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Question

Difficulty: MediumSources of Underwriting Information

An applicant for a life insurance policy contacts their agent a day after completing the paperwork to report that they accidentally omitted a recent hypertension diagnosis from the medical history section. The agent still has the physical application in their office. According to proper procedures for gathering and maintaining underwriting information, which of the following is the correct course of action for the agent?

  1. A
    Cross out the incorrect answer, write in the new diagnosis on the applicant's behalf, and submit the application to the underwriter.
  2. B
    Advise the applicant that because their initial answers are considered absolute warranties, a completely new application must be filled out.
  3. Arrange to meet with the applicant so they can add the omitted medical information and personally initial the correction on the application.Answer
  4. D
    Document the diagnosis as a new moral hazard in an Agent's Report and submit it to the insurer without altering the original application.

Answer

The correct action is to arrange to meet with the applicant so they can add the omitted medical information and personally initial the correction on the application.
The correct answer accurately reflects the procedural rule that the application is a legal document and the primary source of underwriting information. Therefore, any corrections or additions must be explicitly acknowledged and initialed by the applicant to remain valid.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the nature of the missing underwriting information.
The missing information is a medical diagnosis (hypertension), which belongs in the medical history section of the application.
The application is the primary source of information used by underwriters to evaluate risk.
2
Determine the legal rules governing changes to an insurance application.
Any changes or corrections to an application must be initialed by the applicant.
This ensures the applicant is fully aware of all representations being made to the insurer, protecting both the insurer and the consumer.
3
Evaluate the agent's proposed actions against regulatory standards.
The agent must physically meet with the applicant to have them add the information and initial the change.
Agents cannot alter applications on their own, categorize medical conditions as moral hazards in separate reports, or incorrectly classify applicant statements as strict warranties.

Key Concept

Application Alterations and Signatures
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Topics

Sources of Underwriting Information

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