Viatical

A viatical is a payment made in exchange for beneficiary rights to a terminally ill person's life insurance policy.

The word viatical derives from the Latin word viaticum that loosely translates into "a provision for a journey".

In the days of the Roman Legions, a viaticum was the money and supplies given to officials before embarking on a journey. A viaticum in the Christian religion is the communion administered to a dying person.