Dose An Life Insurance Company Really Want To Payout For The Death Claim Or Just Keep Delaying?
Posted January 17, 2010 – 10:20 pm in: structured settlements FAQI’ve been dealing with one of the big insurance company. Every time I called them, they always said ” still pending” . I’ve been 3 months already since they received the claim form. My older sister purchased the policy since 2000 and she passed away by cancer in the Hospital. Do they really want to payout to the beneficiary?
Tags: Claim, Company, Death, Dose, Insurance, Just, Life, Payout, Really, Want
6 Comments
If you have provided them a copy of the death certificate, then they should pay out soon. You should check out your state’s insurance law.
In my state, the insurance company must pay the death claim within 60 days. If an investigation is needed, the claimant must be notified in writing by the 45th day after the intial filing of the death claim. If there’s an investigation, death claim will then have to be paid within 90 days after letter to investigate was sent out.
If you believe your insurance company has violated your state insurance law, then you have the right to sue for more money for damages. But check with your state department of banking and insurance about when the insurance company must pay a death claim.
Anyway, I do believe insurance companies like to delay as long as possible according to state guidelies. In event of major disaster where many people die such as 9/11, getting a death claim will be very difficult. In my state, they have an association where life insurance companies can help each other out in case one or more insurance companies can’t pay out all the demands.
life insurance companies are hard to get any money out of
they’re still searching for a way to get out of paying the claim
depends on the state you live in. you need to contact the state board of insurance in your state to file a complaint. if thje policy is 2 years old or older the claim should be paid without delay.
Reputable insurance companies do want to pay out death claims because their reputation is an important element of their public image, and ability to market their product,
I know of one situation in which the wife called her agent to report her husbands death. The agent was able to deliver the check to her within 24 hours of his filing of paperwork.
Unfortunately, I do not know which company you are referring to, if you are working with an agent, or if the paperwork was submitted properly.
Yes, HOWEVER. Especially because she didn’t die by accident, but by disease, they are checking the application and medical records to see if she lied on the application – ie, if she had any medical issues like prior cancer before she bought the policy. That would invalidate coverage.
They are probably waiting for more detailed medical records.
You CAN ask them, if this is still pending, what exactly are you waiting for. Then find out the name of the doctor/medical facility that has not been forthcoming with the records, and CALL THEM. Get a supervisor on the phone, and ask them WHEN they will be mailing the records out, it should be within five business days, and just keep haunting them until the records are received.
Another thing to keep in mind: while a reputable insurer will want to protect their reputation and pay promptly, they also continue to make interest on your claim money the longer they have it. So, you can definitely expect them to do all due diligence, and not to be too worried if the health professionals involved don’t supply medical information too quickly…. Further, their medical adjuster for your sister’s case will have to have some degree of expertise in cancer and the treatment of it, in order to be sure — as was pointed out — that your sister didn’t commit some level of fraud in this case. Obviously, if there is any chance of fraud, the insurer will want to preclude that. And, as I said, the longer they have the claim money in hand, the better it is for them, so they won’t worry about taking their time to review the claim.