Final answer:
When a whole life policy lapses or is surrendered prior to maturity, the cash value can be used to purchase a completely paid up permanent policy with a reduced face amount.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a whole life policy lapses or is surrendered prior to maturity, the cash value can be used to purchase a completely paid up permanent policy that has a reduced face amount from that of the former policy. This means that the cash value of the old policy can be used as a single premium to buy a new policy with a lower coverage amount.