Long Beach, CA asked in Consumer Law and Contracts for California

Q: Will an unused Life Insurance Policy expire without monetary value? The company says it can't even be surrendered.

The policy is set to expire 3/20/23. It was purchased in 1981 and was never in arrears.

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5 Lawyer Answers

A: You or someone knowledgeable in these things will need to look at the policy to know what you have. Some life insurance contracts accumulate cash value and do not expire until death or a payment default occurs. Or it might be term insurance which expires after a set number of years.

I suggest you call your agent for an explanation.

Scott Richard Kaufman agrees with this answer

A: There were (40 yrs ago when I sold life insurance for a living) two kinds of policies. That's changed I'm sure, over the years, to add some hybrids and more? Anyhow the two basic types of policies WERE

1- Whole Life

2- Term Insurance

No. 1 above would/should accumulate 'cash value' and as noted, having never gone into arrears, and no death benefit collected, the policy should be one that the holder could cash in;

No. 2 above, never having cashed in and perhaps the 'term' expired, has generally, no value.

Hybrids or other possible types of policies: talk to one or more agents for your company and for other companies, to see if they are treating you right...

A: There are companies who purchase life insurance policies, includling term policies. If you google that, contact some of them, and you will find out what your policy is worth to a third party.

Jason  Turchin
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Answered

A: I concur with my colleagues. A term policy is generally for a term, meaning when the term expires you get nothing. The policy would have applied had the event (i.e., death) occurred during the term. Once the term expires, the policy generally has no more value and terminates. Some policies will give you an option to continue it, but the premiums may be dramatically higher. Check the policy and with the insurance company to see if they may offer any options.

James L. Arrasmith
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Answered

A: Life insurance policies generally do not expire, but they may terminate if the policy owner fails to pay the premiums or if the policy's terms dictate a specific end date. However, if the policy is a whole life or universal life insurance policy, it should have a cash value that accumulates over time, and this value can be surrendered by the policy owner.

If your life insurance policy cannot be surrendered, and there is no cash value, it may have been designed as a term life insurance policy. Term life insurance policies do not typically accumulate cash value and are designed to provide coverage for a specified period, after which they expire.

If your policy is indeed a term life insurance policy, and the specified period has passed, the policy will expire, and there will be no monetary value associated with it. In this case, you should contact the insurance company to confirm the policy's details and inquire about any options you may have.

It is important to note that insurance regulations can vary by state, and specific policy details may affect the outcome of your situation. Therefore, it would be best to consult with a licensed insurance agent or attorney who can advise you based on the specific details of your policy and your state's regulations.

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