What is a Viatical Settlement?

A viatical settlement is characterized as an agreement where a policyholder sells their life insurance policy to a third party for a percentage of its face value, typically when they are facing a terminal illness. This allows the seller to receive immediate cash which can be utilized for medical expenses, living costs, or to improve quality of life during their remaining time. The buyer then becomes the new beneficiary of the policy and will collect the full face value upon the insured’s death.

This option captures the essence of what a viatical settlement is and highlights its financial functionality for those in need of urgent funds due to life circumstances. Other choices, such as a term insurance rider or accidental death insurance, do not provide the same context of selling a policy for a cash benefit and do not relate to the concept of viatical settlements. Meanwhile, a type of investment contract, while it may involve monetary elements, lacks the specific structural and legal characteristics that define a viatical settlement.