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Adjustable Life Insurance

What Is Adjustable Life Insurance?

Adjustable life is a hybrid of term and whole life insurance that lets policyholders adjust features including the protection period, face amount, premiums, and premium-payment period.

Adjustable policies also include an interest-earning savings component called a "cash value" account.

How Does It Work?

Unlike other life insurance products, adjustable life does not require canceling or buying additional policies when circumstances change. It appeals to people who want permanent coverage and cash value benefits but need or want flexibility in policy features.

By modifying premiums and face amounts, policyholders can tailor coverage as life changes. Someone may increase the face amount after marrying and having children. An unemployed person may reduce premiums to fit a tighter budget.

Like other permanent insurance, adjustable life has a savings component earning interest, generally at a guaranteed rate. Policyholders can change key features within certain limits. They may increase or decrease premiums and face value, extend or shorten guaranteed protection, and lengthen or shorten the premium-payment period.

Policy adjustments alter the interest-rate guarantee period, and changes in the guarantee's length affect the cash value schedule. Face value can be reduced on request or in writing. Increasing it, however, may require additional underwriting, with substantial increases requiring full medical underwriting.

Increasing an adjustable policy's face amount may require additional underwriting, and substantial increases may require full medical underwriting.

Adjustable policies generally offer optional riders. Common examples include waiver of premium and accidental death and dismemberment riders. 

Adjustable policies provide flexibility most traditional policies do not. However, permitted adjustments are limited to specified intervals. Requests must be made within an allotted period and follow the insurer's guidelines.

The range of adjustments can create a policy resembling term or whole life. In effect, adjustable insurance lets policyholders customize coverage for current or anticipated needs.

As with any permanent policy, research every company under consideration to ensure it is among the best life insurers currently operating.