You can cancel your life insurance policy by contacting your insurance provider. For term life insurance policies, you can also simply stop making payments and the coverage will lapse. If you have a permanent life insurance policy, it’s best to speak with your insurer or a licensed agent about surrender options, since you could face cancellation fees.
In some cases, if you find you no longer have a need for coverage — like dependents or debts — it might make sense for you to cancel your policy. If your main reason for canceling coverage is affordability, there are ways to lower your premiums without losing your insurance protection. You can speak with a Policygenius expert to find the best option for your circumstances.
How to cancel a term life insurance policy
Canceling term life insurance is easy and free, and you can end your coverage at any time. You won’t pay any fees or penalties when you cancel a term life policy.
To do so, you can simply stop making payments and your coverage will end. If you prefer, you can call or send a letter to your insurance company notifying them of the cancellation.
Stop paying premiums
When you stop making your premium payments, you’ll trigger the grace period on your insurance policy — this normally lasts 30 days. During the grace period, you’ll have the chance to make up any payments you missed and keep your policy active.
If you let the grace period expire without making any more payments, your insurance coverage will end.
Write a letter
Alternatively, you can provide written notice to your insurer that you’d like to cancel your policy. Even though not required, for many people a formal written notice can give them peace of mind when canceling a policy.
Here’s an example of a term life insurance policy cancellation letter:
Sample insurance cancellation letter
Check your provider’s website too — some may have a way to submit notice online.
Call your life insurance provider
Most insurers can cancel your policy over the phone, or at least start the process for you. If you decide to call your insurance provider, have your policy number handy so an agent can pull up your policy and guide you through the steps.
How to cancel a whole life insurance policy
Canceling a whole life insurance policy involves a few more steps than just stopping payments. Each policy has slightly different rules around cancellation, so if you want to cancel your policy, it’s best to start with a call to your insurer.
Your options will depend on how long you’ve owned the policy and your insurance company’s guidelines, but here are some common outcomes.
Cash out the policy
Whole life insurance has a cash value account, which earns interest over time. If you cancel your policy, you’ll likely pay financial penalties. You’ll also have to pay taxes on any interest you earn from the cash value of the policy.
Opt for reduced paid-up insurance
This option comes with the fewest fees. A reduced paid-up option allows you to stop paying premiums in exchange for a lower death benefit. The reduced payout is based on the premiums you’ve already paid, and coverage lasts for life.
Even though the coverage amount is much smaller, a reduced paid-up option doesn’t come with penalties and maintains some amount of insurance protection, but also allows you to stop making payments.
Tax-free exchange
You may be able to exchange your insurance policy for either another life insurance policy or an annuity. This option allows you to transfer any investment gains to the new policy without paying taxes on them at the time of the exchange.
Because this process can be complicated, it’s best to consult a tax professional if you’re considering this option.
Sell your policy
You may be able to sell your life insurance policy using a life settlement company. You’ll have to pay commissions and fees for the service, so depending on the value of your policy, you may not walk away with much money. On the flip side, if you make a profit on your policy, the payout you receive is subject to income tax.
This process doesn’t make financial sense for most people, so it’s best to consult a trusted financial advisor if you're considering selling your policy.
How to cancel life insurance with popular providers
The quickest way to cancel life insurance is to contact your insurer. If you purchased a policy through Policygenius, you can contact us, too, and we’ll help you cancel.
Below are a few popular providers and their contact information.
Canceling a State Farm life insurance policy
You can contact State Farm at:
800-782-8332
One State Farm Plaza Bloomington, IL 61710
Canceling a Northwestern Mutual life insurance policy
You can contact Northwestern Mutual at:
866-950-4644
720 East Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53202
Canceling a New York Life life insurance policy
You can contact New York life at:
800-225-5695
PO Box 768 New York, New York 10159
Canceling a Transamerica life insurance policy
You can contact Transamerica at:
800-797-2643
PO Box 189 Cedar Rapids, IA 52406
Canceling a Lincoln Financial life insurance policy
You can contact Lincoln Financial at:
800-487-1485
10 N Greene St. Greensboro, NC 27401
When to cancel your life insurance policy
If you no longer have a need for insurance, you can cancel your life insurance policy at any time — this can apply to both term and whole life insurance. Canceling a policy might make sense for you if you’ve reached retirement and have saved enough money to fulfill your remaining financial obligations, if you’ve paid off a mortgage or other debt, or if you have adult children who are financially independent.
