Cancellation Provision Clause

Definition of "Cancellation Provision Clause"

The cancellation provision clause appears in an insurance policy to leave a door open for the insurance company or insured to cancel a policy. This type of cancellation applies in instances of property and casualty insurance or health insurance. The cancellation can happen at any given time before the policy expires. However, it is important to note that when it comes to life insurances or health insurances, even though some have cancellation clauses, they do not refer to the insurer; those are there for the insured.

So how do Cancellation Provision Clauses work?

The basic requirement from any party canceling a policy is a written notice to the other party. If the insurance company decides to cancel the policy, they are legally compelled to pay back any unused premium through pro rata cancellation. So, if an individual purchased a three-month insurance policy that they paid in full but decided to cancel after the first two months, the insurance company needs to determine how much of the premium was for the last month and pay them back.

If the insurer cancels a policy, besides the 30 days notice required, they also need to explain the cancellation. If the notice does not have an explanation, then the insurance company is obligated to give a reason in writing when the insured party requires one in writing. 

In any situation, except for life and health insurances. When a policy is canceled before it expires, the insurer has to refund the insured the premium difference that was not used. Besides the pro rata cancellation, another option is the short rate cancellation that includes a cancellation fee for the insured. Make sure to check the type of cancellation clause on your policy before you sign it as pro rata doesn’t necessarily apply for policyholders, and the short rate is more appealing to insurance companies.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Insurance Terms

Professional designation earned after the successful completion of six national examinations given by the insurance institute of America (IIA). Covers such areas of expertise as premium ...

Protection for all classes of business including automobile, fire, general liability, homeowners, multiple peril, burglary, and glass, by combining the contracts for these classes of ...

Liability incurred by a parent by reason of a tort committed by his or her minor child. ...

Coverage in the event that the negligent acts or omissions of an insured result in damage or destruction to another's property. Coverage can be purchased with bodily injury liability under ...

Same as term Annuity: contract sold by insurance companies that pays a monthly (or quarterly, semiannual, or annual) income benefit for the life of a person (the annuitant), for the lives ...

Type of business interruption insurance policy that provides a specific daily dollar amount benefit to the business owner for each day the business is unable to resume normal business ...

Same as term Excess of Loss reinsurance: method whereby an insurer pays the amount of each claim for each risk up to a limit determined in advance and the reinsurer pays the amount of the ...

a large number of homogeneous exposures (in order for the deviation of actual losses from expected losses to approach zero, and thecreditability of the prediction to approach one). loss ...

In property insurance, percentages of basic coverages which may be applied to provide coverage for other real and personal property. For example, under the homeowners INSURANCE POLICY ...

Popular Insurance Questions