underwriting period
Limited period of time at the beginning of a new policy when the insurer
may gather the necessary information about an applicant and make a final decision
on that applicant’s acceptability. During this time period (typically 30 to
90 days, depending on the line of business and the state where the risk is located),
the insurer is free to cancel the policy for any legal reason. Once this period
of time has passed, then the insurer is limited in the reasons for which it
may cancel the policy.