What happens if I stop paying my term life insurance?

Asked by: Mrs. Bernita Aufderhar  |  Last update: October 7, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (28 votes)

Life Insurance Term: If you stop paying premiums, your coverage lapses. Permanent: If you have this type of policy, you will have the following choices: Cash out the policy. This means that you can stop paying the premium and collect the available cash savings.

Do I get money back if I cancel my term life insurance?

No cash value: Term life insurance does not accumulate any cash value over time. Canceling your policy means you won't receive a payout. Partial refund: However, if you cancel in the middle of your payment cycle, you might get a small refund for any unused portion of your premium.

What happens if you stop paying term insurance premiums?

But, some individuals may opt to stop paying mid-way through the policy term. If this happens, the insurer will not take any legal action against you. So, your term insurance premium payment is not like a mandatory credit card payment or bank loan EMI. If you miss a payment, your policy ends.

Is there a penalty to cancel term life insurance?

You won't get a refund for canceling term life insurance after the first-look period is over. However, if you cancel (or surrender) a permanent life insurance policy that has built up cash value, you'll receive the cash value minus surrender fees, unpaid premiums and outstanding loans.

Is it a good idea to cancel term life insurance?

It depends on the cost. If you purchased term insurance (and you are in the latter part of the term) the correct answer is to cancel at the end of the term, or when premiums increase, or when you have sufficient assets that you do not need it any more.

This is What Happens When YOUR Term Life Insurance Expires!

44 related questions found

When should you stop paying for term life insurance?

For most people, a term life insurance policy should last as long as your major financial obligations, like the length of your mortgage or until your kids are old enough to support themselves financially.

What is the main disadvantage of term life insurance?

Cons: Drawbacks of Term Life Insurance Policies

Here are some of the key disadvantages: Temporary Coverage: Term life insurance covers a specific period (e.g., 10, 20, or 30 years). Once the term ends, the policy expires, and coverage stops.

Can I cash out my term life insurance policy?

While you can't cash out term life insurance, you can sell your policy. Additionally, you may have other options if you want to change your coverage, such as lowering your premium payments or converting to a permanent policy.

What if I cancel my term insurance?

If the policy is surrendered before five years of policy purchase the insurance company may charge you surrender fees. In case you surrender your policy after five years the insurer will not charge you any amount. Surrender value is not available with term insurance plans.

What happens if you never use your term life insurance?

If you outlive your term (let's hope this is the case), then typically one of two things happens: The policy will simply end, and you'll no longer owe payments or be covered, or. The insurer might allow you to keep your coverage by converting all or a portion of the policy into permanent life insurance.

Are term life insurance premiums refundable?

Yes; you get the entire premium amount you pay for this policy when the policy matures. A policyholder can choose the structure of the policy payout.

Do I get my premium back if I cancel insurance?

If there are any unearned premiums paid in when you cancel, they are required to issue a refund. This happens most often when clients pay on a semiannual or annual basis. It is VERY uncommon to have unearned premiums on a monthly paid policy, and it's actually somewhat normal to owe a small balance when paying monthly.

What is the grace period for term insurance?

If you opt for annual, half-yearly, and quarterly modes, the maximum grace period for term insurance premium payment available is 30 days. However, in the case of monthly premium payments, you are entitled to a 15-day grace period in term insurance.

Do you get cash back from term life insurance?

Term life is typically more cost-effective than a permanent whole life policy – but unlike a permanent life insurance policy, term policies have no cash value, no payout after the term expires, and no value other than a death benefit.

Should I surrender my term life insurance policy?

There are two downsides to surrendering your life insurance policy. First, you lose your life insurance protection. Second, you may have to pay fees and lose some of your cash value.

What happens at the end of a 20 year term life insurance policy?

Unlike permanent forms of life insurance, term policies don't have cash value. So when coverage expires, your life insurance protection is gone -- and even though you've been paying premiums for 20 years, there's no residual value. If you want to continue to have coverage, you'll have to apply for new life insurance.

Is there a penalty for cancelling term life insurance?

Be aware that canceling your term policy means you won't get any refund and lose your death benefit. However, if you opted for a return of premium rider when you bought your policy, your insurer will return a portion or all of the money you've paid if you haven't used the policy once your term ends.

What happens if you stop paying term insurance?

Term: If you stop paying premiums, your coverage lapses.

How do I surrender my term insurance?

However, there are two possible ways to surrender a term life insurance policy:
  1. During the free look-in period of 15 days from the issue of policy (30 days for online purchase of the life insurance policy)
  2. At any other point of time during the tenure of the policy for plans which have a term insurance component.

Can you back out of term life insurance?

By law, if you cancel a term life insurance policy within 30 days of purchasing it, the company must refund any money you paid. In addition, if you pay some of your premiums ahead of schedule and then cancel your policy, the company should return those early pre-payments.

Can I borrow money against my term life insurance?

Life insurance loans are only available on permanent life insurance policies — such as whole life and universal life — that have a cash value component. You likely can't borrow against a term life insurance policy since it probably doesn't have cash value. Learn more about term vs. whole life insurance.

Is a term life insurance policy worth anything?

The bad news is that term life insurance has no cash value. When your policy ends, you don't receive any money. On the bright side, it's less expensive than permanent insurance. Due to the savings on premiums, you may end up ahead financially with term coverage despite the lack of a cash value.

Is it bad to cancel term life insurance?

Because insurance premiums are rated in part on age and health, terminating your policy and applying for new coverage could mean you may pay more for the same coverage in the future. Moreover, if your health has significantly changed, you may be uninsurable and unable to get coverage.

Is it better to have whole life or term life insurance?

Term life is more affordable but lasts only for a set period of time. On the other hand, whole life insurance tends to have higher premiums but never expires. Knowing the differences between term and whole life insurance will help you choose a policy that works best for you and your lifestyle.

What happens if you outlive your term life insurance?

No, with a standard term life insurance policy, you won't be receive anything back if you outlive your life insurance. So, what happens at the end of your term life insurance? Your life insurance will simply expire and you can either take out a new policy or look into other types of financial protection.