Which of the following is a characteristic of a joint life insurance policy?

A joint life insurance policy is designed to cover two or more individuals, typically spouses or partners, under a single policy. The primary characteristic of this type of policy is that it provides a death benefit when the first insured person passes away.

This feature is particularly significant as it can serve various financial objectives, including paying off debts, providing for dependents, or ensuring financial security for the surviving partner. The premium for a joint life policy is often lower than that of two separate individual policies, making it an economical choice for couples.

The other aspects of the question can help clarify why this characteristic is essential. While a joint life policy indeed involves multiple insureds, it specifically pays out at the death of the first insured, not upon the death of multiple insureds or the last insured. Additionally, the policy's design ensures that the surviving partner can benefit from the death benefit when the initial event occurs, which aligns with the purposes of many financial and estate planning strategies.