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Life · Chapter 4 · Special Products

Modified Endowment Contract (MEC)

Definition
An overfunded life policy that fails the seven-pay test. Distributions taxed gain-first (LIFO) plus a 10% penalty before age 59½. Death benefit still tax-free. Once a MEC, always a MEC.
Exam tip
All single-premium whole life = automatically a MEC.
Easy to confuse with

These are what this term gets tested against — if you can't tell them apart cold, drill the contrast.

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Verified against primary sources · 2026-08-10