--- title: Everything You Need to Know About Portability and Conversion description: Many public sector organizations have a Conversion and/or Portability option on their group life insurance This gives employees the opportunity to continue their life insurance by “converting” to an individual whole life insurance policy or “porting” to another term life insurance policy. image: https://blog.nisbenefits.com/hubfs/conversion%20portabilty%20B.jpg --- - [Blog](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/) - [Resources](https://info.nisbenefits.com/resources?utm_campaign=nis-website-resources&utm_source=knowledge-hub&utm_medium=link) - [Client Login](https://services.nis-sif.com/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2f) Search [![Logo alt](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/NIS_March_2025/images/nis-logo.png?width=180&height=56&name=nis-logo.png "Logo alt")](https://www.nisbenefits.com/) - Employee Benefits - [Insured Products](https://www.nisbenefits.com/employee-benefits/) - [No-Cost Value-Adds ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/employee-benefits/no-cost-value-adds/) - [Success Stories ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/employee-benefits/success-stories/) - [Resources ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/employee-benefits/resources/) - Consulting - [Full Benefit Consulting](https://www.nisbenefits.com/consulting/) - [How We Work with You ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/consulting/how-we-work-with-you/) - [Consulting Team ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/consulting/consulting-team/) - [Employee Education ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/consulting/employee-education/) - [Wellness ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/consulting/wellness/) - [Decision Support Tools ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/consulting/decision-support-tools/) - [MyWave Connect ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/consulting/mywave-connect/) - [Self-Funding ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/consulting/self-funding/) - [Success Stories ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/consulting/success-stories/) - [Resources ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/consulting/resources/) - Retiree Solutions - [History of Retiree Benefits](https://www.nisbenefits.com/retiree-solutions/) - [Incentive Payouts ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/retiree-solutions/incentive-payouts/) - [Restructuring Retiree Benefits ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/retiree-solutions/restructuring-retiree-benefits/) - [ICHRAs ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/retiree-solutions/ichras/) - [Retiree Medical Assistance ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/retiree-solutions/retiree-medical-assistance/) - [Resources ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/retiree-solutions/retirement-resources/) - Employer Options - [Employer Tools](https://www.nisbenefits.com/employer-options/) - [Cyber Liability ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/employer-options/cyber-liability/) - [Property & Casualty ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/employer-options/property-and-casualty/) - [Gap Analysis ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/employer-options/gap-analysis/) - About NIS - [Our Story](https://www.nisbenefits.com/about-nis/) - [Noble Purpose ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/about-nis/noble-purpose/) - [Office Locations ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/about-nis/office-locations/) - [Leadership ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/about-nis/leadership/) - [Subject Matter Experts ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/about-nis/subject-matter-experts/) - [Partnerships ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/about-nis/partnerships/) - [Work with Us ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/about-nis/work-with-us/) - [Giving ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/about-nis/giving/) - [Contact NIS ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/about-nis/contact-nis/) [ Client Login ](https://services.nis-sif.com/Account/Login) [ Search ](https://www.nisbenefits.com/search/) ✕ ![Everything You Need to Know About Portability and Conversion](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/hubfs/conversion%20portabilty%20B.jpg) # Everything You Need to Know About Portability and Conversion - Home - [Employee Benefit News for School, City and County Employers](https://blog.nisbenefits.com) - Everything You Need to Know About Portability and Conversion [ Erin Woulfe ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/erin-woulfe) 06/24/2019 [ Ancillary Benefits](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/ancillary-benefits) [0 Comments ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/portability-conversion#postComment) 1 Minutes *2 minute read* Updated June 9, 2021 Many schools, cities, and counties have a Conversion and/or Portability option on their group life insurance plan. When an employee’s group term life insurance protection ends, this gives employees the opportunity to continue their life insurance by “converting” to an individual whole life insurance policy or “porting” to another term life insurance policy. When an employee loses coverage, they have a 31-day window to apply for a new policy after their coverage ends. Employers should provide timely notice of the timeframes and limitations of their Conversion/Portability options.   ### **Portability** An employee would be eligible to convert their *group* term life insurance policy into a *personal *term life insurance policy if their plan includes portability. An employee is eligible for Portability (regardless of their health status) as long as they apply within the stated time frame (listed in the certificate of insurance or policy). It is usually 31 days after loss of coverage. Portability is more intended to provide coverage during a gap in insurance (for example – a change between jobs).  