What do representations in insurance contracts qualify as?

Representations in insurance contracts qualify as implied warranties because they are statements made by the applicant regarding their health, lifestyle, and other relevant factors that are believed to be true at the time the policy is issued. While representations are not guarantees, they provide an assurance that the information given is accurate to the best of the applicant's knowledge.

In insurance, an implied warranty means that the statements and facts presented by the insured are taken to be true unless proven otherwise. This contrasts with express warranties, which are explicit promises or guarantees made in the contract itself. Written warranties are typically formalized terms that are explicitly included in the policy text, while guarantees would imply an absolute certainty about the representations, which is not the case with representations that can be altered by additional facts discovered after the policy is issued.

Therefore, understanding that representations are treated as implied warranties helps clarify how they function within the insurance contract context, reflecting the importance of honest disclosure in the underwriting process.