Life Insurance
Suicide Clause
The suicide clause in most life insurance policies excludes payment of the full death benefit if the insured dies by suicide—typically within the first one to two years of the policy—with the insurer returning only the premiums paid instead.
Last reviewed: May 2026 · Editorial methodology
Definition
The suicide exclusion is a near-universal provision in life insurance contracts that limits the insurer's liability to a return of paid premiums (plus interest in some states) if the insured's death is ruled a suicide within the exclusion period, which is most commonly two years but may be one year in some states. The purpose of the clause is to prevent individuals contemplating suicide from purchasing large policies to benefit their survivors, and to give the insurer a window to detect potential anti-selection. After the exclusion period expires—typically at the end of the second policy year—suicide is covered the same as any other cause of death, and the full death benefit is payable. If a policy lapses and is reinstated, the suicide exclusion typically restarts from the reinstatement date. Some group life insurance policies have shorter or no suicide exclusion periods. Accidental death benefit riders generally exclude suicide by definition, as suicide is not considered accidental. Mental health advocates have called for shorter exclusion periods, and some progressive carriers now offer one-year clauses as standard.
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Cover Forge USA Editorial Team
Editorial Lead
This article was researched and written by the Cover Forge USA editorial team against federal sources (NAIC, CMS, FEMA, DOL, SSA, state DOIs) and standard policy forms. Bylines organize content by topic — they do not assert individual licensure. See our editorial-policy for details.
Reviewed 2026-06-14
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