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

Agreement under which an insurance company promises to pay all compensation and all benefits required of an insured employer under the workers compensation act of the state or states listed ...

Accounting method of establishing data on an annual basis. ...

Refers to the insured or reinsured paying premiums into an account at a commercial bank that will be used to pay for future or past losses. Portions of the premiums not required to pay for ...

Company not licensed by a particular state to sell and service insurance policies within that state. ...

Arrangement, often funded by life insurance, to continue an employee's salary in the form of payments to a beneficiary for a certain period after the employee's death. The employer itself ...

Insurance on the life of the employee, paid for by the company, with the company being the beneficiary under the policy. This insurance vehicle is being used more and more to fund ...

Total estimated cost incurred by a person or persons, a family, or a business resulting from the death or disability of a wage earner (key employee), damage or destruction of property, ...

Organization founded in 1993, the thesis of which is to apply quality management principles to insurance functions. To this end, the organization is involved in insurance industry-wide ...

Coverage in the event a safe of a business is forceably entered, either on or off the premises, and property is stolen from the safe. Also covered is damage to the premises during actual or ...

Popular Insurance Questions