Can you back date the birth day?

A firend has applied for term life insruance. The insurance company says that it can back date the next birth day by six months. This means that even though the ap[lication for the policy was submmitted six mnoths and two days propr to his 53rd birth day the insruance company wants to charge the premiu, as if he was 53 years old six months propr to his real 53rd birthday. Is the insurance company correct?.