Match each field underwriting scenario regarding the completion of an insurance application with its correct legal consequence or regulatory requirement.
- An agent adds missing medical information to an application after the applicant has already signed the document and left the office.This constitutes an unauthorized alteration; any changes or additions to the document must be explicitly initialed by the applicant.
- An applicant notices they entered an incorrect birth year on the application and wishes to fix it during the initial interview.The error must be crossed out, the correct data entered, and the revision must be initialed by the applicant.
- An insurer issues a policy despite the submitted application entirely missing an answer to a question about hazardous hobbies.The insurer has executed a waiver regarding that specific information and cannot later contest a claim based on the missing answer.
- A business owner applies for key person life insurance covering their top sales executive.The document requires signatures from the agent, the business owner (as the applicant), and the executive (as the insured).
Answer
Agent altering signed application pairs with unauthorized alteration requiring applicant initials. Applicant fixing an error pairs with crossing out the mistake and initialing. Insurer issuing a policy with a blank question pairs with a legal waiver of that information. Key person application pairs with requiring signatures from the agent, business owner, and insured executive.
Each scenario represents a core rule of field underwriting and application completion. Agents cannot alter applications (preventing fraud), applicants must initial their own corrections (maintaining the document's legal validity), insurers waive rights when accepting incomplete applications (estoppel/waiver doctrine), and third-party policies require all involved parties' signatures (proving consent and insurable interest).
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Proper procedures for completing, altering, and signing an insurance application, including the legal consequences of improper handling.