Designated beneficiaries make a life insurance claim after the insured individual’s death. This process involves submitting proof of death and insurance coverage to the insurance company and then waiting for them to process the claim.
However, not all claims are approved, and there are various reasons why a life insurance claim may be rejected. A life insurance policy lawyer can help smooth out the discrepancies in such cases.
Here are reasons why an insurance company may reject your life insurance claim.
Ensure Your Policy Is in Force
A policy is in force when the premium payments are up to date and the policy is yet to be canceled. If you fail to pay your premiums on time, your policy will lapse, and the coverage will no longer be valid. In such cases, the insurance company will not process the claim, as you are no longer considered insured under the policy.
It is also essential to understand the different types of life insurance policies—for example, term life insurance, which has a set term. If you do not renew the policy when the period ends, it will expire, and the coverage will no longer be in force.
There are also permanent life insurance policies that do not expire as long as you pay the premiums.
Provide Accurate Information in Your Application
Misrepresenting your health or other relevant information on your application can result in the rejection of a claim.
When applying for life insurance, you ought to provide information about all factors affecting your risk of death. The insurance company uses this information to determine your eligibility for coverage and to set your premium rate.
If you do not disclose a pre-existing medical condition and die due to that condition, the insurance company may deny your claim. You should provide accurate information to ensure your claim is accepted.
Keep Your Policy Updated
Keeping your life insurance policy updated is crucial in ensuring that they consider your claim. This means informing the insurance company of any changes in your personal information or health status.
Also, if you have a term insurance policy and want to continue the coverage after the term ends, you should renew or convert it to a permanent one. Failure to renew a term policy could result in the policy expiring and the coverage ceasing to be in force.
Report Death as Soon as Possible
The sooner you notify the insurance company of the death, the quicker they can process the claim. This can happen by phone or in writing. From there, the company will provide instructions on how to proceed with the claim process.
Also, there’s a time limit within which you must report the death. The time limit varies depending on the company and the policy. However, failure to report the death within the specified time frame could result in a claim.
Prompt notification of the death minimizes the chances of delays or denials due to missing information.
Understand Exclusions on Your Policy
Exclusions are specific conditions that are not covered by the policy. The insurance company will deny the claim if the excluded condition causes the insured person’s death.
Additionally, these exclusions can vary between policies and between insurance companies. So, it is essential to read and understand the exclusions in your policy so that you know what is not covered and can plan accordingly.
A life insurance policy lawyer can help you interpret the policy’s fine print and thus understand the policy exclusions.
Parting Shot
Making a life insurance claim can be an emotional process. However, taking the proper steps can increase your chances of getting your claim approved.
It would be best if you always understood your policy and the claim process from the time of sale. This will allow you to make informed decisions about your coverage and to plan for the unexpected.
You can consult a life insurance lawyer to help you understand the claim process. They will also guide how to increase your chances of approval.
