While taking a health insurance application in Florida, the agent notices the applicant left the answer to a health question blank. What should the agent do?

Why D is correct

Under Chapter 626, Florida Statutes, the application is the applicant's statement and becomes part of the insurance contract, so every question must be answered by the applicant personally. When an answer is left blank, the proper practice is to ask the applicant to complete or initial it before submission; the agent must never supply, guess, or alter answers. Incomplete or altered applications are leading sources of disputes at claim time and of disciplinary action by the Department of Financial Services.

Why the other options are wrong

• A) Using information from an old application is supplying answers the applicant did not give; the applicant must answer personally.
• B) Blank answers are not acceptable; incomplete applications lead to delays, disputes, and possible coverage problems.
• C) Marking a question 'not applicable' on the applicant's behalf is an unauthorized alteration of the applicant's statements.

Memory hook

Blank? Ask — never fill it in yourself.