M completed a health insurance application but did not pay the initial premium. Which of these actions does NOT need to occur for the policy to go into effect?

The correct answer identifies that the free look period having expired does not need to occur for the health insurance policy to go into effect. The free look period is a consumer protection feature that allows policyholders a specific time frame, typically around 10 to 30 days, to review the policy after it has been issued. If they decide they are not satisfied, they can cancel the policy and receive a full refund of premiums paid.

For a policy to go into effect, the insured generally must pay the initial premium, and in some cases, specific requirements such as providing a medical history or completing a background check may be necessary depending on the insurer's underwriting process. However, the expiration of the free look period is not a requirement for the policy to become active; rather, it is a right granted to policyholders after the policy is issued.

Thus, while the initial premium payment is critical for the policy's activation, and other preliminary assessments may need to be completed beforehand, the free look period pertains more to a cancellation process post-issuance and does not impact the initiation of the policy.