True/False Flashcards
Case law is flexible in application - L1
True
In contrast, legislative law is rigid in application
The supremacy clause says that only in those areas where the U.S. Constitution is silent will state laws be supreme - L1
True
American case law is derived from community property law - L1
False
It is derived from English common law
All states have appellate state courts - L1
True
While there may not be an appellate court domiciled in a given state, that state is included in a group of states served by one of the 13 appellate courts
The center-of-gravity theory states that the laws of the state having the most significant connections w/ the matter in dispute will apply - L1
True
The promise an insurer makes in a life insurance contract is to pay the death benefit and other benefits set out in the policy if certain conditions are met - L1
True
The policyowner makes promises in a life insurance contract - L1
False
A policyowner makes no promises in a life insurance contract
An agreement where both parties expect to receive approximately equal value is called an aleatory contract - L1
False
An agreement where both parties expect to receive approximately equal value is called a commutative contract. An aleatory contract is an agreement that refers to unequal value
An agreement in which only one party makes a promise is called a unilateral agreement - L1
True
A life insurance policy is a contract of adhesion. It is not negotiated nor amended by the non-drafting party - L1
True
The legal parties to a contract are the insurer and the beneficiary - L2
False
Insurer and the policyowner
In most states, life insurance policies can be backdated up to 9 months - L2
False
6 months
The parol evidence rule states that once a life insurance policy is issued, previous written or oral communications cannot be used to add any additional terms to the contract - L2
True
The insurer is the only party to a life insurance contract that makes an offer - L2
True
The policyowner accepts or rejects the offer
The delivery-in-good-health clause indicates that when an applicant’s health status is disputed, the insured usually has the burden of proof with regard to proving that they were in good health at the time of policy delivery - L2
False
Insurer has burden of proof and must prove insured was not in good health at the time of policy delivery
A life insurance company’s consideration includes a promise to pay the face amount of the policy at maturity plus any other promises in the policy - L2
True
Most states allow the acceptance of services for payment of premiums - L2
False
Most states do not allow services as payment for premiums. It is discriminatory and may be viewed as rebating
Life insurance contracts are recognized as having a purpose highly beneficial to society, and they are deemed worthy of favorable treatment under the law - L2
True
Even if a divorced spouse who is the beneficiary listed in a policy no longer has an insurable interest in their former spouse, the beneficiary’s right to proceeds may be unaffected by the divorce - L2
True
Insurers agree with the view that an applicant has an unlimited insurable interest in their own life - L2
False
Insurers disagree on this view
An insurance company may be subject to a bad faith suit if it creates unfair claim processing procedures, uses abusive tactics, improperly delays, or fails to investigate - L3
True
These are the four commonly recognized reasons for supporting a claim of bad faith
A representation must be absolutely true at the time it is made - L3
False
A representation only has to be substantially true when it is made
Usually, an applicant’s statements about their habits are treated as facts - L3
False
Usually treated as opinions
Concealment is an acceptable form of representation - L3
False
Concealment is defined as misrepresentation by silence
Either the policyowner or the insurer can make the offer to contract - L3
False
Only an insurer can make the offer
A waiver is a voluntary and intentional giving up of a known right, and it is always permanent - L3
False
Waiver is a voluntary and intentional giving up of a known right but it is not always permanent
Equitable estoppel usually keeps a person from denying the truth of some previously made representation on which a party relied - L3
True
Equitable estoppel refers to statements or promises made in the past
Election can occur when an insurer discovers the insured made a material misrepresentation during the contestable period, but the insurer continues collecting premiums after the contestable period and keeps the policy in force - L3
True
Judy told her best friend, Alicia, that she wanted to rent her beautiful southern mansion for her wedding upon her return from 6 months in Europe. Alicia and her husband spent a lot of money to spruce up the mansion inside and out. Judy came home and announced she and her future husband have changed their minds and decided to go to Las Vegas to get married there. The legal doctrine that can be used to uphold Judy’s oral promises to Alicia if Alicia wants reimbursement for the spruce up is legal, or promissory, estoppel - L3
True
Legal, or promissory, estoppel refers to promises relating to the future
The concept of estoppel indicates that an individual loses their right to defense due to prior actions inconsistent with that defense - L3
True
The incontestable clause, which limits the time an insurer has to rescind a policy based on material misrepresentations, is now included in all life insurance policies per statute in every state - L4
True
A life insurance policy likely will not be valid if it is discovered that an impersonator took the medical exam or if the applicant lacked insurable interest in the continued life of the insured - L4
True
Generally, an insurance company does not have a right to limit coverage with respect to military or naval service in wartime and/or piloting aircrafts as a hobby - L4
False
Insurers do retain these rights
A policy cannot be reformed if there were simple clerical errors in the policy when it was printed - L4
False
A policy with clerical errors can be and often is easily reformed
The incontestable clause may benefit dishonest individuals, but insurers believe the benefits to honest policyholders are worth the cost - L4
True
A contract of adhesion is one in which one party (the insurer) chooses the contract wording and any ambiguities in the contract must favor the non-drafting party (the policyowner) - L4
True
The free-look provision is stated on the face page of a life insurance policy - L4
True
If a life policy generates cash value, the law does not require that the contract permit policy loans - L4
False
A policy that generates CV must permit policy loans by law
The suicide provision is not a required life insurance policy provision; it is an optional provision in a life policy - L4
True
Many think it is required, but it is actually optional
Situations not protected by the incontestable clause include lack of insurable interest, impersonation at the physical exam, and cases in which an applicant intended to murder the insured - L4
True
These could be instances of fraud