Agent Owner, Gilmore Insurance Services, Marysville, Washington State
Yes, life insurance can lapse. Failure to pay premiums is the usual reasons or in some cases underpaying premiums on a flexible premium policy can also cause the policy to lapse. Depending on state regulations a company may be required to allow 30-60 days "grace" on premiums in arrears before offically cancelling the policy..
Yes, many people lapse their life insurance policies. It comes from failure to pay enough premium to keep it in force.
Most people buy term life insurance for a level premium for 20-years or so. At the 21st year they COULD pay more and keep it going but hardly anyone ever would because the premium at that time would be very high. So the policy will usually lapse.
Any type of policy can lapse if you don't pay the premium but term is designed to lapse once you don't need it anymore.
Can life insurance lapse? Yes. There are circumstances when life insurance coverage can lapse: You stop paying premiums. The premiums you pay and accumulated policy cash values are not enough to continue coverage. You stopped paying premiums some time ago, attempting to pay via the cash values and those values are not enough to continue. You didn't pay your premiums on time and not during the grace period.
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Most people buy term life insurance for a level premium for 20-years or so. At the 21st year they COULD pay more and keep it going but hardly anyone ever would because the premium at that time would be very high. So the policy will usually lapse.
Any type of policy can lapse if you don't pay the premium but term is designed to lapse once you don't need it anymore.