Is it possible to take out a life assurance policy to cover the life of an acquaintance without letting them know?

[AryomGrob]

Is it possible to take out a life assurance policy to cover the life of an acquaintance without letting them know? It would not make one popular but then if the acquaintance didn't ever get to find out.

[Mamyalynne]

Yes.

[trt]

I'm not to sure because, what if he had a terminal illness and only 6/12 months to live, surely the insurance company would want to know his health record.
Also if he is oldish, cant see it happening.

[hc4361]

You have to have an insurable interest in the person being insured - in the examples Eddie gives the interest is the commercial contract between the advertiser and the insured.
A husband and wife have an insurable interest in each other, as do business partners.

I am confident that Prince Philip will die within my lifetime, but as there in no insurable interest I could not take out a life assurance policy that will pay out to me on his death.

My neighbour is over 100. I couldn't take out a life assurance policy for her, either.

[R1Geezer]

you have to have insurable interest as hc says, otherwise you could insure every soldier in Iraq!

[woozer]

LOL - if only we could....................

[AryomGrob]

Thank you all for your answers. That must have been one of my madder moments when I posed that question.

[sandyRoe]

If anything untoward happened to the person you'd insured make sure you have a good alibi.

[AryomGrob]

Oh I love that answer sandyRoe! No I wasn't planning a murrrrrrder! ;-)