# Not renewing dental insurance **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 22, 2014, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898 "2014-12-22T09:50:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LynnM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@LynnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LynnM)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898/1 "2014-12-22T09:50:10Z")
I have dental insurance, premiums paid quarterly; most recent payment covers Oct-Dec 2014. If I want to end this coverage, must I notify the insurance company, or is it sufficient to simply not make the next payment, which would cover Jan-March 2015? I’ve tried to ask the insurance co, but their phone service is poor–long waits, dropped calls, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898/2 "2014-12-22T14:39:57Z")
You could do either. However, if you simply stop paying, they will cancel your policy for non-payment, and that will go on your permanent record. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898/3 "2014-12-22T16:49:13Z")
Simply not paying is a bad idea. It can, for instance, affect your credit score. Just send them a note, and you’re fine. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898/4 "2014-12-22T17:18:20Z")
> [@Schnitte](#): > > Simply not paying is a bad idea. It can, for instance, affect your credit score. How can not pre-paying for a service affect your credit score? Your assumption is wrong. Non-renewal of a service will not impact your credit score. It will result in the OP not having dental coverage…that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898/5 "2014-12-22T17:36:39Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > How can not pre-paying for a service affect your credit score? Your assumption is wrong. Non-renewal of a service will not impact your credit score. It will result in the OP not having dental coverage…that’s about it. This is correct. I’ve never heard of insurance coverage that is not paid in advance, there’s no credit involved. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898/6 "2014-12-22T17:58:50Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > How can not pre-paying for a service affect your credit score? Your assumption is wrong. Non-renewal of a service will not impact your credit score. It will result in the OP not having dental coverage…that’s about it. There may be other negative impacts, though, depending on whether the policy periods are the same as the payment periods. It would be unusual to see a _policy_ that is renewed on a quarterly basis. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898/7 "2014-12-22T18:01:48Z")
Pretty much all insurance is pre-paid. You don’t pay, you don’t have coverage. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898/8 "2014-12-22T18:12:04Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Pretty much all insurance is pre-paid. You don’t pay, you don’t have coverage. Right, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can just stop paying in the middle of a policy and call it a day. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898/9 "2014-12-22T18:45:01Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Right, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can just stop paying in the middle of a policy and call it a day. Yes you can. The policy is cancelled for the period of non-payment. This works whether it is health insurance, car insurance or homeowners insurance. There is no requirement to pay for insurance you no longer want. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898/10 "2014-12-22T18:46:42Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > How can not pre-paying for a service affect your credit score? Your assumption is wrong. Non-renewal of a service will not impact your credit score. It will result in the OP not having dental coverage…that’s about it. An insurance policy is still a binding contract. If you don’t make a payment when it is due, then you’re a non-performing debtor, even though the insurance company will take it as grounds to suspend coverage rather than collect the overdue payment. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898/11 "2014-12-22T18:48:51Z")
> [@Schnitte](#): > > An insurance policy is still a binding contract. If you don’t make a payment when it is due, then you’re a non-performing debtor, even though the insurance company will take it as grounds to suspend coverage rather than collect the overdue payment. No you’re not. They haven’t performed any service for which you owe them. And if you don’t pay, then you have no coverage. This is not a credit issue. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898/12 "2014-12-22T18:50:57Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > There is no requirement to pay for insurance you no longer want. If you no longer want insurance, then you can terminate the policy, giving as much notice as your contract requires you to give. Then you’re done; this is exactly what I recommended the OP to do. If you don’t terminate the policy, then the contract will continue to run, and not making a premium payment when it is due means you’re not performing a financial obligation. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898/13 "2014-12-22T18:58:18Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > No you’re not. They haven’t performed any service for which you owe them. And if you don’t pay, then you have no coverage. This is not a credit issue. So you’re saying an insurance policy is not a contract? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898/14 "2014-12-22T19:02:00Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Yes you can. The policy is cancelled for the period of non-payment. This works whether it is health insurance, car insurance or homeowners insurance. > > There is no requirement to pay for insurance you no longer want. You do know this is GQ, right? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898/15 "2014-12-22T19:02:01Z")
