Can you sell your life insurance policy?
You can sell your life insurance policy with a life settlement (or viatical settlement) if you no longer need it or can't afford it. Your eligibility for a life settlement will depend on the type of policy, face value of the policy, policy owner's age, and policy's age.
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Kalyn Johnson
Insurance Claims Support & Sr. Adjuster
Kalyn grew up in an insurance family with a grandfather, aunt, and uncle leading successful careers as insurance agents. She soon found she has similar interests and followed in their footsteps. After spending about ten years working in the insurance industry as both an appraiser dispatcher and a senior property claims adjuster, she decided to combine her years of insurance experience with another...
Insurance Claims Support & Sr. Adjuster
UPDATED: Jul 7, 2023
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Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident life insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one life insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our life insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different life insurance companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about life insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything life insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by life insurance experts.
UPDATED: Jul 7, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right life insurance coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident life insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one life insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our life insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different life insurance companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- You can sell your life insurance through a life settlement if you meet specific requirements set by a third party and your state
- A life settlement can be beneficial for people who can no longer afford their policy and whose beneficiaries do not need the death benefit
- Life settlements can be expensive and complicated, so exploring alternatives may be a better option for many people
Can you sell your life insurance policy? If you don’t need your life insurance policy anymore, it may be possible for you to sell the policy. While selling your life insurance policy may sound appealing, the process can be expensive and complicated, which may make alternatives more practical than a settlement. You should research life settlements thoroughly and consider meeting with a financial advisor before making any decisions.
Enter your ZIP code into our free quote comparison tool above to get life insurance quotes from companies near you.
Can you sell your life insurance policy?
Can you really sell your life insurance policy? You can sell your life insurance policy through a life settlement as long as you meet proper requirements. A life settlement is a right granted by the Supreme Court since the Grigsby v. Russell case in 1911.
The factors that determine eligibility for a life settlement include the type of policy, value of the policy, age of the policy owner, and policy age. Your policy must be a whole, convertible term, variable, or universal life insurance policy with a face value of at least $50,000-$100,000.
Depending on your state’s waiting period, you must have owned the policy for at least 2-5 years. In addition, the older the policy owner, the more likely they are to qualify for a life settlement.
Can you sell your life insurance policy if you are under 65? You may qualify for a life settlement while under 65, but it is more likely that you will be eligible if you are over 65.
Can you sell your life insurance policy if you have only had it for one year? Each state has a waiting period that determines how long you must have owned a life insurance policy before selling it. Waiting periods typically range between two and five years.
Can you sell your life insurance policy if you are not terminal? Yes, you can sell your life insurance policy if you are not terminal. However, you may receive more in a settlement if you are terminal.
Can you sell your term life insurance policy for cash? This depends on the terms of your policy. If your term life insurance policy is convertible to a whole life insurance policy, then you can sell it for cash.
Can you sell part of your life insurance policy? In general, you won’t be able to sell only part of your policy.
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How can you sell your life insurance policy?
A life settlement is sometimes called a viatical settlement. It occurs when you sell your life insurance policy to a third party for cash. Brokers and settlement companies are most likely to buy a life insurance policy. The third party then takes over the premium payments and receives the death benefit when you pass away.
You will have to meet the requirements listed above, but they may vary slightly based on your location and the third party you work with. For example, brokers and settlement companies are likely to offer you more if you are older or if your health is declining.
Should I sell my life insurance policy?
Selling your life insurance policy is a good option only for a few specific reasons. Suppose your beneficiaries rely on the death benefit to remain financially stable after your passing. In that case, you should keep the policy, but if your beneficiaries are no longer in need of the death benefit, selling may be worth it.
If you have a permanent life insurance policy that you can’t afford to keep, you may want to consider a life settlement. However, if you have term life insurance that you can’t afford, it may be easier to cancel the policy or let it lapse.
Finally, if you have enough money to self-insure, you could consider settling. If you’ve built up enough savings to support your beneficiaries after you pass, you may want to settle your life insurance policy so that you don’t have to keep paying for it.
With that in mind, a life settlement can be more expensive and complicated than most people think. It may be challenging to find a suitable offer since buyers want to make sure they’ll make a profit. In many cases, you may only receive 20% to 25% of the face value of your policy.
