Upon receipt of proof of loss, an insurer must pay a life insurance death benefit claim promptly.

• A. Promptly
• B. Within 30 days
• C. After investigation
• D. At the insurer's discretion

Answer: (A)

When a life insurance death claim is filed and proof of loss is provided, the insurer’s duty is to pay the death benefit promptly. This means once the necessary documentation is in and the claim is in order, the payout should be made without unnecessary delay. The insurer may request additional information if something is missing, but the obligation is to settle promptly after receipt of proper proof. Setting a fixed timeframe like thirty days or leaving payment entirely at the insurer’s discretion would undermine the prompt payment requirement, and delaying for an investigation beyond what’s reasonable still conflicts with the principle of prompt settlement.