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Term Life Insurance Policies with Renewable Provisions

A renewable term provision in a term insurance policy allows the beneficiary to extend coverage for a specified period without having to qualify again for new coverage. Renewal is conditional on premium payments being current and the beneficiary paying a renewal premium.

With an annual renewable term (ART) life insurance policy, the initial contract lasts one year and is renewed annually. These policies offer guaranteed insurability for a specified number of years and a level death benefit. Premiums are reassessed each year, and the policyholder will likely pay more as they age. The main reason to choose ART would be a need to obtain short-term life insurance quickly.

Most financial advisors recommend obtaining insurance policies with renewable terms whenever possible. Most term life insurance policies are renewable, but not all.

Renewability is important because a policyholder will generally want to renew a policy when its term ends, assuming their life circumstances have not changed dramatically—for example, their health may deteriorate, making them uninsurable. Renewability allows the policyholder to maintain their current coverage, although probably at a much higher premium, without having to qualify again.

Renewable Term Life Insurance vs. Convertible Term Life Insurance

People often confuse renewable term life insurance with convertible term life insurance. While a renewable term life policy simply allows you to extend your existing coverage, a convertible term life policy means the policyholder can convert term life insurance to a whole life policy at any point during the term or before turning 70, whichever comes first.

The two types of insurance are similar in that the insured does not have to qualify again or undergo additional exams, regardless of their health. They differ in that renewable term life insurance cannot be changed to whole life insurance, while convertible term life insurance can.