In addition to a low settlement, you may have to pay a fee of up to 30% of your payment to a broker. The income may also be taxable or affect eligibility for financial assistance.
What are the alternatives to selling my life insurance policy?
Most people find that alternatives to a life settlement are more manageable and sometimes more profitable than selling their life insurance policy. If you’re having difficulty affording your life insurance policy, there are ways to lower or get out of your premiums that don’t involve going through a lengthy selling process.
Some life insurance companies will allow policyholders to lower their coverage amounts, reducing their premiums. If this isn’t an option with your provider, you may cancel or surrender your policy. Term life insurance policies can be canceled or allowed to lapse without penalties.
If you have a whole life insurance policy, the policy can be surrendered (usually with fees) to receive some of its cash value. You may also borrow against the cash value or use it to pay the premiums if you don’t want to surrender the policy.
Many life insurance policies also include an accelerated death benefit (ADB) rider, which allows some policyholders to receive a portion of their death benefit before they pass away. In most cases, this is for individuals who are diagnosed with a terminal illness, but you can check the requirements with your life insurance company.
If none of the above options work for you, you could also use a 1035 exchange to trade your life insurance policy for a more affordable whole life policy or an annuity.
If you’re searching for more affordable life insurance rates, enter your ZIP code into our free quote comparison tool below to compare policies from companies in your area.
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Case Studies: Exploring Life Insurance Policy Sales and Settlements
Case Study 1: John’s Retirement Plan
John, a 70-year-old retiree, has a whole life insurance policy with a face value of $500,000. He no longer needs the policy and finds it challenging to keep up with the premium payments on his fixed income. After exploring his options, John decides to sell his life insurance policy through a life settlement.
He consults with a financial advisor who helps him navigate the process and find a suitable buyer. By selling his policy, John receives a lump sum cash payment that he can use to supplement his retirement income.
Case Study 2: Sarah’s Changing Circumstances
Sarah is a 50-year-old business owner who recently went through a divorce. She has a term life insurance policy with a face value of $1 million, which she purchased to protect her family.
However, after the divorce, Sarah realizes that she no longer needs such a large policy and finds it difficult to afford the premiums. She considers canceling the policy but learns about the option of selling it through a life settlement.
Sarah explores this option and decides to sell a portion of her policy to a settlement company. By selling part of her policy, she reduces her coverage to a more manageable amount and receives a cash payout.
Case Study 3: Mark’s Health Concerns
Mark is a 55-year-old individual who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. He has a universal life insurance policy with a face value of $750,000. Mark is concerned about the financial burden that the policy’s premiums will place on his family after his passing.
After researching his options, Mark decides to pursue a life settlement. Due to his terminal condition, he receives a higher settlement amount, which provides him with peace of mind knowing that his family will be financially secure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you sell your life insurance policy?
Yes, you can sell your life insurance policy through a life settlement if you no longer need it or can’t afford it. The eligibility for a life settlement depends on factors such as the type and face value of the policy, the policy owner’s age, and the policy’s age.
Can you sell your life insurance policy if you are under 65?
While it’s possible to qualify for a life settlement if you are under 65, it is more likely for individuals over 65 to be eligible for a life settlement.
Can you sell your life insurance policy if you have only had it for one year?
Each state has a waiting period that determines how long you must have owned a life insurance policy before selling it. Waiting periods typically range between two and five years.
Can you sell your life insurance policy if you are not terminal?
Yes, you can sell your life insurance policy even if you are not terminally ill. However, individuals who are terminally ill may receive a higher settlement amount.
Can you sell part of your life insurance policy?
In general, it is not possible to sell only part of your life insurance policy. The policy is typically sold in its entirety through a life settlement.
Your life insurance quotes are always free.
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Kalyn Johnson
Insurance Claims Support & Sr. Adjuster
Kalyn grew up in an insurance family with a grandfather, aunt, and uncle leading successful careers as insurance agents. She soon found she has similar interests and followed in their footsteps. After spending about ten years working in the insurance industry as both an appraiser dispatcher and a senior property claims adjuster, she decided to combine her years of insurance experience with another...
Insurance Claims Support & Sr. Adjuster
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about life insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything life insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by life insurance experts.