What does the paid-up option do with the accumulated dividends?

The paid-up option allows policyholders to use accumulated dividends towards paying off the policy’s premiums earlier than scheduled. This effectively reduces the financial burden on the policyholder by utilizing the dividends that have accrued over time to settle future premium payments. As a result, the policy can be considered "paid-up," meaning no further premiums are needed to keep the policy in force, provided that sufficient dividends have accumulated.

This option enhances the policy’s value by providing flexibility and reducing long-term costs associated with maintaining the insurance coverage. It allows policyholders to optimize their insurance benefits with the dividend earnings rather than allowing those dividends to sit unused.

Other options such as investing in stocks, reducing the face amount of the policy, or converting dividends to term insurance do not accurately reflect the mechanism of the paid-up option. The primary purpose of this option is to maximize the use of dividends in a way that continues to support the policyholder's financial strategy related to their life insurance coverage.