Life Insurance

Heather D. Lee ESQ, The Life & Property Insurance Lawyer, Featured in Philadelphia Style Magazine’s “Dynamic Women”Spotlight

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Each year, Philadelphia Style Magazine recognizes Philly’s most “Dynamic Women” – those who are industry experts going above and beyond in their respective industries. We are proud to announce that our very own Heather D. Lee, ESQ. has been recognized in the 2022 September issue. 

Attorney Lee was selected for her extensive insurance law knowledge and her ardent advocacy on behalf of life and property insurance beneficiaries who are facing delayed or denied claims at the hands of big business insurance. Congratulations, Heather!

The Life & Property Insurance Law Offices of Heather D. Lee is a multi-state life insurance and property insurance law practice best known for representing victims of wrongfully delayed and denied life insurance claims, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) claims, and ERISA claims.  We also handle life insurance beneficiary disputes, denied renters and homeowners insurance claims, auto theft claims, premises liability and other property insurance claims. 

​Since 2011, life insurance lawyer Heather D. Lee has dedicated her career to helping insureds and beneficiaries stand up to big insurance, collecting millions in delayed and denied life and property insurance benefits on behalf of her clients.

If a life insurance or property insurance company has delayed or denied your claim,  Contact Us today at (800) 403-5710 or visit www.life-insurancelawyer.com for more information about our law practice. The Law Offices of Heather D. Lee offer free case evaluations as well as low contingent fee arrangements on all cases.

Rightful Life Insurance Claim Denials ~ 3 Legitimate Reasons Your Claim May Be Denied

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Life insurance is meant as a sort of “safety net” that ensures your family’s financial security in the event of your death. However, life insurance companies are not immediately required to pay out every death benefit claim received. In fact, life insurance is a BIG business, and insurance companies make their profits by collecting premiums and NOT paying out thousands, and possibly even tens-of-thousands, of claims each and every year. This is why state and federal laws are in place to protect insureds and their beneficiaries. Despite these laws, insurance companies continue to unlawfully delay and deny payment on claims in bad faith. Nevertheless, not every denial of a claim is done for a nefarious reason. Here are three reasons that your life insurance claim may be legally denied after your death.

You Lied!

Lying about your age is one thing but lying on your life insurance application is something completely different. Most life insurance policies include a two-year contestability period. This means that if a claim arises within the first two years of the policy’s issue date, the life insurance company is entitled to review the life insurance application for accuracy. If any material misrepresentation was made on the application (even if unrelated to the cause of death), your beneficiary’s claim could be denied. This comes as a shock to many, as the misrepresentation — such as an undisclosed alcoholism diagnosis — does NOT have to cause the insured’s death. The life insurance company can legally claim that the policy would never have been issued had the truth been told on the application, regardless of the actual cause of death. For example, if the insured fails to disclose his or her history of alcoholism but dies from a no-fault car accident and was not drinking behind the wheel, the claim can still be denied.

You Didn’t Pay!

As with any other contract, if you don’t pay your life insurance premium the insurance company isn’t required to honor the policy. State laws require that life insurance companies must provide at least a 30-day grace period if you do miss a payment, and each state has specific notice requirements with regard to the applicable grace period. Once the grace period expires, though, the policy is cancelled and the life insurance company can legally keep all premiums paid to date. In other words, you lose coverage and all premiums paid prior to the lapse are lawfully kept by the insurer. If you do wish to apply for reinstatement of your coverage, the life insurance company can then deny reinstatement if your health has changed since the original policy application. And if the policy is no longer active when the insured passes away? Expect a claim denial but don’t just accept it! ALWAYS have it reviewed by an experienced life insurance attorney. If the life insurer failed to provide “proper” notice (in compliance with applicable state law) of the grace period or made some other error in cancelling the policy, you may still have a fighting chance. To avoid the need for a life insurance lawyer, remember to stay current with payments, and for the elderly or anyone who suffers from serious medical issues, make sure a close family member or friend can help keep track of your payment due dates and check your mailbox for any grace period or lapse notices received.

Your Cause of Death is Excluded!

In order to mitigate risk in issuing a life insurance policy, insurance companies sometimes limit the types of deaths covered under the policy. For example, death as a result of participating in an unusually risky pastime may be excluded from payment. If you die skydiving, flying your own plane, or scuba diving, many policies explicitly exclude coverage for these risky activities. Other common exclusions include deaths by suicide, deaths occurring in the commission of (or attempted commission of) a felony, and deaths related to alcohol or drug intoxication, even if caused or contributed to by accidental overdose of a prescription medication.

