A long-term care insurance policy may be returned within 30 days after delivery for a full premium refund if the applicant is dissatisfied for any reason. This is known as a free-look or right-to-return provision. It gives the insured time to examine the contract after delivery and determine whether the coverage is appropriate.
The right is especially important in a direct-response sale, where the consumer may not have met face-to-face with a producer. Long-term care policies can contain detailed provisions concerning benefit triggers, elimination periods, activities of daily living, cognitive impairment, benefit periods, inflation protection, exclusions, premium changes, and nonforfeiture benefits. The 30-day review period allows a buyer to examine those terms without forfeiting premium.
The policy must prominently disclose the right to return the contract and receive a refund. The insurer must make the refund within the required period after the policy is returned. This rule differs from other health-insurance free-look, cancellation, grace-period, and reinstatement provisions, which can use different deadlines.
Study Guide references/topics: long-term care insurance; direct response solicitation; free-look provision; return of policy; NAC 687B.060 .
===============