A life insurance policy has a primary beneficiary and a contingent beneficiary. The primary beneficiary dies one week after the insured, without having received the death benefit. To whom will the benefit be paid?

Question: A life insurance policy has a primary beneficiary and a contingent beneficiary. The primary beneficiary dies one week after the insured, without having received the death benefit. To whom will the benefit be paid?

Answer options: ✅ To the estate of the primary beneficiary.

• To the contingent beneficiary.
• To the insured's estate.
• The benefit is split between the primary beneficiary's estate and the contingent beneficiary.

Correct answer: To the estate of the primary beneficiary.

Explanation: If the primary beneficiary outlives the insured, even for a short time, they become entitled to the death benefit. If they die before it is paid, the benefit is paid to their estate, not to the contingent beneficiary.