What does material misrepresentation refer to in terms of insurance applications?

Material misrepresentation in the context of insurance applications refers to a false statement made by an applicant that significantly impacts the insurer's ability to assess the risk associated with providing coverage. When an applicant provides information that is misleading or incorrect and that information has the potential to influence the underwriting decision, it is considered material misrepresentation.

For example, if an applicant fails to disclose a pre-existing medical condition, this falsehood would impact the insurer's evaluation of risk, potentially resulting in higher premiums or even denial of coverage. Insurance companies rely on accurate and truthful disclosures to determine an applicant's risk profile, set appropriate premiums, and create policy terms. Therefore, a misrepresentation that affects the risk assessment is deemed material and can have serious implications for the validity of the insurance policy.