Interest Option
The interest option is a settlement option under which the insurance company invests the policy proceeds and periodically pays interest on those proceeds to the payee. The policy usually guarantees that the insurer will pay at least a stated minimum interest rate, but the insurer may pay a higher rate if its investment earn¬ings are favorable.
The payee generally has the right to withdraw all or part of the policy proceeds at any time or to place all of the proceeds—including any interest that the insurer is holding—under another settlement option. However, a policyowner who selects the interest option may place restrictions on the payee’s right to withdraw the policy proceeds. For example, the policyowner might specify that the payee is not permitted to withdraw more than 10 percent of the policy proceeds per year for the first 10 years after proceeds are payable.