When multiple policies may respond to a claim, the policy in force at the time of the incident is typically considered to be the:

• A. Secondary payer
• B. Primary payer
• C. Pro rata payer
• D. Excess payer

Answer: (B)

When multiple policies could respond to a claim, the policy that is in force at the time the incident occurred is the one that pays first. This arrangement is about coordinating benefits so there’s a clear order of payment. The primary payer covers the loss up to its limits, and any remaining covered amount may be handled by other policies (secondary or excess) according to their terms and limits. For example, if two policies could respond to a claim from the same event, the policy active on the date of the incident would pay first, then the other policy could contribute if applicable. This avoids double payment and ensures the loss is addressed efficiently. The other options describe different roles—secondary pays after primary, pro rata shares costs when no clear primary is designated, and excess pays only after primary and any other payers’ limits are exhausted.