Policy Riders: Lapse Rider, Contingent Benefits and Contingent Nonforfeiture Coverage

UPDATED: Jul 15, 2023Fact Checked

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Jeffrey Johnson

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Jeffrey Johnson is a legal writer with a focus on personal injury. He has worked on personal injury and sovereign immunity litigation in addition to experience in family, estate, and criminal law. He earned a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and has worked in legal offices and non-profits in Maryland, Texas, and North Carolina. He has also earned an MFA in screenwriting from Chapman Univer...

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UPDATED: Jul 15, 2023

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UPDATED: Jul 15, 2023Fact Checked

POLICY RIDERS: Lapse Rider, Contingent Benefits and Contingent Nonforfeiture Coverage

Contingent Benefits Upon Lapse Rider

The provisions in the sample long term care insurance policy clearly state the specific conditions under which benefits will not be paid. Most policies contain provisions similar to those outlined below.

_________________

This rider provides limited coverage if your policy ends because of nonpayment of premiums or because your written request to cancel Your Policy following a Substantial Premium Increase.

This Rider is part of the Policy to which it is attached if it is referred to on the Schedule of Benefits page of the Policy. This Rider provides coverage as described below.

Definitions

“Initial Annual Premium” means the Gross Annual Premium on the Original Coverage Effective Date as shown on the Schedule of Benefits page of the Policy. In determining the Initial Annual Premium and any changes thereto, We will not take into account any premium payment mode factors or any discounts.

Any premium increase which results from a change in benefits as provided under the terms of Your Policy, will be added to and become part of the Initial Annual Premium. If You decrease Your benefits, the Initial Annual Premium will be reduced by the amount of the decrease in Your premium.

“Substantial Premium Increase” means a cumulative increase in Your Initial Annual Premium which equals or exceeds a given percentage increase over Your Initial Annual Premium, as shown in the following table. Any premium increase which results from a change in Benefits requested by you, or as a result of an increase in Benefit amounts as provided under the terms of Your Policy, is not an increase for the purpose of determining a Substantial Premium Increase.

Substantial Premium Increase Table

Original Issue Age* 29 and under 30-34ttttt 35-39 40-44ttttt 45-49ttttt 50-54 55-59ttttt 60 61 71 81ttttt 90 and over Percent Increase Over Initial Annual Premium 200% 190%ttttt t 170% 150% 130%t t 110% 90%t 70% 66% 38% 19% … … 10%

*Original Issue Age means Your age as shown on the Schedule of Benefits page of the Policy.

COMMENT: The purpose of this rider is to provide options in the event that your premium is increased substantially on a class basis and you find it difficult to continue to pay the premium to keep the policy in force. The rider defines above a Substantial Premium Increase. When a Substantial Premium Increase occurs, this triggers your options. The table above refers to increases in Initial Annual Premium. Initial Annual Premium is the Gross Premium on the Original Coverage Effective Date. Premium mode factors and discounts are not taken into account in determining the Gross Premium. For example, if your premium is discounted because you pay it annually in advance or if it is discounted because your spouse also has a long term care insurance policy with the insurance company, those discounts are not applied to determine the Gross Premium. The Gross Premium is the annual premium for the policy and all riders that are a part of the policy.

Eligibility for Contingent Benefits Upon Lapse

We will provide You with written notice of a Substantial Premium Increase at least forty-five (45) days prior to the date on which such premium increase will take effect. In this notice, We will:

  1. Offer to reduce Your Benefits, without You providing proof of good health, so that your premium will not increase;
  2. Offer You the ability to receive Contingent Nonforfeiture Coverage as defined below, and
  3. Advise You that a Lapse at any time during the 120-day period following the due date of the increased premium will be deemed to be an election to receive Contingent Nonforfeiture Coverage.