If you’re considering canceling because you can no longer afford your premiums, it’s best to connect with your agent or insurance company first, since you can oftentimes lower coverage or take other measures to adjust your premiums first.
Canceling during the free look period
Life insurance policies typically have a free look period of 10 to 30 days after your policy goes into effect. During this time, if you decide you no longer want the policy, there’s no penalty for canceling.
Canceling after the surrender period
If you cancel your whole life policy after the surrender period, you won’t have to pay surrender fees. At this point, you’ll receive your remaining cash value, and your coverage will be canceled.
Things to consider before canceling life insurance
Check with your beneficiaries
If you’re thinking you no longer need coverage, it’s important to check with your spouse, children, or other beneficiaries to update them and confirm they wouldn’t struggle financially in your absence.
Consider any health conditions
Have you developed any health conditions or experienced lifestyle changes that would make it more expensive for you to buy a new policy? If so, it might be worth keeping your existing policy or reducing coverage before canceling.
On the flip side, if you’ve improved lifestyle habits or gone through positive health changes since purchasing your policy, you may be able to get more competitive rates with a new one. This will depend on your age and how long you’ve had your policy. A Policygenius expert can help you compare quotes for free.
Consider surrender fees
Make sure to understand your policy’s guidelines regarding the surrender period and surrender fees before canceling whole life insurance. If you have a term life insurance policy, you won’t have to worry about surrender fees.
Alternatives to canceling life insurance
Canceling your life insurance policy isn't advisable if anyone still counts on your financial support. Ending your coverage not only leaves your loved ones unprotected — it also forfeits your current rates. If you decide you need a policy in the future, your premiums will be higher.
If your policy no longer fits your needs or budget, there are ways to lower your premiums or adjust your coverage without completely losing life insurance protection.
Use your cash value to cover your premiums. If you have a permanent policy, you may be able to use the cash value to cover your premiums until you can afford to pay them out-of-pocket.
Ask for a new medical exam. If you’ve lost weight, quit smoking, or made another significant lifestyle change, you could qualify for lower premiums. Most insurers offer reconsideration once you’ve had your policy and maintained positive lifestyle changes for at least a year.
Lower your coverage amount. Most insurers let you decrease your coverage amount at least once, which can make your premiums more affordable and help you customize your coverage to your current financial obligations.
Shop for a new policy. It's possible that your current policy needs or health improvements could earn you lower rates with a different insurance company. Work with an independent broker to compare quotes and replace your existing policy.
A life insurance agent can walk you through the best option for your circumstances and help you make any necessary adjustments.
Frequently asked questions
Can I cancel my life insurance policy at any time?
Yes, you can cancel your life insurance policy at any time, but canceling a permanent policy may result in surrender fees. There are no surrender fees with term life insurance policies.
Remember that canceling your policy means that you’ll lose your life insurance coverage.
What happens if you surrender a whole life insurance policy?
Surrendering a whole life insurance policy will end your coverage. If your policy has a cash value, you’ll be able to receive that amount after you pay any surrender fees. It’s best to check your insurer’s surrender fee schedule before canceling your policy.
What happens to the money I paid if I cancel my policy?
If you cancel your life insurance policy, you’ll no longer have coverage. You won’t get back any premiums that you’ve already paid, similar to other types of insurance like health insurance and car insurance.
If you have a whole life policy, check your insurance company’s guidelines around surrender fees — some insurers charge some degree of surrender fees for up to 10 years. Usually the longer you’ve held a policy, the less you’ll pay in surrender fees.
When you cancel your whole life policy, you’ll get the cash surrender value. The cash surrender value is your total cash value minus any fees.
Can my beneficiaries take over my premium payments?
Yes, you can change the payor on your policy to your beneficiary by filing a form with your insurance company. You’ll just need both your current payor and your beneficiary to consent to the change.
What are the fees for canceling a life insurance policy?
There are no fees or penalties associated with the cancelation of a term life insurance policy. You can cancel your term life policy at any time and incur no additional charges.
If you have a whole life insurance policy, you’ll likely have to pay surrender fees, which will be outlined in your policy documents.
If you can no longer afford your premiums, it’s best to contact your insurance company to reduce coverage or at least take note of the fees you’ll need to pay.
