Mass. Gen. Laws » Part I Title XXII Chapter 175
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 175, § 187C (2026)

Cancellation of policy; procedure

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 187C. A company issuing any policy of insurance which is subject to cancellation by the company shall effect cancellation by serving the notice thereof provided by the policy and by paying or tendering, except as provided in this and the following section, the full return premium due thereunder in accordance with its terms without any deductions. Such notice and return premium, if any, shall be delivered in hand to the named insured, or be left at his last address as shown by the company's records or, if its records contain no such address, at his last business, residence or other address known to the company, or be forwarded to said address by first class mail, postage prepaid, and a notice left or forwarded, as aforesaid, shall be deemed a sufficient notice. No written notice of cancellation shall be deemed effective when mailed by the company unless the company obtains a certificate of mailing receipt from the United States Postal Service showing the name and address of the insured stated in the policy. A check of the company or its duly authorized agent shall be deemed a sufficient tender. The affidavit of any officer, agent or employee of the company, duly authorized for that purpose, that such notice has been served and such return premium, if any, has been paid or tendered, as provided in this section, shall be prima facie evidence that cancellation has been duly effected.

If a policy is made payable to a mortgagee or any person other than the insured, notice shall be given as above provided to the payee as well as to the insured.

Policies subject to cancellation by the insured upon giving notice to the company may be cancelled by serving such notice in the manner herein provided upon the company or upon its agent who issued the policy.

Whoever knowingly and wilfully makes a false affidavit under this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year.

This section shall not apply to nor be deemed to prevent the termination of any policy by mutual consent of the parties, nor shall it require the payment or tender of a return premium upon the cancellation of a policy which provides for the payment of a return premium when ascertained or upon demand after cancellation.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1990–2024 · leading case: Pillman's Case, 866 N.E.2d 990 (Mass. App. Ct. 2007).
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Pillman's Case, 866 N.E.2d 990 (Mass. App. Ct. 2007). · cites it 4× “The board opined that the operative cancellation statute was G. L. c. 175, § 187C, which generally governs the cancellation of insurance contracts in the Commonwealth when no other specific statute is applicable.”
Nagel v. Provident Mut. Life Ins. Co. of Philadelphia, 749 N.E.2d 710 (Mass. App. Ct. 2001). “See G. L. c. 175, § 187C, fifth par. See also Berton v.”
DiVenuti v. Reardon, 637 N.E.2d 234 (Mass. App. Ct. 1994). “G. L. c. 175, § 187C. Conscious of her agency’s exposure because she had not seen to replacement coverage, Reardon immediately notified her errors and omissions carrier, the defendant Utica Mutual Insurance Company (Utica), of potential liability to DiVenuti and to Manufacturers.”
New England Survey Sys., Inc. v. Dep't of Indus. Accidents, 53 N.E.3d 675 (Mass. App. Ct. 2016). “It should be noted that an insurer providing voluntary workers’ compensation insurance is required to serve notice upon the insured in accordance with G. L. c. 175, § 187C, before it may cancel the policy.”
Kavanagh v. New York Life Ins., 170 F.3d 253 (1st Cir. 1999). · cites it 4× “Kavanagh thereafter filed an action seeking declaratory and monetary relief, 2 alleging inter alia that he was entitled to disability benefits under the policy because New York Life failed to properly effect its cancellation pursuant to Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 175, § 187C. After the…”
Merchants Ins. Grp. v. Spicer, 38 N.E.3d 1018 (Mass. App. Ct. 2015). “152, § 63, and G. L. c. 175, § 187C. See Pillman’s Case, 69 Mass.”
Sentry Ins. v. John J. Sullivan, Inc. (In Re John J. Sullivan, Inc.), 128 B.R. 7 (D. Mass. 1990). “175, § 187C (West 1987) requires that “[a] company issuing any policy of insurance which is subject to cancellation by the company shall effect cancellation by serving the notice thereof provided by the policy ...” Here, the policy requires at least thirty-days notice and states…”
Espinal's Case (Mass. App. Ct. 2020). “175, § 187C, provides as follows: "A company issuing any policy of insurance which is subject to cancellation by the company shall effect cancellation by serving the notice thereof provided by the policy and by paying or tendering, except as provided in this and the following…”
Hickman v. Pruco Life Ins. Co. (D. Mass. 2024). “Hickman also asserts that Pruco did not send a notice of lapse to the insured or the owner at the correct address as they would be required to do under Mass. Gen. L. c. 175 § 187C and 187D. [Id.”
Hartford Roofing Co. v. Cigna Ins., 6 Mass. L. Rptr. 379 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1997). “152, §63, which requires that insurance companies notify the Workers Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau of Massachusetts (“the Bureau”) at least ten days in advance of cancelling or otherwise terminating a workers compensation policy; and 2) Cigna failed to effectively…”
Foley v. Nationwide Mut. Ins., 13 Mass. L. Rptr. 220 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2000). “See also G.L.c. 175, §§187C & 187D. The defendant Nationwide argues that there is circumstantial evidence in the record which permits a finding that the statutory notice of cancellation was mailed to its insured.”
Kavanagh v. New York Life Ins., 996 F. Supp. 74 (D. Mass. 1998). “Count I of the complaint asserts that New York Life failed to follow the requirements of Mass.Gen.L. ch. 175, § 187C, which establish certain procedures that an insurer must follow to cancel an insurance policy.”
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