Convert Term Life Insurance to Whole: How, When & Why

Converting term to whole life insurance lets you secure permanent coverage without a new medical exam. Conversion windows vary by insurer.

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Convert Term Life Insurance to Whole: How, When & Why

Written by Mark Fitzpatrick

Updated: January 14, 2026

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Key Takeaways

Conversion windows typically close by age 65 to 75 or within five to 20 years of policy purchase. Missing the deadline means losing conversion rights.

Whole life premiums cost more than term premiums for the same coverage amount, but include lifelong protection and cash value accumulation.

Partial conversion lets you convert only a portion of your coverage (such as $100,000 of a $500,000 policy) to manage costs while maintaining some permanent protection.

Some insurers offer conversion credits that reduce your first-year permanent policy premium by the amount of your annual term premium.

What Is Term Life to Whole Life Conversion?

Approaching the end of your term life insurance policy or dealing with changed life circumstances? Converting your term policy to whole life insurance gives you permanent protection without new medical exams.

A term life conversion is a contractual right that lets you exchange your term policy for a permanent policy without proving you're still insurable. Most term life insurance policies include this conversion privilege at no extra cost. Check your policy documents to confirm eligibility. Policy terms vary by insurer and state. Check your policy documents and talk to a licensed insurance agent to understand your conversion options.

The conversion process preserves your original health classification from when you bought your term coverage. If you qualified for preferred rates at age 30, you keep that rating when converting at age 45, even if your health has declined. Your new premiums are calculated based on your current age. Waiting longer to convert means higher costs.

Term vs. Whole Life


Coverage duration	10 to 30 years	Lifetime (as long as premiums paid)
Premium cost	Lower (coverage only)	Higher (includes cash value)
Cash value	None	Builds over time, tax-deferred
Medical exam at conversion	N/A	Not required
Death benefit	Guaranteed during term	Guaranteed for life

How Does Term to Whole Life Conversion Work?

The conversion privilege is a right embedded in your convertible term policy contract that allows you to switch to permanent coverage. Unlike buying a new policy, conversion doesn't require medical underwriting. You skip the medical exam, health questionnaire and lifestyle assessment that typically accompany life insurance applications.

Your insurer bases your new premium on your current age and original health classification. A 45-year-old converting with a preferred health rating from 15 years ago pays the preferred rate for a 45-year-old, not the standard rate their current health might command. This structure favors early conversion since premiums increase with age.

You have two coverage options when converting.

Full conversion transfers your entire death benefit to the permanent policy. If you hold a $500,000 term policy, your new whole life policy also provides $500,000 in coverage.

Partial conversion lets you transfer only a portion of your death benefit, perhaps converting $150,000 to permanent coverage while keeping $350,000 as term. You end up with two policies serving different purposes and budgets.

Conversion Windows and Deadlines

Most conversion periods fall within the first 5 to 20 years of your policy or end once you reach ages 65-75, depending on the insurer and policy terms. A 10-year term policy might allow conversions only during the first five years, while a 20-year term could permit conversions for the first 10 years.

Missing your conversion deadline eliminates the option entirely. Once the window closes, you lose your guaranteed right to convert regardless of your situation. If you need permanent coverage after that point, you'll have to apply for a new policy through standard underwriting, which includes medical exams and health questions.

Some insurers sell extended conversion riders that push back your deadline for an additional premium. These riders can extend your window by several years, giving you more time to decide. Check your policy documents or call your insurer to confirm your specific conversion deadline, the products available for conversion and whether extended conversion options exist.

How to Convert Your Term Policy

Converting term life to whole life insurance becomes valuable when your circumstances change. Here's what you should do:

1
Review your current policy
Check whether your policy includes a conversion rider or privilege. Note your conversion deadline and verify which permanent products are eligible for conversion.
2
Determine your coverage amount
Decide between full conversion of your entire death benefit or partial conversion of a portion. Base this decision on your budget, coverage needs and long-term goals.
3
Contact your insurer or agent
Request conversion options, premium quotes for each available product and policy illustrations showing projected cash value growth and death benefits.
4
Compare costs and benefits
Review the new life insurance premium amounts, death benefit guarantees, cash value projections and available riders. Consider how each option fits your financial situation.
5
Submit your conversion application
Complete the required paperwork. No medical exam is needed since your original health classification carries over.
6
Review and accept your new policy
Confirm all coverage details match your expectations. Update your beneficiary designations if needed and set up premium payments.

When Should You Convert Term Life to Whole Life?

Timing your conversion depends on your health, ongoing coverage needs and budget. Converting makes sense in some circumstances but not others.

Situations Where Conversion Makes Sense

Health changes create the strongest case for conversion. If you've been diagnosed with a chronic condition, experienced a major illness or developed lifestyle factors affecting insurability, conversion lets you lock in permanent coverage without medical underwriting. Someone diagnosed with diabetes, heart disease or cancer would face higher rates or denial when applying for new coverage, making conversion the practical path forward.

Lifelong coverage needs also justify conversion. Parents of children with special needs often require permanent policies since their dependents will need financial protection indefinitely.

Business owners using life insurance for succession planning benefit from coverage that doesn't expire. Estate planning strategies, such as funding an irrevocable life insurance trust or providing liquidity for estate taxes, work best with permanent policies.

An improved financial situation opens conversion as an option. Career advancement, debt payoff or increased income might make whole life premiums manageable when they weren't before. The cash value component of whole life provides tax-deferred growth, the ability to borrow against your policy and potential retirement income supplementation.

An approaching term expiration with ongoing coverage needs pushes many toward conversion. If your term policy expires soon and you still require life insurance protection but your health won't qualify you for a new policy at reasonable rates, conversion provides a guaranteed path to maintaining coverage.

