What is Insurable Interest in Life Insurance?

Proof of "insurable interest," along with consent from the insured, is required to purchase a life insurance policy on another person.

In life insurance, a person has an insurable interest in another person when the death of that person would cause a financial, emotional or another type of loss. Insurable interest can be present in many situations like marriage, but it is evaluated by the insurance company during the application for the policy and before payment of the death benefit.

What is insurable interest?

You have an insurable interest in something if you would suffer some kind of loss if that person or property were to be lost or damaged. Furthermore, you would benefit financially from that person or property's continued existence. For this reason, it would make sense for you to purchase insurance on it so you can continue to receive those benefits.

What is insurable interest in life insurance?

You can't take a life insurance policy out on just anyone. In order to purchase a policy, insurable interest must exist. In the case of a life insurance policy, the owner of the policy must always have an insurable interest in the life of the insured. Also, if the owner of the policy is not the beneficiary then the beneficiary named in the contract would also need an insurable interest in the insured person.

Insurable interest means an individual receives a financial or other type of benefit from the continued existence of the person insured. Thus, if the person insured were to pass away, the surviving person would experience a financial loss or other hardship.

How to prove insurable interest

In life insurance, proof of insurable interest is required during the application and purchase of a policy. Life insurance is a tool used to make you whole again following the financial loss of someone. In theory, some people would be tempted to purchase a life insurance policy on a random person to receive profits if that person were to die. This is why the principle of insurable interest was created, to ensure that life insurance was used properly.

Insurable interest is a nonnegotiable aspect of life insurance policies. Without an insurable interest, the policy can be void or denied. It is the duty of the policy owner to prove that they have an insurable interest in the insured party. Proof must be presented at application as well as at the end of the policy when the insured has passed away.

To confirm that an insurable interest is present, a life insurance company will usually talk to the policy owner, beneficiary and insured. They will investigate the relationship to the proposed insured and evaluate if there is an insurable interest. If an insurable interest is not found, the policy would be denied at the application or the death benefit would not be paid out.

When does insurable interest exist in a life insurance policy?

You are always considered to have an insurable interest in your own life and, therefore, you can purchase life insurance on yourself. In this case, you would be the policyholder and the insured. Furthermore, the beneficiaries of the policy would not need to prove an insurable interest in you, as it is presumed that you would name beneficiaries who want you to live a long and healthy life.

Insurable interest also extends to your direct dependents and relationships of blood and marriage. This can include:

Above are all examples of direct blood relationships where insurable interest is always present. Insurable interest can also exist in business and creditor-debtor relationships.

Business relationships create an insurable interest if you have a financial dependency on the existence of the insured.

Often, corporations take out key man life insurance on their officers, while business partners can purchase life insurance contracts on each other.

Creditors and credit companies are allowed to take out life insurance policies on their debtors. In this case, with consent from the debtor, the company could take out a life insurance policy equal to the amount owed.

When does insurable interest not exist?

Insurable interest generally is present in blood relationship but would not exist in the following scenarios unless there is proof of financial dependence:

Can I buy life insurance on my parents without their consent?

You may decide to buy life insurance for an aging parent, as there can be many costs if that parent were to pass away. It is possible to purchase life insurance on a parent, but the parent must consent to sign off on the purchase of the policy in writing.

Can I buy life insurance on my child's mother or father?

As long as you can demonstrate and prove that you have an insurable interest in the other person, such as an ex-spouse or co-parent, then you would be able to purchase a life insurance policy on them. This would require that you demonstrate that the loss of that person would impose financial hardships on you or your child.