If you decide to replace your policy, don't cancel your old policy until you have received the new one. You then have a minimum period to review your new life insurance policy and decide if it is what you wanted.

It may be costly to replace a policy. Much of what you paid in the early years of the policy you now have, paid for the company's cost of selling and issuing the policy. You may pay this type of cost again if you buy a new policy.

Ask your tax advisor if dropping your life insurance policy could affect your income taxes.

If you are older or your health has changed, premiums for the new policy will often be higher. You will not be able to buy a new policy if you are not insurable.

You may have valuable rights and benefits in the policy you now have that are not in the new one.

If the policy you have now no longer meets your needs, you may not have to replace it. You might be able to change your policy or add to it to get the coverage or benefits you now want.

At least in the beginning, a life insurance policy may pay no benefits for some causes of death covered in the policy you have now.

In all cases, if you are thinking of buying a new policy, check with the agent or company that issued you the one you have now. When you bought your old policy, you may have seen an illustration of the benefits of your policy. Before replacing your policy, ask your agent or company for an updated illustration. Check to see how the life insurance policy has performed and what you might expect in the future, based on the amounts the company is paying now.