> [@Schnitte](#): > > So you’re saying an insurance policy is not a contract? Your contract is for the term of the policy that is already paid. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898/16 "2014-12-22T19:35:23Z")
I can call my broker and ask him to sign me up for dental insurance, auto insurance, life insurance and never pay a dime. I have no requirement to pay. The insurance provider also has no obligation to provide any type of coverage, **until** I pay a premium. That is when the contract is made. _And as far a the GQ forum comment, yes I’m giving factual answers on how insurance works, not some sort of suggestion on what might be a good idea._ ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898/17 "2014-12-22T19:46:33Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > I can call my broker and ask him to sign me up for dental insurance, auto insurance, life insurance and never pay a dime. I have no requirement to pay. [This website](http://www.insurancequotes.com/insurance-tips/stop-paying-insurance-premium) suggests otherwise. [And this one](https://insurance.freeadvice.com/insurance-questions/can-an-insurance-company--584.htm). [And this question asked by someone on a message board](http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50265). ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898/18 "2014-12-22T19:57:17Z")
> [@Schnitte](#): > > [This website](http://www.insurancequotes.com/insurance-tips/stop-paying-insurance-premium) suggests otherwise. [And this one](https://insurance.freeadvice.com/insurance-questions/can-an-insurance-company--584.htm). [And this question asked by someone on a message board](http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50265). That’s an insurance company, an answer page that disavows any accuracy in their answers, and another message board. Hardly a reason to believe your credit would be affected by non-payment of insurance. Every state has different insurance regulations but it sounds incredible that you can be obligated to an insurance company to continue an insurance policy. Anything can be written into a contract but that doesn’t make it enforceable. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898/19 "2014-12-22T19:57:22Z")
They are not demanding that you sell them a moon rocket for a dollar. They are demanding (and as a matter of fact most insurers don’t) that you honor a contract that is written for a period certain, which is generally going to be a year. Such a provision is certainly enforceable. In any event, [insurancequote.com](http://insurancequote.com) is an insurance _broker_, not an insurer. It makes no difference at all to them if you pay or not. > [@Omar\_Little](#): > > I can call my broker and ask him to sign me up for dental insurance, auto insurance, life insurance and never pay a dime. I have no requirement to pay. The insurance provider also has no obligation to provide any type of coverage, **until** I pay a premium. That is when the contract is made. > > _And as far a the GQ forum comment, yes I’m giving factual answers on how insurance works, not some sort of suggestion on what might be a good idea._ No, you’re making things up. The contract is formed when you sign the policy. The insurance provider’s obligations frequently begin once an offer of coverage has been extended and accepted regardless of whether payment is made - though this differs between jurisdiction and policy types. In any case, the OP is not “calling a broker”. The OP is (apparently) in the middle of an _existing_ policy. The fact that it is payable in installments do not mean that either party’s obligations are limited to the installment period. Your cellphone bill is also payable in installments, but that doesn’t mean you can stop paying and tell them to fuck off at the end of any given month. ETA: It looks like people are still discussing the credit score issue. It is absolutely untrue that your credit score will be affected by insurance payments because insurance is not purchased on credit and payment histories are not reported by insurers. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898/20 "2014-12-22T20:53:31Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > No, you’re making things up. The contract is formed when you sign the policy. The insurance provider’s obligations frequently begin once an offer of coverage has been extended and accepted regardless of whether payment is made - though this differs between jurisdiction and policy types. I have purchased 7 homes, 12 cars, insuring each; obtained term life insurance, health insurance, dental insurance, multiple times in my lifetime. I have **never** signed a policy. In each instance, I spoke with my broker, discussed deductibles, coverages, etc. They sent me a premium notice and I normally paid it. On the times when I changed my mind, I didn’t pay the premium and the policy never went into effect. ETA: I have also audited hazard insurance companies, and been responsible for corporate hazard coverages in billion $ companies; I have also served in health benefit committees. If you want to call me a liar, I would suggest that you take it to the pit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-renewing-dental-insurance/707898.md?page=2)