Surrendering A Life Insurance Policy

Preparing for the future can be daunting, regardless of your stage in life. After a lifetime of hard work and prudent saving, you might still feel the pinch when it comes to meeting your daily expenses during retirement. A life insurance policy, likely purchased to provide financial security for your loved ones, might be the key to alleviating this financial strain.

While life insurance policies are crucial for future planning, there could come a point when maintaining coverage may no longer be necessary or financially viable. Understanding what happens when you decide to surrender your life insurance policy is essential. This involves familiarizing yourself with the process and implications of surrendering a policy.

What does surrendering a life insurance policy entail?

In essence, surrendering a life insurance policy implies opting out or cancelling your existing policy. You inform your insurance company that you no longer wish to maintain life insurance coverage and would like to receive the policy’s accrued cash value instead. Surrendering your policy also means giving up the death benefit that would have been payable to your beneficiaries.

Surrendering a policy, depending on its type and whether it has a cash value or an investment component, is usually straightforward. Typically, the insurer will terminate the coverage and send you a cheque for the policy’s cash surrender value – the balance in your policy’s cash value account, less any applicable surrender fees. The cash value can help ease the burden of monthly premiums and may be redirected to other investments or necessities.

The cash value of a life insurance policy can vary greatly, depending largely on the policy’s age and type. Older policies generally have a higher cash surrender value which accumulates gradually over time. Surrender fees are typically higher during the early years of the policy, reducing gradually over time. Whole and universal policies accumulate cash value, making them attractive options for surrender.

What occurs when you surrender a Permanent Life Insurance Policy like Whole Life or Universal Life?

Surrendering a Permanent Life insurance policy means you lose coverage immediately and are no longer required to pay the premiums. A whole life policy, intended to provide coverage for your lifetime, accumulates cash value over time. Upon surrender, you receive this cash value, less any surrender fees. The cash is yours to use as you see fit. As long as the total premiums you’ve paid exceed the amount you receive back, the proceeds are tax-free.

The process of cashing in Term Life insurance differs

Term life insurance, also known as “temporary” life insurance, is meant to cover policyholders for a specific duration. As the policy is valid for a pre-set number of years, it doesn’t accrue cash value. Term life insurance is generally more affordable than permanent policies and provides sufficient coverage for beneficiaries in case of premature death.

Is surrendering your life insurance policy a good idea?

Seniors often struggle to maintain a stable source of income upon retirement, particularly when unexpected medical expenses crop up. Surrendering a life insurance policy can provide a quick source of cash during retirement. Reasons for surrendering a policy can vary but typically include:

• Coverage is no longer needed: Perhaps your children, originally beneficiaries, are now financially independent, or your spouse, your beneficiary, predeceased you, or you’re divorcing and don’t have a replacement beneficiary.
• Need for cash value: Surrendering a policy can provide a fast source of cash during retirement. It’s important, however, to consider potential surrender fees associated with your policy.
• Availability of less expensive coverage: Your health may have improved since purchasing your last policy, or your current premiums may have become unaffordable. Perhaps you’ve found an equivalent or superior life insurance policy at a lower price. In such cases, you can surrender your current policy to take out new coverage.
• Unanticipated medical expenses: Whether it’s surgery, injury, short-term or long-term medical care, surrendering your life insurance policy can help cover costs related to unexpected medical care.

Before you surrender a life insurance policy, be sure to consult your insurer to determine the potential value of your policy in a life settlement transaction.

Are there alternatives to surrendering a life insurance policy?

Yes, there are alternative options to consider before surrendering your life insurance policy. For example, it’s possible to withdraw a limited amount of cash from your life insurance policy, although the exact amount will depend on your insurer and the type of policy you own. Here are some other methods to access the cash value of your policy:

Direct Withdrawal

In a direct withdrawal, you extract a portion of your cash value, leaving enough to keep the policy active. As the policyholder, you’re still obligated to keep paying policy premiums. You can retain the death benefit protection, but it will be reduced based on the amount of money you withdraw.

Borrowing from the Cash Value

Another common way to access your life insurance policy’s cash value is by borrowing against the policy. Essentially, you’re borrowing your own money from your life insurance policy. The interest on your loan is based on your policy’s cash value, and the interest rate is usually less than what you’d pay to traditional lenders. This is a good option for individuals with low or poor credit scores, since there are no underwriting requirements for this type of loan.

Life Settlement

Did you know you can sell your life insurance policy? One of the most profitable ways to terminate life insurance coverage is through a life settlement. In this transaction, a qualified buyer purchases your policy, providing you with a lump sum at the time of sale. The buyer then assumes responsibility for paying the premiums and receives the death benefit when you pass away. This is a valuable alternative to surrendering your life insurance policy, and potentially offers a larger payout than surrendering. It’s important to speak with your insurer to find out what your policy is worth in a life settlement transaction before deciding to surrender it.

Understanding what surrendering a life insurance policy means can significantly impact your financial comfort during retirement. While all life insurance policies can be surrendered, only certain ones have a cash value. Whole life insurance policies have a cash surrender value, while term life insurance policies do not. Before surrendering your policy, it’s crucial to consult with your insurer or financial advisor about the best option for you.

Are you considering a life settlement for your life insurance policy? Wondering if you’re eligible to sell your life insurance policy? Learn more about selling your policy and find out if you qualify for a life settlement by contacting the experts at Canadian Life Settlements today.