Virginia-Life-Annuities-and-Health-Insurance Insurance Licensing Virginia Life, Annuities, and Health Insurance Examination Series 11-01 Free Practice Exam Questions (2026 Updated)

A single premium whole life policy requires only one lump-sum payment. That single payment fully funds the policy for the insured’s lifetime. The insurer places the premium into the policy’s cash value account, where it grows to cover the cost of insurance throughout life. Exact extract: “Single premium whole life provides lifetime protection with one lump-sum premium payment at issue.” This design is often used for estate planning or wealth transfer because the insured never has to make another payment, and the cash value builds immediately.

Under federal tax rules emphasized in Virginia licensing materials, distributions taken from employer-sponsored qualified retirement plans before the participant reaches age 59½ are generally considered premature and are subject to an additional 10% federal tax penalty, unless a specific exception applies. This penalty is imposed in addition to ordinary income tax on the taxable portion of the withdrawal.

The purpose of the penalty is to discourage early use of retirement funds and preserve assets for retirement income. While certain exceptions exist—such as disability, death, substantially equal periodic payments, or qualified medical expenses—the standard minimum age used for exam purposes is 59½.

Ages 60, 64½, and 65 do not represent the statutory threshold for avoiding the premature distribution penalty. Therefore, option A is correct.

Detailed Answer in Step-by-Step Solution:

Life insurance premiums are calculated based on three factors: mortality (death rates), interest (investment earnings), and expenses (operating costs).

When an insurer earns interest on premiums invested, it increases the funds available to pay claims, reducing the amount needed from policyholders.

This results in a decrease in the premium rate (C), as higher interest earnings offset the cost of coverage.

Option A (increase premium rate) would occur if interest earnings decreased.

Options B and D (mortality rate changes) are unrelated to interest, as mortality is a statistical factor, not a financial one.

The Virginia study guide explains that interest earned on premiums is a key component of pricing life insurance, allowing insurers to lower premium rates when investment returns are favorable. Reference: Virginia Life, Annuities, and Health Insurance study guide, section on "Premium Determination."

Group credit life insurance does not insure the life of an individual for personal benefit. Instead, it insures a debtor’s obligation, with the creditor as beneficiary. The purpose is to pay off a loan balance if the borrower dies, not to provide income protection to survivors.

Employer group plans and association group plans insure individuals within a defined group, and equity indexed universal life insures a specific individual with cash value linked to an equity index. Therefore, those options do insure individual lives.

Virginia licensing materials clearly distinguish credit life insurance as debt protection rather than personal life insurance, making option C the correct answer.

The direct response marketing system involves insurers selling insurance directly to consumers through mass media advertising, mail, telephone, or internet communication, without using insurance agents. This system relies on advertisements that invite prospects to apply directly to the insurer.

Branch office and captive agent systems involve licensed agents who represent the insurer. Contingent systems are related to compensation structures, not distribution methods.

Virginia licensing standards identify direct response marketing as a legitimate method of insurance distribution, with the insurer assuming responsibility for underwriting, policy issuance, and customer service. Because no agent is involved, commissions are typically not paid, which can lower policy costs.

Virginia insurance regulations require insurers and agents to protect consumer privacy while also allowing insureds access to their personal information. When an insured submits a written request to review personal information collected by the insurer or agent, the request must be addressed within 45 business days. This timeframe ensures consumers have reasonable access to their records while allowing insurers sufficient time to retrieve and verify the information. The regulation balances consumer rights with administrative practicality. Shorter or longer timeframes are not consistent with Virginia insurance privacy requirements, making 45 business days the correct response.

For an insurance policy to be legally binding, four essential elements must exist: (1) offer and acceptance, (2) consideration, (3) competent parties, and (4) legal purpose. Consideration refers to the exchange of value: the applicant’s premium and representations in the application, and the insurer’s promise to pay benefits. Exact extract: “Consideration is the value each party gives to the other: the insured provides premiums and truthful statements, while the insurer provides the promise of benefits.” Without consideration, a contract cannot be enforced.

Virginia adopts the Accident and Sickness advertising standards that define “advertisement” broadly (print, online, audiovisual, etc.), but specifically carve out employer announcements about available group coverage. Exact extract: “Advertisement means any printed, published, audio/visual, or descriptive literature used to solicit the public… including material on an insurer’s website.” “The term does not include general announcements by an employer to its employees that a plan of coverage is available.”

Detailed Answer in Step-by-Step Solution:

Excess charges in Medicare occur when a provider charges more than the Medicare-approved amount, and the insured (D) is responsible for the difference unless covered by supplemental insurance.

