What happens when you stop paying life insurance premiums?
Asked by: Adaline Yundt | Last update: September 6, 2025Score: 4.1/5 (7 votes)
Do you lose your money if you stop paying life insurance?
What Happens: If you stop paying premiums, the policy typically lapses after a grace period (usually 30 days). You lose coverage, and no death benefit will be paid to your beneficiaries. Since term life has no cash value, you won't get any money back.
How long can you go without paying life insurance?
What is the grace period on a life insurance policy? Your grace period — the amount of time you have to make a payment after the due date and bring your life insurance policy back to good standing — is usually 30 days, but it depends on your policy and insurance provider.
Do I get my money back if I outlive my life insurance?
If you outlive your policy, you won't get any money back. Your death benefit will only be available for the duration of the policy.
Is it possible to pause life insurance payments?
Alternatives To Canceling Your Policy
Pause payments: If you have a universal life insurance policy with a cash value, pausing premium payments will not cancel the policy. If you simply can't afford payments but would prefer to maintain coverage, your policy could last years without you contributing.
When Should You Stop Paying for Life Insurance?
What life insurance policy allows you to skip a payment?
Because it treats the elements of the policy separately, universal life allows you to change or skip premium payments or change the death benefit more easily than with any other policy. The policy usually gives you an option to select one or two types of death benefits.
What happens if I don't pay my insurance premium?
If you don't pay all owed premiums, you may lose your coverage dating back to the first month you missed the premium payment. You may also have to wait to get health coverage. The 3-month premium payment grace period starts the first month you didn't pay, even if you make payments for the following months.
At what age should you stop paying life insurance?
Life insurance can provide peace of mind at any age, but isn't always necessary after age 60. To see if you need life insurance, assess your family's needs, your financial resources and assets, your outstanding debts and your long-term financial goals.
How long can a life insurance policy go unclaimed?
The amount of time beneficiaries have to claim life insurance depends on state laws and the life insurance company itself. But typically, there is no time limit.
Can I cancel my life insurance and get money back?
Unless you're canceling a policy during a free-look period, your premium won't be refunded if you cancel your life insurance policy. There are a few instances where you may see some money returned. For example, you may receive your accumulated cash value if you cancel a permanent policy, minus any taxes and fees.
At what point is life insurance not worth it?
When is term life insurance not worth it? Term life insurance probably isn't worth the costs if you don't have any significant debts to pass on to your loved ones or you don't have dependents or a spouse that you'd leave in a bind by passing away.
What will happen if I stop paying my Sunlife insurance?
Your policy will be terminated and you will lose the insurance protection.
What if I forgot to pay my life insurance premium?
If you haven't paid your life insurance premium and the grace period has ended, your policy will lapse. This means that if you pass away unexpectedly, your policy will no longer apply and your beneficiaries will not be entitled to a death benefit that you paid premiums for in the past.
What is the two year rule for life insurance?
If you pass away in the first two years of your life insurance coverage, the insurance company has a right to contest or question your claim.
Can I borrow money from my life insurance?
When your policy has enough cash value (minimums vary by insurer), you can use it as collateral to request a loan from your insurance company. Keep in mind that if you have a newer policy it may take several years before it has accrued enough value for you to borrow against.
Can you freeze life insurance payments?
If you're paying premiums on a stepped basis, you can request a premium freeze on your life, TPD or trauma cover at any time. This excludes policy fees and government charges.
What happens to my life insurance money if I stop paying it?
If a payment isn't received by the end of the grace period, the policy lapses. Your beneficiaries will likely not be able to claim your death benefit, and you'll lose the premiums you've already paid.
Can creditors go after life insurance?
A proper life insurance in place can help your loved ones with debt in several ways. In most cases, the death benefit goes directly to your beneficiaries and not your estate. That means a creditor cannot make a claim against it.
How long do you have to be dead to claim life insurance?
There is no time limit for beneficiaries to file a life insurance claim. However, the sooner you file a claim for a death benefit, the sooner you will receive your money. Filing as soon as possible makes sense because the insurer could need a month or longer to investigate the claim before paying out.
Is it a good idea to cancel life insurance?
You shouldn't hesitate to cancel a life insurance policy — or allow it to expire — if you've determined that you no longer need it. Could my family lose the house or car? Do I have any present or future financial obligations? Will my family be able to keep up with daily expenses without me?
Can a life insurance policy be cashed out?
You can cash out a life insurance policy. How much money you get for it will depend on the amount of cash value held in it. If you have, say $10,000 of accumulated cash value, you would be entitled to withdraw up to all of that amount (less any surrender fees). At that point, however, your policy would be terminated.
Is it worth having life insurance after 65?
The bottom line
Life insurance is a smart idea for most seniors. That's especially the case if you have a spouse, lack plans to cover end-of-life costs or don't have a long-term care insurance policy. The simple fact is that just about everyone has someone who loves them, depends on them or both.
What happens if I don't pay my whole life insurance premiums?
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.
When to stop paying life insurance premiums?
At What Age Is Life Insurance No Longer Needed? Life insurance is no longer needed for many people once they reach their 60s or 70s. At this point they have retired, their kids have grown up, and they've paid off their mortgage and other debts.
What happens if I stop paying premium?
The policy will lapse when you stop paying premium
In other words, you will no longer be eligible for all the benefits under the policy.