Life Insurance FundamentalsQuestion 325 of 716

In a universal life policy, choosing the 'level death benefit' option (Option A) rather than the 'increasing death benefit' option (Option B) generally results in:

a.No cash value accumulation at all, since every premium buys pure term coverage
b.A death benefit that stays roughly level, equal to the policy's face amount
c.A death benefit equal to the face amount plus all accumulated cash value
d.Premiums the insurer can raise each year without any stated limit

Explanation

Under the level death benefit election, the total death benefit stays approximately equal to the face amount; as the cash value grows, the pure insurance (net amount at risk) shrinks so the total stays level, which is why the response describing a death benefit that stays roughly level at the face amount is correct. The increasing death benefit election pays the face amount plus the accumulated cash value, so the response giving face amount plus accumulated cash value describes the other election, not this one. Universal life does accumulate cash value under either election, so the response saying every premium buys pure term coverage with no cash value at all is wrong. And while universal life premiums are flexible, the insurer cannot raise a policyowner's required premium without any stated limit; cost-of-insurance charges are capped by guarantees in the contract.

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Reviewed by John Zihao Zhang — California-Licensed Life Insurance Agent (CA Dept. of Insurance License #4396095 — verify)
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