What is the primary purpose of an automatic premium loan feature?

The primary purpose of an automatic premium loan feature is designed to help maintain coverage when a policyholder may have forgotten to make a premium payment. This feature automatically uses the policy's accumulated cash value to cover the premium when it becomes due, thereby preventing the policy from lapsing even if a payment is missed. This ensures that the insured continues to have life insurance coverage and doesn't face the immediate consequences of non-payment, which could include losing their policy.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe the function of the automatic premium loan feature. The feature doesn't allow policyholders to skip payments without consequences; instead, it provides a safeguard against missed payments by leveraging cash value. It also does not serve the purpose of directly borrowing against the policy's value in the traditional sense or increasing the policy's face value. The focus is entirely on keeping the policy in force, making option B the most relevant choice.