Whole life insurance develops cash value as premiums are paid and contractual reserves accumulate. Once sufficient value exists, that cash value supports the policyowner ' s right to obtain a policy loan from the insurer. Consequently, accumulated cash value becomes the basis for the policy ' s loan value.

A policy loan is not technically a withdrawal of the policyowner ' s own segregated account. Rather, the insurer lends money and uses the policy ' s cash value as collateral. Interest is charged on the outstanding indebtedness. If a loan remains unpaid when the insured dies, the loan balance and accrued interest generally reduce the death benefit. Likewise, outstanding indebtedness ordinarily reduces the net amount received if the policy is surrendered.

Cash value is distinct from the policy ' s face amount, which represents the stated death benefit before adjustments for such items as loans. Cash value also is not automatically used for paid-up additions; paid-up additions commonly result from a specific dividend option in a participating policy.

Accordingly, the standard whole-life characteristic described is that accumulated cash value provides the policy loan value upon which the policyowner may borrow.

Study Guide Reference: Types of Life Insurance Policies — whole life; cash-value accumulation; policy loans; policyowner rights.