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Can I cancel my policy at any time and will there be a penalty?
As a general rule, a policyholder may elect to cancel an insurance policy at any time by giving notice to the insurance company. In some cases you may be required to return the original policy or sign a "policy release", and of course you will be responsible for any premium earned through the date of cancellation.
Sometimes there are financial penalties for early cancellation by the policyholder. Most property and liability policies require what is called a "short rate" penalty when a policyholder requests cancellation, which means that the company retains a disproportionate amount of the premium. For example, if you have a one year policy and you request cancellation after six months, the "short rate" penalty would allow the company to retain more than one-half of the annual premium. Also, many types of life insurance policies and annuities impose "surrender charges" if they are canceled before they have been in effect a certain number of years. A policy must clearly describe any applicable cancellation penalties or surrender charges. |
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Are there legal limitations on insurance company business practices?
Are there any limitations on what an insurance company can charge for insurance?
Can an insurance company cancel my policy for any reason it chooses?
Can I cancel my policy at any time and will there be a penalty?
What happens when there is a claim?
If I am sued, does my insurance company defend me in court?
If I am sued, can my insurance company settle the case without my consent?
What is a ‘reservation of rights’ letter?
What can I do when an insurance company refuses to pay a claim?
Lawsuit for ‘bad faith’
Are there any options for resolving a dispute with my insurance company other than suing the company in court?Arbitration
Complaint to department of insurance
What are ‘exclusions’ and ‘limitations’ and how do they affect my coverage?
Are there any government agencies that regulate how insurance companies operate?
Why would someone need or be required to have insurance?
Is a business required to provide health, life and other insurance coverage for its employees?
What is an insurance policy?
What is an ‘insurable interest’?
What am I required to do when I have a claim?
Can an insurance company refuse to sell me insurance for any reason it chooses?
If I miss a premium payment and get a cancellation notice, is there anything I can do to be able to keep the policy?
If I think certain words in my policy mean something different from what my insurance company says they mean, how do we resolve it?
How does an insurance policy ‘protect’ me?
I have a friend who is an avid motorcycle rider and who particularly enjoys driving while drunk. Can I take a out a large insurance policy on him? My odds of collecting are higher than the lottery!
We have a policy limit of $100,000. Does this mean that any medical bills, damages, legal fees, etc. That exceed that limit are my responsibility?
Why does it matter that I give an adjuster my social security number?
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