An agent discovers an incomplete medical question and a spelling error on a paper life insurance application shortly after the applicant has left the office. Arrange the following actions in the legally required chronological order the agent must follow to properly correct and submit the application.
- 1Contact the applicant to arrange a time to address the incomplete and incorrect sections.
- 2Have the applicant provide the missing medical information and physically correct the spelling error.
- 3Require the applicant to place their initials next to both the newly added answer and the corrected text.
- 4Submit the fully completed and properly amended application to the insurer's underwriting department.
Answer
The proper sequence is to first contact the applicant, have them provide the missing information and make corrections, require them to initial those specific changes, and finally submit the completed application to underwriting.
Any changes or additions to an insurance application must be made with the applicant's full knowledge and consent. The agent must never alter the application themselves or submit an incomplete application. The chronological process legally requires the agent to bring the applicant back, have the applicant make and initial the changes, and only then submit the finalized document.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Completing the Application - Error Correction Protocols