Contingent Nonforfeiture Coverage

If Contingent Nonforfeiture Coverage takes effect, the same Benefit amounts as those payable in effect under the Policy immediately prior to the Contingent Nonforfeiture Date will be payable under Contingent Nonforfeiture Coverage, except that the Total Lifetime Benefit will be the greater of:

  1. the sum of all premiums paid or waived under the terms of the Policy; or
  2. thirty (30) times either the Nursing Home Maximum Daily Benefit Amount or Assisted Living Facility Maximum Daily Benefit Amount (whichever is shown on the Schedule of Benefits page of the Policy) in effect immediately prior to the Contingent Nonforfeiture Date.

The total Benefits available under the Policy after the Contingent Nonforfeiture Date will not be more than the remaining Total Lifetime Benefit when Your Policy ended because of nonpayment of premiums or Your written request to cancel the Policy.

When Contingent Nonforfeiture Coverage Begins

Contingent Nonforfeiture Coverage takes effect on the Contingent Nonforfeiture Date. “Contingent Nonforfeiture Date” means:

  1. the first day after the end of the period covered by Your last paid premium; or
  2. the last day of the Policy month in which We receive Your written request to cancel Your Policy, if it is received within 120 days after the first premium due date following a Substantial Premium Increase.

Limitations

Once Contingent Nonforfeiture Coverage becomes effective: (1) You cannot make any changes to Your Policy; and (2) all Riders under Your policy end.

Effective Date

This Rider takes effect on the Rider Effective Date as shown below.

Termination of This Rider

This Rider will end on the earlier of:

  1. the date the Policy ends; or
  2. the date Contingent Nonforfeiture Coverage becomes effective under this Rider.

In all other respects, the provisions and conditions of the Policy remain the same. This Rider is subject to the provisions of the Policy which are consistent with this Rider.

Rider Effective Date: 00/00/00

COMMENT: If the insurance company implements a Substantial Premium Increase, this rider gives you two options:

(1) reduce your policy Benefits so that you can continue your policy in force with lower Benefits but no premium increase; or

(2) elect Contingent Nonforfeiture Coverage.

You can “elect” Contingent Nonforfeiture Coverage by telling the insurance company or by just not paying your increased premium within the 120 day period following the increase.

The coverage under the policy will be the same except the Total Lifetime Benefit will be limited to the greater of:

(1) the sum of all premiums paid or waived under the policy; and

(2) 30 times the Facility Maximum Daily Benefit Amount.

Case Studies: Policy Riders in Long-Term Care Insurance

Case Study 1: John’s Lapse Rider

John faces financial difficulties and struggles to pay his long-term care insurance premiums. His policy includes a Lapse Rider, which offers limited coverage if the policy ends due to nonpayment or cancellation following a substantial premium increase. John explores options to reduce benefits or elect Contingent Nonforfeiture Coverage.

Case Study 2: Sarah’s Contingent Benefits

Sarah receives a notice of a substantial premium increase on her long-term care insurance policy. With a Contingent Benefits rider, she can make changes to her policy benefits to avoid the increase or opt for Contingent Nonforfeiture Coverage, which provides limited benefits based on premiums paid or waived.

Case Study 3: Mark’s Contingent Nonforfeiture

Mark’s long-term care insurance policy enters the Contingent Nonforfeiture Coverage phase due to nonpayment of premiums. Despite financial difficulties, his policy remains active, and he becomes eligible for benefits. The coverage guarantees benefits based on either premiums paid or waived or 30 times the Facility Maximum Daily Benefit Amount.

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Jeffrey Johnson

Insurance Lawyer

Jeffrey Johnson is a legal writer with a focus on personal injury. He has worked on personal injury and sovereign immunity litigation in addition to experience in family, estate, and criminal law. He earned a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and has worked in legal offices and non-profits in Maryland, Texas, and North Carolina. He has also earned an MFA in screenwriting from Chapman Univer...

Insurance Lawyer

Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about legal topics and insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything legal and insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by experts.

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