It is important to note that every death by suicide is not immediately excluded from payment. However, generally death by suicide within a policy’s two-year contestability period will be. These “suicide clauses” vary from company to company and are intended to protect life insurance companies from applicant insureds purchasing life insurance while contemplating suicide. Always have your life insurance claim denial reviewed by a life insurance attorney to determine whether a denial is legitimate, even when the insured dies by suicide or “suspected” suicide.

So Remember…

  • After a death occurs, not every life insurance claim is approved and paid.  Sometimes life insurance companies delay or deny payment for unlawful reasons. However, there are perfectly legal reasons an insurance company may deny a claim.
  • If you lied on your life insurance application and the company finds out within two years of the policy’s issue date, payment on the claim may be denied after your death.
  • If you fall behind on premium payments more than 30 days, your policy may lapse for nonpayment, leaving you unprotected in the event of your death.
  • If you die while participating in an extremely risky hobby, the insurance company may refuse to pay the claim.
  • If you take your own life during the first two years of the policy, if you die while attempting to commit a crime, or if you overdose (even on prescription medication), your beneficiary or beneficiaries may not receive death benefits as a result of a “suicide clause” or other policy exclusion.

If you believe a life insurance company is wrongfully trying to delay or deny your life insurance claim, contact us for a free case evaluation today. The Life & Property Insurance Law Offices of Heather D. Lee can help you navigate the difficult claims process, demand that the company pay what you are rightfully owed, and represent your best interests throughout the case. We look forward to reviewing your claim!

What You Need To Know About Filing Your Life Insurance Claim

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You’ve recently lost a loved one, you’re overwhelmed with sadness, with the tasks of preparing for the burial service, handling the deceased’s final affairs, and now you have to file a life insurance claim.  The last thing you want to worry about is how best to deal with the life insurance company’s claims process.  Maybe you even need the life insurance benefit to pay for the funeral.  You call the life insurance company and are told that it could take 30-60 days to investigate the claim.  Now what?

Fortunately, most funeral services can proceed through an assignment of the life insurance benefit to the funeral home.  This is done by signing a document which assigns an amount of the life insurance benefit sufficient to satisfy the funeral home bill, after which the remainder of the proceeds, if any, will be paid to the beneficiary.  Unfortunately, though, more than 5,000 life insurance claims are denied every year in the U.S., sometimes leaving the beneficiary responsible for paying the funeral bill.

Many people don’t even know that life insurance companies can deny a life insurance claim.  The purpose of having a life insurance policy is to ensure that the designated beneficiary receives a specified amount of money upon the death of the insured.  It’s that simple, isn’t it?  Not quite.  Like with any insurance contract, there are complicated provisions and exclusions in life insurance policies, and applicable state and federal laws that can interfere with an anticipated claim payment.  Sadly, life insurance is a business, and life insurers maximize their profits by denying as many claims as possible.  A large percentage of denied life insurance claims are wrongful, and many of those claims are never disputed.  It’s a win-win for the life insurance company when a beneficiary gives up on a denied life insurance claim.

To protect yourself from the beginning, you should keep a few things in mind.  First, contact the life insurance company immediately, and notify it that the insured has passed away.  If the life insurance benefit was obtained through the insured’s employment, contact the employer for claim instructions.  The employer may instruct you to contact the life insurer directly, or it may submit the claim on your behalf.  Either way, you should request that the appropriate claim forms be sent by mail.  You can also download the forms from most insurance company websites.

If, for any reason, you are told that you are not entitled to claim the life insurance benefit, submit your request for the claim forms in writing or download the forms from the company’s website, if possible.  This could occur for several reasons, but most commonly because the life insurance company claims you are not the designated beneficiary, the policy has allegedly lapsed for nonpayment, or it has not yet taken effect.  Do not let the insurance company deter you from filing a claim.  Always Always ALWAYS file your claim and get a written explanation of the denial.  This will assist a life insurance lawyer in evaluating your denied life insurance claim.

To file your claim, you will need the insured’s death certificate, the claim forms, and a copy of the policy if you have it.  If you cannot locate the policy, that’s okay.  In certain cases, the life insurer may require that you submit a police report or other accident report, an autopsy report, a medical authorization form, or other supporting documents.  You will want to submit the death certificate and claim forms as soon as possible, and the life insurance company will notify you if any other information is required to process the claim.

Once you’ve submitted your life insurance claim, follow-up frequently for status updates.  Most life insurance claims should be processed within 30 days.  If an insured passes away within two years of the policy’s effective date, or if the policy is an accidental death policy, the life insurance company may request additional time to investigate the claim.  Even then, your claim should be paid within 60 days.  Life insurance companies benefit from delaying payments, so remember that the squeaky wheel gets the oil.  Keep calling, and make sure you know what’s happening with your claim at all times.

