What can potentially increase the amount payable by an insurance company at the maturity of a policy?

The potential increase in the amount payable by an insurance company at the maturity of a policy is best represented by dividend additions. In many life insurance policies, particularly participating policies, policyholders may receive dividends based on the insurer's performance. These dividends can be used in various ways, such as to purchase additional paid-up insurance, which increases the total death benefit and cash value of the policy. This means that when the policy matures, the amount payable can be enhanced due to the accumulation of these additional benefits.

In contrast, while annual bonuses may sound similar, they are typically not directly added to the policy's maturity value in the same way dividends are. Outstanding loans reduce the cash value and death benefit of the policy rather than increase them, and policy duration, while it may affect the overall growth potential of certain policies, does not specifically contribute to an increase in the amount payable at maturity. Thus, dividend additions stand out as the clear method of potentially increasing the payout amount upon maturity.