If you own a term life insurance policy in Houston, Texas, there's a critical feature in your policy that most people never think about until it's too late: the conversion option.

This article explains what term life conversion is, why it matters, who needs to act urgently right now, and how to make the right decision before your window closes.

When you buy a term life insurance policy, you're purchasing coverage for a fixed period — typically 10, 20, or 30 years. At the end of that term, the coverage expires. If you still need life insurance at that point, you'd have to apply for a new policy — and if your health has declined, you might be uninsurable or face dramatically higher premiums.

That's where the conversion option comes in.

Most term life policies include a provision that allows you to convert your term coverage to a permanent life insurance policy — whole life or universal life — without a new medical exam. Your health at the time of conversion doesn't matter. You convert based on your original health classification.

This is one of the most valuable features in a term life policy, and most policyholders don't even know they have it.

Here's the scenario that makes conversion critically important:

You bought a $500,000 term life policy at age 40 in good health. Now you're 55, your term is ending in a few years, and you've been diagnosed with diabetes, heart disease, or another serious condition. If you try to buy a new policy, you'll either be declined or face premiums that are three to five times higher than what you're paying now.

But if your policy has a conversion option — and you act before the conversion deadline — you can lock in permanent coverage at your original health rating. No new exam. No new underwriting. Your health history doesn't matter.

That's not a small thing. For someone with a serious health condition, the conversion option can be the difference between having life insurance and not having it at all.

Every term life policy with a conversion option has a deadline. Common structures include:

• Convert by a specific age (often 65 or 70)
• Convert within the first X years of the policy (often 10 or 20 years)
• Convert before the end of the term

Once that deadline passes, the conversion option is gone. You cannot get it back.

This is why it's critical to review your policy now — not when your health changes, not when your term is about to expire, but now, while you still have time to make a thoughtful decision.

If you own a term life policy originally issued by Ohio National, Reliastar, ING, or Voya, you need to pay close attention.

These policies have been sold to another company group. As a result, policyholders now have zero or limited ability to convert their term life policy to permanent life insurance.

This is a significant problem if your health has declined since you bought the policy. The conversion option — which you may have been counting on — may no longer be available to you through your current carrier.

If you're in this situation, there are still options. Depending on your current health, age, and coverage needs, it may be possible to:

• Qualify for a new permanent policy with a different carrier
• Secure a simplified issue or guaranteed issue policy
• Add critical and chronic illness benefits to new coverage that you couldn't get before

The key is to act quickly and work with an independent broker who can shop the entire market — not just one company.

Not everyone needs to convert. Here's a framework for thinking through the decision:

You should seriously consider converting if:

• Your health has declined since you bought the policy
• You have dependents who will need support beyond your term's end date
• You want to build cash value inside a permanent policy
• You're a business owner who needs permanent coverage for buy-sell agreements or key person insurance
• You want coverage that includes living benefits for critical or chronic illness

You may not need to convert if:

• Your term ends after your youngest child is financially independent
• You have substantial savings and investments that would replace the death benefit
• Your health is excellent and you could qualify for a new policy at competitive rates

The right answer depends on your specific situation. This is exactly the kind of analysis an experienced independent broker can help you work through.

If you own a term life policy — especially one issued by Ohio National, Reliastar, ING, or Voya — here are the steps to take right now:

1. Pull out your policy documents and find the conversion provision. Look for the conversion deadline and the types of permanent policies you can convert to.

2. Check your health status honestly. Has anything changed since you bought the policy? Any diagnoses, medications, or procedures that would affect your insurability?

3. Call an independent broker. Not a captive agent who can only offer one company's products — an independent broker who can evaluate your current policy, explain your conversion options, and compare alternatives across the entire market.

4. Don't wait. Conversion deadlines are firm. If you miss yours, there's no appeal process.

Glenn Hubbard has been helping Houston families navigate term life conversion decisions for over 33 years. He's an independent broker with access to dozens of A+ rated carriers, and he specializes in exactly this kind of situation — helping clients understand their options before a critical deadline passes.

If you own a term life policy and aren't sure whether you should convert, or if you're concerned about a policy originally issued by Ohio National, Reliastar, ING, or Voya, call or text Glenn directly at (713) 927-5969 or email [email protected].

Office hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 7 PM. There's no cost for a consultation and no obligation to buy anything. Glenn's job is to make sure you understand your options — and that you don't miss a window that can't be reopened.