California Life and Health Insurance Practice Exam

What term describes a person who asserts their right to recover under an insurance policy?

1. Beneficiary

2. Policyholder

3. Claimant

4. Insured

The correct answer is: Claimant

The term that best describes a person who asserts their right to recover under an insurance policy is "claimant." A claimant is specifically someone who files a claim to receive benefits or compensation as laid out in the terms of an insurance policy. This could involve various situations, such as seeking benefits after an accident or requesting payment for a covered loss. Understanding this term is crucial because it highlights the action of pursuing an entitlement under the insurance framework, distinguishing it from the roles of other participants in the insurance process. In contrast, a beneficiary is an individual designated to receive benefits from a policy, typically after the death of the insured, but they do not necessarily assert a claim themselves. The policyholder is the person or entity that owns the insurance policy, which does not imply they are currently filing a claim. The insured refers to the individual who is covered by the policy and might also be the policyholder; however, this term does not specifically denote someone actively claiming benefits. Each of these roles plays a part in the insurance ecosystem, but a claimant specifically focuses on the act of asserting a right to recover under the policy.