Portability is normally not allowed for disabled employees or retirees. - Ported coverage usually costs less than converted coverage - Premiums are often submitted directly to the carrier - Coverage is provided for a certain “term” (period of time) and expires when the term is up - No cash value or benefit at the end of the term - If the employee passes away during the term, the benefit is paid to the beneficiaries ** ** ### **Conversion** With Conversion, an employee can convert their policy into a whole life policy, regardless of their state of health. Again, they must apply within the allotted time frame. A whole life insurance policy (as opposed to a term life insurance policy) has a guaranteed cash value that builds over time and employees can take loans against the balance. Loans that are not repaid before the employee’s death will simply lower the death benefit payout. The policy also includes a cash surrender value which means if the employee decides to give up the policy, they can receive cash or continue the coverage without further premium payment. - Premium payments may be a lot higher than the group rates - Some policies allow conversion for coverage lost due to age reductions - Converted coverage can continue with premium payments until the scheduled maturity date (date varies per insurance carrier) at which time the cash surrender value is paid to the employee NIS customers can find their Conversion/Portability forms in their administration kit. Contact your [NIS Representative](http://www.nisbenefits.com/about/people/regional-offices/) if you have questions. **[![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3325505/f56f611a-9f0b-413e-8130-fd4b6db7ad57.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3325505/f56f611a-9f0b-413e-8130-fd4b6db7ad57)** --- #### Tag: [ Ancillary Benefits](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/ancillary-benefits) #### Share: - [Follow us on Facebook ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.nisbenefits.com/portability-conversion) - [Follow us on Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.nisbenefits.com/portability-conversion&text=Everything%20You%20Need%20to%20Know%20About%20Portability%20and%20Conversion) - [Follow us on Linkedin ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.nisbenefits.com/portability-conversion) - [Follow us on Pinterest ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blog.nisbenefits.com/portability-conversion&text=Everything%20You%20Need%20to%20Know%20About%20Portability%20and%20Conversiondescription=2%20minute%20read%20Updated%20June%209,%202021%20Many%20schools,%20cities,%20and%20counties%20have%20a%20Conversion%20and/or%20Portability%20option%20on%20their%20group%20life%20insurance%20plan.%20When%20an[...]&media=https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/3325505/conversion%20portabilty%20B.jpg) --- [ #### Final Rule Expands HRA Options ##### Previous Post ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/final-rule-expands-hra-options) [#### 3 Ways Employers Can Support Employees’ Mental Health ##### Next Post ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/support-employees-mental-health) ### Leave a Reply This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ### Category - [Legislative News (1152)](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/aca-other-legislative-news) - [Health Insurance Solutions (511)](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/health-insurance-solutions) - [COVID-19 (209)](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/covid-19) - [Ancillary Benefits (176)](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/ancillary-benefits) - [Mental Health (123)](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/mental-health) ### Popular Posts --- ## Related Posts [ Health Insurance Solutions](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/health-insurance-solutions), [ Ancillary Benefits](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/ancillary-benefits), [ Legislative News](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/aca-other-legislative-news), [ The Administrator's Corner](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/the-administrators-corner) [ Stephanie Laudon ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/stephanie-laudon) 24 July, 2026 #### [An Employer’s Guide to Monthly Reconciliation](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/employers-guide-to-monthly-reconciliation) Many fully insured employers pay carrier invoices each month with little review, but that trust can… [Read More](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/employers-guide-to-monthly-reconciliation) [ Health Insurance Solutions](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/health-insurance-solutions), [ Ancillary Benefits](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/ancillary-benefits), [ The Administrator's Corner](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/the-administrators-corner) [ Rick Labian ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/rick-labian) 30 June, 2026 #### [5 Ways Year-Round Benefits Education Supports Employees](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/year-round-benefits-education) Open enrollment is a critical time for employees to choose health coverage and voluntary benefits,… [Read More](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/year-round-benefits-education) [ Health Insurance Solutions](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/health-insurance-solutions), [ Ancillary Benefits](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/ancillary-benefits), [ The Administrator's Corner](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/the-administrators-corner) [ Jo Barton ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/jo-barton) 26 May, 2026 #### [5 Smart Ways to Use Your Benefits This Spring](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/5-smart-ways-use-benefits-this-spring) Spring is the perfect time to review your health and benefits. 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