opportunity, before the time that information is initially disclosed, to direct that information not be disclosed to the third party; or
• The consumer is given an explanation of how the consumer can exercise a nondisclosure option.

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act requires 2 disclosures to a customer (a consumer who has an ongoing financial relationship with a financial institution):

1. When the customer relationship is established (i.e. a policy is purchased); and
2. Before disclosing protected information.

The customer must also receive an annual privacy disclosure, and have the right to opt out, or choose not to have their private information shared with other parties.

Types of Policies

E. Annuities

Payout Options

Annuity payment options specify how annuity funds are to be paid out. They are very similar to the settlement options used in life insurance that determine how the policy proceeds are distributed to the beneficiaries.

Life Contingency Options - Pure Life vs. Life with Guaranteed Minimum

The life annuity will pay a specific amount for the remainder of the annuitant’s life. With pure life, also known as life-only or straight life, this payment ceases at the annuitant's death (no matter how soon in the annuitization period that occurs). This option provides the highest monthly benefits for an individual annuitant. Under this option, while the annuity payments are guaranteed for the lifetime of the annuitant, there is no guarantee that all the proceeds will be fully paid out.

Under the life with guaranteed minimum settlement option, if the annuitant dies before the principal amount has been paid out, the remainder of the principal amount will be refunded to the beneficiary. This option is also called refund life. It guarantees that the entire principal amount will be paid out.

There are two types of refund life annuities:

• Cash refund — when the annuitant dies, the beneficiary receives a lump-sum refund of the principal minus benefit payments already made to the annuitant. Cash refund option does not guarantee to pay any interest.
• Installment refund — when the annuitant dies, the beneficiary will continue to receive guaranteed installments until the entire principal amount has been paid out.

Note, however, that any unpaid annuity benefits following the death of an annuitant are taxable when paid to the beneficiary.

Life with period (term) certain is another life contingency payout option. Under this option, the annuity payments are guaranteed for the lifetime of the annuitant, and for a specified period of time for the beneficiary. For example, a life income with a 20-year period certain option would provide the annuitant with an income while he is living (for the entire life). If, however, the annuitant dies shortly after payments begin, the payments will be continued to a beneficiary for the remainder of the period (for a total of 20 years).

Single Life vs. Multiple Life

Single life annuities cover one life, and annuity payments are made with reference to one life only. Contributions can be made with a single premium or on a periodic premium basis with subsequent values accumulating until the contract is annuitized.

Multiple life annuities cover 2 or more lives. The most common multiple life annuities are joint life, and joint and survivor.

Joint Life

Joint life is a payout arrangement where two or more annuitants receive payments until the first death among the annuitants, and then payments stop.

Joint and Survivor

The joint and survivor arrangement is a modification of the life income option in that it guarantees an income for two recipients that neither can outlive. Although it is possible for the surviving recipient(s) to receive payments in the same amount as the first recipient to die, most contracts provide that the surviving recipients will receive a reduced payment after the first recipient dies. Most commonly, this option is written as “joint and ½ survivor” or "joint and 2/3 survivor,” in which the surviving beneficiary receives ½ or 2/3 of what was received when both beneficiaries were alive. This option is commonly selected by a couple in retirement. As with the life income option, there is no guarantee that all the proceeds will be paid out if both beneficiaries die shortly after the installments begin.

Annuities Certain (Types)

In contrast with life contingency benefit payment options, annuities certain are short-term annuities that limit the amounts paid to a certain fixed period or until a certain fixed amount is liquidated.

With fixed-period installments, the annuitant selects the time period for the benefits, and the insurer determines how much each payment will be, based on the value of the account and future earnings projections. This option pays for a specified amount of time only, whether or not the annuitant is living.

With fixed-amount installments, the annuitant selects how much each payment will be, and the insurer determines how long the benefits will be paid by analyzing the value of the account and future earnings. This option pays a specific amount until funds are exhausted, whether or not the annuitant is living.

Life Policy Provisions, Riders and Options

C. Beneficiary Designations

Designation by Class

A class of beneficiary is using a designation such as "my children." This term can be vague if the insured has been married more than once, has adopted children, or has children out of wedlock.

An example of a class that is less vague is "children of the union of Jane Smith and James Smith." Many insurers encourage the insured to name each child specifically and to state the percentage of benefit they are to receive.

When naming beneficiaries, it is most prudent to be specific by naming each individual and by designating the exact amount to be given for that individual. Two class designations are available for use when an insured chooses to "group" the beneficiaries: per capita and per stirpes. Per capita, meaning by the head, evenly distributes benefits among the living named beneficiaries. Per stirpes, meaning by the bloodline, distributes the benefits of a beneficiary who died before the insured to that beneficiary's heirs.

D. Policy Riders – additional riders

Disability Income

With the disability income rider, in the event of disability the insurer will waive the policy premiums and pay a monthly income to the insured. The amount paid is normally based on a percentage of the face amount of the policy to which it is attached.

Cost of Living

The cost of living rider addresses the inflation factor by automatically increasing the amount of insurance without evidence of insurability from the insured. The face value of the policy may be increased by a cost of living factor tied to an inflation index such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

HEALTH

Introduction

Exam Breakdown – revised exam breakdown

West Virginia Accident and Health (Sickness) Insurance Examination

91 Total Questions (80 scored, 11 pretest)