A policyowner is prohibited from making any changes to the policy without the beneficiary's written consent under which beneficiary designation?

A policyowner is prohibited from making any changes to the policy without the beneficiary's written consent under which beneficiary designation?

• A. Revocable beneficiary
• B. Contingent beneficiary
• C. Primary beneficiary
• D. Irrevocable beneficiary

Answer: (D)

An irrevocable beneficiary designation gives the named beneficiary a vested interest in the policy’s proceeds, so the policyowner cannot make changes to the policy or its beneficiary without that beneficiary’s written consent. This protects the beneficiary’s rights—if the owner wanted to change the beneficiary, surrender or borrow beyond certain limits, or adjust the death benefit in a way that would affect the beneficiary, they’d need the beneficiary’s agreement in writing. Other designations don’t place that consent barrier on the owner, so changes can be made without the beneficiary’s approval.

An irrevocable beneficiary designation gives the named beneficiary a vested interest in the policy’s proceeds, so the policyowner cannot make changes to the policy or its beneficiary without that beneficiary’s written consent. This protects the beneficiary’s rights—if the owner wanted to change the beneficiary, surrender or borrow beyond certain limits, or adjust the death benefit in a way that would affect the beneficiary, they’d need the beneficiary’s agreement in writing. Other designations don’t place that consent barrier on the owner, so changes can be made without the beneficiary’s approval.