Fact CheckedIf you are wondering if I can convert my term life insurance to whole life coverage, I have some great news.
For the most part, this is possible if your policy has something called a conversion option.
This is one of those topics that may not seem all that meaningful when you buy your policy…
But as you grow older, details like this become increasingly important.
So check out my thoughts on converting term life insurance to whole life right now!
Can I Convert My Term Life Insurance to Whole Life?
YES, for the Most Part
Good news: This is possible with most life insurance policies in Canada if your policy has a conversion option.
Don’t worry; 99% of policies do, but this is one of the many reasons you should read the fine print BEFORE you sign on the dotted line.
A conversion option enables you to exchange your term coverage for permanent coverage (whole life is one example) without taking a medical exam! This is worth a lot of money if your health has deteriorated since you bought your term coverage.
Think of it as a “get out of jail free” card. If, God forbid, you become uninsurable, it’s your only option for securing insurance moving forward. It’s not necessary until you need it, but when you do, it’s essential.
If you develop a life-threatening illness near the end of your term, you will not be disqualified from getting standard rates. Any new diagnoses will NOT cause your premiums to escalate. For example, if you were 35 when you bought your policy, received a preferred plus rating, and are now in your 60s with medical issues, you will not be penalized when you opt in to your new permanent coverage.
Why Would You Want to Convert Your Term Coverage to Whole Life?
You might want to exercise a conversion option for many reasons, so having one is important if you think you may use it at some point.
- You Have Become Uninsurable: It happens! As you age, buying life insurance becomes more difficult and expensive. What if your health has turned for the worse, and you still have needs at the end of your term? A conversion option allows you to make sure your beneficiary receives a payout. The best part? There’s no underwriting involved, and you’re guaranteed the same rating class when it comes to premiums.
- You Have More Expendable Cash: You can finally afford the premiums and want to leave a nest egg for those you love. Remember that your beneficiaries will not receive a dime if you have term coverage and die outside the coverage period.
- Final Expenses: Your term coverage is ending, but your burial and taxes will still cost your family a pretty penny. A whole life policy can cover these expenses and more.
- Child with Special Needs: You were footloose and fancy-free when you bought your term coverage. Now, you have a child with special needs that will continue after you pass on. Whole life insurance guarantees that some money will be left to care for your child.
This is NOT a finite list. You may convert your term insurance into whole life insurance for many other reasons. Having a conversion option is in your best interest!
Why You Should Review Your Term Life Insurance Policy
One of the most important reasons to review your term life insurance policy is to ensure you take advantage of the conversion option.
With few exceptions, all term life insurance policies offer the option to convert or exchange the term coverage for permanent coverage within certain limits. The option to convert usually expires at age 65, 71, or 75, depending on the carrier and product.
So, for example, if you’re 70 and holding a term policy, you want to ensure you don’t miss the option to exchange some or all of your term coverage, especially if you know that option disappears at age 71.
I once worked with a woman in her late 60s who wanted to purchase a small, $25,000 whole-life policy to cover her final expenses. Unfortunately, she suffered a stroke recently, which made qualifying for brand-new insurance difficult. Based on her stroke history, all companies would penalize her by charging her more money and imposing a 2-year waiting period during which she would be paying premiums but have no coverage.
Thankfully, she had a term policy in effect for over ten years and could convert it until she turned 71. We exercised this option and converted $25,000 of her existing term insurance into a new permanent whole-life policy. All she had to do was fill out a form, and the conversion was done. There were no medical tests or questions, and most importantly, the new policy was issued at standard (reasonable) rates, as that was the health class for which she was initially underwritten.
Long story short, the conversion option made it possible for her to get affordable coverage at standard rates even though she recently suffered from a stroke.
Looking to Find Out More Information About Conversion Options? Call Us TODAY
If you are wondering: can I convert my term life insurance to whole life coverage – the answer is a resounding YES…
…unless you have a rare policy that doesn’t provide a conversion option. This is why it is important to pick out the right independent life insurance agent.
Truth be known, this is a very complicated business. There are so many products and life insurance companies with different approaches that it’s easy to miss a small detail that could cost you a lot of aggravation and cash.
Seemingly insignificant small print takes on new light as you grow older. Trust me, I’ve seen it time and time again.
Why not give Policy Architects a call today? We treat each client like a member of our own family, which means you get the best possible advice BEFORE you have an issue.
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