In a scenario where a primary beneficiary and contingent beneficiary both die before the insured, who receives the Accidental Death benefits?

In the context of life insurance policies, when both the primary and contingent beneficiaries of a policy have died before the insured, the Accidental Death benefits typically do not go to the primary beneficiary alone. Generally, when a primary beneficiary is deceased, the insurance company looks to the contingent beneficiary. However, if both beneficiaries (primary and contingent) are deceased, the benefits will usually be directed to the policyholder's estate, not retained by the primary beneficiary.

Since the question specifies that both the primary and contingent beneficiaries have died before the insured, the Accidental Death benefits would typically be transferred to the policyholder's estate, not to any of the deceased beneficiaries. Therefore, the options that imply benefits will go to either the primary or contingent beneficiary would not be correct in this scenario.

Under normal circumstances, if the primary beneficiary is alive, they would receive the benefits. However, in case of both being deceased, the policy provisions would typically favor the estate of the insured or follow state succession laws, which may ultimately lead to the benefits being directed to the estate. Hence, an accurate answer would involve confirming that benefits are neither forfeited nor awarded to deceased beneficiaries, but rather designated to the insured’s estate.