In insurance, what are "accrued benefits"?

Accrued benefits refer to benefits that have built up or accumulated over time within a policy. This concept often relates to various types of insurance policies, including life and health insurance, where certain benefits may grow as premiums are paid, or as time passes according to the terms of the policy. For instance, in life insurance, this can refer to the cash value that accumulates in a whole life policy after a certain period.

These accumulated benefits represent a value to the policyholder and are often accessible either as a part of a payout when a claim is made, or as cash surrender value if the policyholder decides to terminate the policy. Understanding how accrued benefits work is fundamental for policyholders to maximize their insurance coverage over time and to make informed decisions regarding their policies.