When Conversion May Not Be the Best Choice

Good health opens better options than conversion. If you can qualify for preferred rates on a new policy, shopping the market might yield lower premiums or more suitable products than your conversion options.

Temporary coverage needs don't require permanent solutions. If your children have grown, your mortgage is paid off, and you've accumulated sufficient retirement savings, you might not need life insurance beyond your current term. Converting to expensive permanent coverage when your actual coverage need ends in a few years wastes money.

Budget constraints make conversion risky. Whole life premiums are higher than term premiums for equivalent coverage. If you convert but can't sustain the payments, missing premiums leads to policy lapse, and you lose coverage entirely. Stretching your budget to afford a conversion often backfires.

Alternative investment strategies might serve you better. The "buy term and invest the difference" approach works for disciplined savers who prefer controlling their own investments rather than building cash value through life insurance. If you'd rather direct extra dollars toward retirement accounts or other investments, term coverage combined with separate investing could outperform whole life.

Limited conversion options reduce the value of this path. If your insurer only offers expensive or unsuitable permanent products for conversion, you're stuck with suboptimal choices. Reviewing available products before your deadline reveals whether conversion makes financial sense.

How Much Does Converting Term to Whole Life Cost?

Most insurers don't charge a fee to convert your policy. The primary cost is the higher ongoing premium required for permanent coverage. Whole life premiums often cost more than term premiums for the same death benefit.

The premium increase reflects what whole life provides beyond term: lifetime coverage that never expires and cash value that accumulates over time.

Age at conversion affects your cost. Converting at 35 costs less than converting at 55 because insurers base premiums on your current age. Each year you wait increases your monthly payment.

Conversion Credits: First-Year Premium Discounts

Conversion credits reduce your first-year permanent policy premium, easing the transition from term to whole life. These credits typically equal one year's worth of your term premium, though some insurers offer 100% to 125% of that amount.

For example, if you pay $400 annually for your term policy and your insurer offers a conversion credit, your first year of whole life premiums drops by $400. On a $3,000 annual whole life premium, that credit brings your first-year cost to $2,600.

Not all insurers or policies offer these credits. Some companies limit credits to conversions made within the first five years. Check with your insurer about credit availability and any time restrictions that apply.

Pros and Cons of Converting Term to Whole Life

Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of converting term life to whole life insurance to find out if this is the right option for your family's needs.

Pros and Cons

Advantages of Conversion

No medical exam required. Conversion guarantees acceptance regardless of your current health status. Chronic conditions, major diagnoses or lifestyle changes that would affect traditional underwriting don't impact your ability to convert.
Lifelong coverage. Your policy never expires as long as you pay premiums. Unlike term insurance that ends at a specific date, whole life provides a guaranteed death benefit for your entire life.
Cash value growth. Whole life builds cash value that grows tax-deferred. You can borrow against this value or use it to supplement retirement income. The cash value provides a financial cushion during emergencies.
Fixed premiums. Your payment amount locks in at conversion and never increases for the life of the policy. This predictability helps with long-term financial planning.
Potential dividends. Participating whole life policies from mutual insurers may pay dividends. While not guaranteed, these payments can reduce premiums, increase cash value or purchase additional coverage.
Simpler process. Converting involves less paperwork than applying for a new policy. You avoid the time and hassle of medical exams, lab work and extensive health questionnaires.

Disadvantages of Conversion

Higher premiums. Whole life costs more than term coverage for the same death benefit. The jump in monthly payments strains many budgets.
Limited product choices. Your insurer determines which permanent policies are available for conversion. The options may not include the most competitive products or the specific features you want.
Deadline pressure. Conversion windows close at specific dates. Missing the deadline eliminates your guaranteed conversion right forever, forcing potentially difficult decisions under time constraints.
Cash value takes time. Building substantial cash value requires 10 to 15 years of premium payments. Early policy years see most of your premium going toward insurance costs and fees rather than cash accumulation.
Less coverage per dollar. The same premium buys far less death benefit with whole life than term. If maximizing coverage amount matters most, term remains more efficient.
Permanent decision. Conversion is a one-way transaction. You can't switch your whole life policy back to term coverage if the situation changes or premiums become unaffordable.

Convert Term Life to Whole Life: Bottom Line

Converting term life to whole life insurance provides a valuable path to permanent coverage without medical underwriting. This option matters most when health changes make qualifying for new coverage difficult or when your coverage needs become permanent rather than temporary.

Know your conversion deadline and act before it passes. Once the window closes, you lose this guaranteed right regardless of your circumstances. Higher premiums are the tradeoff for lifetime coverage and cash value benefits.

If you're still healthy, compare conversion options with quotes for new policies from other insurers. You might find better rates elsewhere. Got health concerns? Conversion is your best path forward. Consider partial conversion if full conversion costs more than your budget allows.

Life Insurance Conversion: FAQ

Do I need a medical exam to convert term life to whole life?

No. Converting within your policy's conversion period requires no medical exam, health questions or underwriting. Your original health classification from when you purchased term coverage carries over to the permanent policy.

What happens if I miss my conversion deadline?

You lose the guaranteed conversion right permanently. To get permanent coverage after your deadline passes, you'd need to apply for a new policy through standard underwriting. If your health has declined, you may face higher rates, coverage limitations or denial.

Is it better to convert or buy a new policy?

If your health remains good, compare quotes for new policies before converting. You might find better rates or more suitable products from other insurers. If your health has declined since purchasing your term policy, conversion offers the best path to permanent coverage since it requires no medical underwriting and preserves your original health classification.

Can I convert term life to universal life instead of whole life?

Your insurer determines which permanent products you can convert to, and these may include whole life, universal life, guaranteed universal life or other permanent options. The specific products available vary by company and can change over time.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.

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