The Social Security Administration (A) and CMS (B) administer Medicare, not pay claims.

Providers (C) may charge excess but don’t absorb it unless they accept assignment.

The Virginia study guide explains that Medicare beneficiaries bear excess charges unless a provider accepts Medicare assignment or a Medigap policy covers them. Reference: Virginia Life, Annuities, and Health Insurance study guide, section on "Medicare Basics."

In the context of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), self-referral typically allows members to directly seek certain care or specialists without the need for a referral from their primary care physician (PCP). In HMO models, there are provisions where, in certain circumstances, members can decide to see a specialist without the formal referral process. This ability may be restricted or require prior approval depending on the specific plan provisions, but generally, members cannot arbitrarily make decisions about seeing specialists or obtaining certain health services without consulting the HMO guidelines. The best option here reflects the ability of the member to "decide" when a specialist is needed within the structure of self-referral.

The misstatement of age provision is a required standard provision. If age was misstated, the insurer adjusts the death benefit to the amount the paid premium would have purchased at the correct age, rather than canceling the policy.

Exact Extract (Virginia Policy Provisions): “In case of misstatement of age, the amount payable shall be adjusted to what the premium would have purchased at the correct age.”

References (Virginia Documents / Study Guide):

— Code of Virginia §38.2-3108 (Misstatement of age provision in life insurance)

Virginia Code § 38.2-3100 et seq. governs annuities. A joint life annuity (option C) pays income until the first of two annuitants dies, then ceases—ideal for temporary dual coverage. Option A (joint and survivor annuity) continues payments until the last survivor dies, not stopping at the first death. Option B (temporary annuity) pays for a fixed term (e.g., 10 years), regardless of death, and isn’t tied to two lives. Option D (single life annuity) covers one person until their death, not two. The study guide likely defines these with examples—e.g., a couple receiving $1,000 monthly until one dies (joint life) versus until both die (joint and survivor)—highlighting C’s “first death” cutoff, making it the correct answer.

The grace period provision allows a policyholder a specified time (usually 31 days) after the due date to pay overdue premiums while coverage continues. If the insured dies during this period, the premium due is deducted from the policy proceeds.

Exact Extract (Virginia Policy Provisions Requirement): “Life insurance policies shall provide a grace period of not less than 31 days for the payment of premiums, during which the policy shall continue in force.”

References (Virginia Documents / Study Guide):

— Code of Virginia §38.2-3107 (Grace period in life insurance policies)

Virginia Code § 38.2-1800 et seq. outlines roles in life insurance. Agents and underwriters both evaluate risks (option B): agents assess initial client risk (e.g., health questions) for application accuracy, while underwriters analyze it for approval (e.g., medical records). Option A (finding clients) is agent-only; underwriters don’t prospect. Option C (collecting premiums) is primarily the agent’s task, not underwriting’s. Option D (reviewing coverage) is a post-sale service, not a core underwriting function. The study guide likely contrasts roles but notes this shared risk focus—e.g., an agent flags smoking, underwriter rates it—making B the common duty.

An immediate annuity is commonly used to structure the payment of liability insurance settlements, lottery winnings, and other large sums. This type of annuity allows the beneficiary to receive a series of periodic payments starting immediately after the lump sum is invested. Immediate annuities are often used to provide a steady stream of income for individuals who receive large sums of money but want to ensure that the funds last over time.

If the initial premium is not paid at the time of application, the life insurance coverage typically begins when the agent delivers the policy to the insured and collects the required premium. This is known as the "delivery and premium collection" method, which ensures that the insurer receives payment before coverage becomes effective.

Whole life contracts guarantee cash values, nonforfeiture options, loan values, and settlement values. Dividends are not guaranteed because they depend on company performance.

Exact Extract (Virginia Life Insurance Study Guide): “Whole life policies provide guaranteed cash values, policy loans, and settlement options. Dividends, if declared, are not guaranteed.”

References (Virginia Documents / Study Guide):

— Virginia Life Insurance Examination Outline, Policy Provisions and Guarantees

Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance is available regardless of age to individuals who have received Social Security disability benefits for at least 24 months. This is a key provision that allows individuals who are disabled and have been receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for two years to qualify for Medicare Part A.

The concept of "reasonable expectations" states that the insured is entitled to the coverage under a policy that a sensible and prudent buyer would expect it to provide. This means that the insurer must honor the expectations of the insured based on the policy's terms, even if the wording is unclear or ambiguous, as long as those expectations are reasonable.