R05 Health and longevity trends: free practice questions

1. Question 1 of 5

   What does morbidity refer to?

   Option A: The average length of retirementOption B: The relative incidence of a particular diseaseOption C: The proportion of people with life coverOption D: The rate of death at a given age in a population

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   The answer is B: The relative incidence of a particular disease

   Morbidity is the relative incidence of a particular disease, while mortality concerns death.

   Why the other options are wrong

   A

   The length of retirement isn't morbidity.

   C

   How many people hold cover is a market measure, not morbidity.

   D

   The rate of death is mortality, not morbidity.

2. Question 2 of 5

   Which of the following is NOT cited as a factor in improving mortality?

   Option A: Greater emphasis on physical fitnessOption B: Improved hygieneOption C: A significant decrease in the number of smokersOption D: A reduction in the State Pension age

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   The answer is D: A reduction in the State Pension age

   Better hygiene, health education including far fewer smokers, more medical intervention and illness management, and greater emphasis on fitness have improved mortality.

   Why the other options are wrong

   A

   This is a recognised factor: more emphasis on physical fitness has contributed to longer lives.

   B

   This is a recognised factor: better hygiene has helped people live longer.

   C

   This is a recognised factor: far fewer people smoke, which has improved mortality.

3. Question 3 of 5

   As mortality has improved, what has become the biggest financial concern for most people?

   Option A: Paying too much for life coverOption B: Dying too earlyOption C: Inheritance tax on small estatesOption D: Living too long

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   The answer is D: Living too long

   Early deaths still occur, but improving mortality means the biggest concern is outliving resources. This has strained pensions and contributed to the decline of final salary schemes.

   Why the other options are wrong

   A

   The cost of life cover isn't the main concern; longevity is.

   B

   Early deaths still happen, but improving mortality makes outliving resources the bigger concern.

   C

   IHT on small estates isn't the main concern arising from longer lives.

4. Question 4 of 5

   How might longer working lives affect life assurance and underwriting?

   Option A: Policy and mortgage terms may lengthen, and older lives must be assessedOption B: Premiums will fall for all applicants over State Pension ageOption C: All life policies will have to end once the insured person reaches 50Option D: Underwriting will no longer be needed for longer-term policies

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   The answer is A: Policy and mortgage terms may lengthen, and older lives must be assessed

   Life policies usually end around mortgage repayment and retirement. Longer working lives may extend mortgage and policy terms, so insurers must assess normal health profiles for older lives.

   Why the other options are wrong

   B

   Premiums reflect the risk, which rises with age, so there's no reason for all older applicants to pay less.

   C

   Nothing requires life policies to end at 50; longer working lives point towards longer terms, not shorter ones.

   D

   Underwriting is still needed, and insurers have to learn to assess older lives accurately.

5. Question 5 of 5

   What does evidence suggest about the link between being in work and health, and how has it influenced policy?

   Option A: Work tends to benefit health, which has shaped disability benefit policyOption B: There is no link, so government policy has been unaffectedOption C: Only part-time work improves health, so policy targets part-timersOption D: Work always harms health, so incapacity benefits have increased

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   The answer is A: Work tends to benefit health, which has shaped disability benefit policy

   There is significant evidence that work is good for health and inactivity can be harmful. This has informed UK policy on disability and incapacity benefits, though effects of working longer are still unknown.

   Why the other options are wrong

   B

   There is a link, and it has informed UK policy on disability and incapacity benefits.

   C

   The evidence concerns work in general, not only part-time work, and policy hasn't singled out part-timers.

   D

   The evidence suggests work is generally good for health, not harmful, and inactivity can harm it.

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