# What Is a Participating Policy? Definition and How It Works

> **Definition**
>
> A participating policy is a type of life insurance contract that pays policyholders dividends from the insurer's profits, typically paid annually, which can be used to reduce premiums or grow savings.

## What is a Participating Policy?

A participating policy is an insurance contract that pays dividends to the policyholder. Dividends are generated from the profits of the insurance company that sold the policy and are typically paid out on an [annual basis](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/annual-basis.asp) over the life of the policy.

Most policies also include a final, or terminal, payment when the contract matures. An insurance [dividend](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/dividend.asp) is not guaranteed and depends on the annual performance of the insurance company. A participating policy is also referred to as a "with-profits policy."

### Key Takeaways

*   A participating policy pays dividends to the policyholder. It is essentially a form of risk sharing, in which the insurance company shifts a portion of risk to policyholders.
*   Policyholders can either receive their premiums in cash through the mail or keep them as a deposit with the insurer to earn interest or use the payments to lower their premiums.
*   Non-participating policies, such as term life, don't pay dividends but they may also offer lower premiums for that reason.

## Understanding Participating Policies

Participating policies are typically [life insurance](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/lifeinsurance.asp) contracts, such as a whole life participating policy. The dividend received by the policyholder can be taken in different ways: It can be used to pay the insurance premium; it can be left with the policy to generate interest like a regular [savings account](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/savingsaccount.asp); or the policyholder can take a cash payment like you'd get from a dividend stock.

## Participating Policies vs. Non-Participating Policies

Insurance companies' premiums are based on a number of things, including expenses. At first, non-participating policy premiums are usually lower than those for participating policies because of the dividend expense: Participating policies charge more with the intent of returning the excess. This has implications for the policy's tax treatment. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has classified the payments made by the insurance company as a return on excess premium.

For example, an insurance company will base premiums on higher [operating costs](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/operating-cost.asp) and lower rates of return than are actually expected. By operating from conservative projections, the insurance company can better protect against risk. In the end, this is better for the individual policyholder because it helps offset their insurance company's insolvency risk, resulting in lower long-term [premiums](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/premium.asp). 

### Note

Participating policies are essentially a form of risk sharing, in which the insurance company shifts a portion of risk to policyholders.

Though the interest rates, mortality rates, and expenses that dividend formulas are based on change year to year, an insurance company won't vary dividends that often. Instead, it will alter dividend formulas periodically based on experience and anticipated future factors. These approaches apply to [whole life insurance](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/w/wholelife.asp). [Universal life insurance](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/u/universallife.asp) policy dividend rates can adjust much more frequently, even monthly.

While more expensive at first, participating policies can end up costing less than non-participating policies over the long term. With [cash value policies](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/cash-value-life-insurance.asp), the dividend will typically increase as the policy’s cash value increases. The owner of the participating policy would then have more cash value available to cover their ongoing premiums versus a nonparticipating policy.

## Is a Participating Policy Right for Me?

The question of whether participating policies are better than nonparticipating policies is a complex one and depends largely on your needs. [Term life insurance](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/termlife.asp) is generally a nonparticipating policy with low premiums. It may suit you if you're interested in providing for your beneficiaries with lower or fewer premium payments.

Permanent life insurance can be either participating or nonparticipating. A non-participating policy may charge a lower premium for the same amount of coverage at first. However, with this type of policy, the profits aren't shared and no dividends are paid to the policyholders.

A participating policy likely will charge a higher premium at first. In exchange, it enables you as a policyholder to share the profits of the insurance company through regular dividends. This extra income could be used to reduce the long-term policy cost or build your savings, depending on your preference.

The type of insurance company you work with also matters. [Mutual life insurance](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/mutual-insurance-company.asp) companies can only issue participating policies in most states. These policies allow a portion of the company's premiums to be paid out in the form of policy dividends as refunds, which makes those funds nontaxable as income.Alternatively, stock life insurance companies generally issue nonparticipating policies. They pay their profit dividends to their stock shareholders instead.  

## Why Choose Participating Over Non-Participating Life Insurance?

A participating policy, also called a "with-profit" policy, enables a policyholder to share in the insurance company's profits in the form of a dividend. The dividend can be used to pay the insurance premium; it can be left with the policy to generate interest like in a regular savings account; or the policyholder can take a cash payment like you can from a dividend stock. In non-participating policies the profits aren't shared and no dividends are paid to the policyholders.

## Why Might a Participating Policy Not Be for You?

Participating policies may cost more at first. Non-participating policy premiums are usually lower than those for participating policies because of the dividend expense: The insurer charges more with the intent of returning the excess. That's why life insurance dividends are tax free. The IRS classifies payments made by the insurance company as a return on excess premium, not as a dividend payout.

## Do Mutual Life Insurance Companies Issue Participating Policies?

Yes, mutual life insurers are limited to offering only participating policies by most U.S. states. Their dividends are paid to policyholders regularly as refunds.

## The Bottom Line

A participating policy is an insurance contract that pays dividends to the policyholder. Dividends come from the issuing insurance company's profits, and are typically paid out on an annual basis over the life of the policy. Several factors should be considered to determine whether a participating life policy is right for you, but in many cases, they may be more expensive at first than non-participating policies. On the other hand, receiving dividends helps many holders of participating policies pay their premiums or build savings in the policy for later use.

> **Article Sources**
>
> 1.  Dundas Life. "[What Is Participating Life Insurance?](https://www.dundaslife.com/blog/participating-life-insurance)"
>     
> 2.  MassMutual. "[What Goes Into Whole Life Insurance Dividends?](https://blog.massmutual.com/insurance/whole-life-insurance-dividends)"
>     
> 3.  Internal Revenue Service. "[Publication 550 (2022), Investment Income and Expenses](https://www.irs.gov/publications/p550#en_US_2022_publink10009993)."
>     
> 4.  Texas Department of Insurance. "[Life Insurance Guide](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/consumer/cb018.html)."
>     
> 5.  Insurance Information Institute. "[What are the Principal Types of Life Insurance?](https://www.iii.org/article/what-are-principal-types-life-insurance)"
>     
> 6.  Wisconsin State Legislature. "[Chapter 632 - Insurance Contracts in Specific Lines](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/632/v/63/1/g)."
>     
> 7.  Equitable. "[Common Questions About Life Insurance](https://equitable.com/life-insurance/common-questions-about-life-insurance-faqs#:~:text=Dividends%20are%20generally%20not%20taxed,invested%20with%20the%20insurance%20company.)."
>     
> 8.  American Safety Council - Florida Insurance Licensing Association. "[1.5.2 Mutual Insurers](https://course.uceusa.com/courses/content/405/page_27.htm)."