Definition of "Surrender cost index"

Method of comparing the costs of a set of cash value life insurance policies that takes into account the time value of money. The true costs of alternative cash value policies with the same death benefit depend on a number of factors amount and timing of premiums paid, amount and timing of dividends (in the case of participating policies), time period involved, and the CASH surrender value. In evaluating a particular group of policies, a surrender cost index can be calculated using interest adjusted cost comparison. The index ranks the policies for the same period of time, say the first 20 years of the policy life, by cost per $1000 of face amount, showing the cheapest through the most expensive. In effect, the index illustrates the relative cost of acquiring a dollar's worth of each policy's cash surrender value after 20 years. Contrast with the net payments index, a ranking of policy costs using the traditional net cost method of comparison that ignores the time value of money and thus gives a less accurate picture of relative policy costs.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Insurance Terms

Health insurance coverage only for a specified catastrophic disease such as cancer. It is important to ascertain the waiting period required, maximum benefits and maximum length of time ...

Rights and duties of an insured as a prerequisite for collecting benefits. For example, in the event of property damage, the insured may be required to submit proof of loss to the insurance ...

Cost of doing business, not including pure expectation of loss. ...

Federal law that requires administrators of pension plans with more than 25 participants to file a plan description with the U.S. Department of Labor. A plan description includes schedules ...

Device that enables the health maintenance organization (HMO) to present a premium quotation to the employer that would encourage the employer to replace the current health carrier. The POS ...

Proportion of losses incurred to premiums earned. This ratio indicates the amount of a premium dollar that is being consumed by losses. ...

Method of underwriting insurance in which the insurance company utilizes regular mortality tables without additions for abnormalities. ...

Correction of a contract containing a mistake in order to prevent a party to that contract from gaining from that mistake. For example, if $1,000,000, instead of the correct amount of ...

Synopsis of the key financial figures concerning the pension plan that is contained in the form 5500 that must be filed annually with the Internal Revenue Service. This report must be given ...

Popular Insurance Questions