| When an insured dies there is not a standard process | | | | an accidental death policy the cause of death will be |
| of submitting a life insurance claim to the insurance | | | | extremely important to collecting your claim. Be |
| company and then receiving the death benefit. In our | | | | prepared with documentation. |
| twenty-plus years of helping clients collect death | | | | The insurance company will do several things when |
| benefits no two life insurance claims have been the | | | | they receive a life insurance claim. One of the first |
| same. An unfortunate reality is that insurance | | | | things they will do is ask the beneficiary to meet with |
| companies look for reasons to deny death benefit | | | | a claims underwriter for an interview. In this meeting |
| claims. While there are instances when a life insurance | | | | you will be asked about the insured's medical history, |
| claim should be denied because of fraud, most often | | | | work history, personal life and cause of death. These |
| death benefit claims are denied for the wrong | | | | people are not there to help you; they are there to |
| reasons. | | | | uncover anything that may have been hidden from |
| We represented a client where the initial death claim | | | | their client - the insurer. Don't have the meeting alone. |
| was denied because the insured paid the premium | | | | Bring a trusted family member, friend or advisor. The |
| from savings while waiting for a consulting contract | | | | insurer will do a medical investigation in which they will |
| bonus to pay. The insurer claimed he did not have | | | | review autopsy reports, toxicology reports and |
| enough earned income for them to issue a policy and | | | | records from doctors the insured visited. This part of |
| were therefore not liable to pay the claim. In another | | | | the investigation may go back a few years or |
| case we collected a death benefit claim for a client | | | | several decades. One of our cases required records |
| where the claim was initially denied because there | | | | that went back over twenty years. There will be a |
| was no named beneficiary. This even though she | | | | financial investigation which can include examining tax |
| lived with her disabled mother and had no husband or | | | | returns, social security records and financial aid |
| children and the intent was obvious. We collected a | | | | applications. We helped a client who had several |
| death benefit claim for a client where the initial claim | | | | Limited Partnership interests which the insurance |
| was denied because the autopsy report was misread | | | | company valued at a fraction of the actual value. We |
| by the claim underwriter who accused the insured of | | | | had to collect independent appraisals in order to |
| being a drug abuser. We collected statements from | | | | prove the deceased's net worth before we were |
| his doctor disputing this accusation and got the claim | | | | able to get the claim paid. |
| paid. | | | | If you are going to submit a death claim be as |
| These are just some examples of why you need to | | | | prepared as possible. Remember that insurance |
| prepare your life insurance death benefit claim before | | | | companies are looking for reasons to deny claims. |
| you submit it. Read through the policy to determine if | | | | Document interviews and conversations in case you |
| there could be any restrictions or stipulations for | | | | need to go back to the items discussed. If possible |
| receiving the death benefit. Check the date of the | | | | have someone with you during meetings. If the |
| application. Is it the same as the policy issue date? All | | | | insurance company records conversations keep a |
| benefits start as of the date the policy was issued. If | | | | record of the time and date. If your claim is denied |
| the insured died within two years of the policy date, | | | | you must be notified, in writing, as to the reason |
| the insurance company will almost certainly challenge | | | | why. From this information you can appeal the denial. |
| the death claim. All life insurance policies can be | | | | It's always best to have representation and to be |
| challenged, or contested, by the insurer in the first 2 | | | | prepared for the initial claim process so you can |
| years. Review the death certificate for the stated | | | | collect the death benefit that the insured intended |
| cause of death. If you are submitting a claim under | | | | for you to have. |