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

Income supplement program under Social Security to provide a minimum monthly income to aged, blind, and disabled persons. The SSI payments, which were introduced in January 1974, make up ...

Aggregate amount of insurance policies that are paid-up (or are being paid) that a life or health insurance company has on its books. The size of a life or health insurance company is often ...

Time frame during which an annuitant makes premium payments to an insurance company. The obligations of the company to the annuitant during this period depend on whether a pure annuity or ...

Act that prohibits employers from discriminating against employees in employee benefit plans, regarding contributions or benefits based on race or gender. ...

Statistical term indicating the central value of a frequency distribution, such that smaller and greater values than this central value occur at an equal rate. For example, given the ...

Same as term Original Age: insured's age at the date a term life insurance policy is issued. An original age or retroactive conversion option permits the insured to convert the term policy ...

Federal law, effective February 4, 1989, that requires company notification of employees prior to laying them off or closing a plant or an office. Workers covered under WARN are to include ...

Insurance for which (1) an application has been filed but the first premium has not yet been paid or (2) a life insurance policy that has not yet been delivered to an insured. ...

Federal legislation passed in 1988 (repealed November 23, 1989) that significantly increased the benefit amounts provided under medicare, both Part A and Part B, in the following manner: ...

Popular Insurance Questions