What is a characteristic of participating life insurance policies?

Participating life insurance policies are designed to allow policyholders to receive dividends based on the performance of the insurance company. These dividends can be distributed as cash, used to reduce premiums, purchase additional coverage, or accumulate as interest within the policy. This unique feature creates a sense of ownership among policyholders, as they share in the profits of the insurance company when it performs well.

This characteristic distinguishes participating policies from non-participating ones, which do not offer dividends and thus provide fewer financial benefits to policyholders. The potential for dividends is a significant incentive for individuals to choose participating policies, as it can enhance the overall value of their insurance contract.