The most important thing, and I repeat, the most important thing to know is this: life insurance claims are denied all the time.  It is critical that you keep a complete record of all communications with the insurance company until the claim has been paid in full.  Keep a file folder of all documents submitted to the life insurance company and also all documents received from the company.  You should keep a log of all telephone calls, and include the dates and times of the calls, the names of the agents you spoke with, and notes about what the agent told you during each call.  Write down the agent’s direct quotes if possible.  Keeping good records can make the difference in whether a life insurance attorney decides to pursue your case, and ultimately whether your life insurance claim is paid.

Finally, if your claim is delayed for more than 60 days, or if it is denied for any reason, contact a life insurance lawyer without delay.  This is especially true for life insurance policies obtained through the insured’s employment because these claims are governed by ERISA, a federal statute with strict appeal deadlines.  ERISA appeals should always be filed with the assistance of an experienced life insurance attorney, as any future lawsuit will likely be limited to the appeal file, meaning no new evidence can be introduced at trial.  In all cases, policy limitations and/or state law will require that a lawsuit be filed within a certain time frame, and missing a filing deadline will forever bar your claim.

The Life & Property Insurance Law Offices of Heather D. Lee is a multi-state law practice offering free consultations and low contingent fees on all delayed and denied life insurance claims.  Please visit http://www.life-insurancelawyer.com for more information about how we can help collect your delayed or denied life insurance claim with no up-front costs for you.

The Life & Property Insurance Lawyer Expands to the Great State of New York

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We are proud to announce that the Life & Property Insurance Law Offices of Heather D. Lee is now serving New York.  Founder and life insurance attorney Heather D. Lee visited Albany this week to attend the Supreme Court of New York’s admission ceremony.

New York Life Insurance Lawyer

The more we expand, the greater number of people we can protect against wrongfully delayed and denied insurance claims.  If your life or property insurance claim has been delayed or denied, the Law Offices of Heather D. Lee may be able to assist you.  We provide free consultations on all potential cases, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by contacting us.

Visit our websites at www.life-insurancelawyer.com for more information, or call us at (800)403-5710 to speak to a life insurance lawyer now.

Insurance Consumers Win As Companies Are Made To Pay For Unfair Practices

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Insurance consumer advocates have won another big battle recently, as the insurance regulatory agencies from Illinois, Indiana, Texas, Pennsylvania and Florida finalized a settlement with Bankers Life and Casualty Company.  Pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement, the insurance company must pay a fine of $3.2 million for its failure to comply with regulatory recommendations imposed following an investigation of its practices in 2007.

The investigation found fault with many aspects of Bankers Life’s policies and procedures, including the company’s claims handling practices, and it ultimately led to the issuance of various recommendations to bring Bankers Life into compliance with states’ insurance regulations.  The 2012 review of the company’s progress revealed that it had failed to bring claims investigation, denial, and settlement procedures into compliance with the 2007 recommendations, specifically in the annuities, long-term care, and life insurance lines of business.

The settlement agreement reached with Bankers Life is just one of many recent settlements between state insurance regulatory agencies and insurance companies.  This trend is an important step forward for insurance consumers, as it shows that states are no longer willing to let insurance companies get away with unfair and misleading claims handling practices.  If your claim has been delayed or denied, you should consult with an experienced life insurance attorney to ensure that you are not a victim of non-compliant or abusive insurance practices.

To review the 2007 and 2012 agreements, visit http://insurance.mo.gov/Contribute%20Documents/conseco-bankers_Stip.pdf and http://insurance.illinois.gov/newsrls/2012/11/BankersExecutedRSA.pdf.

Don’t Let the Not Necessarily Limiting ‘Suit Limitation’ Clause Deny Your Rightful Claim

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Insurance policyholders face many hurdles when a loss occurs.  One such hurdle involves the time in which a law suit must be filed after the insurance company denies your claim.  Suit limitation clauses greatly reduce the time-period to pursue even an illegitimate insurance claim denial.  While the Statute of Limitations for a breach of contract claim typically runs for 6-10 years (depending on the applicable state law), suit limitation clauses may reduce this window to as little as 12 months.  This is particularly problematic because limitation provisions are buried deep within lengthy, complex insurance policies and fail to provide actual and sufficient notice to policyholders.

Though a suit limitation clause functions much like a Statute of Limitations, in that both provide a specific time-period in which a suit may be brought, the difference between the two is important to note.  Significantly, a suit limitation clause is a condition imposed by contract, rather than by statute or law.  Therefore, the application or enforcement of a suit limitation clause may be challenged.

Like most issues relating to insurance policies, the law governing a contract’s suit limitation clause differs from state to state.  The majority of jurisdictions uphold such provisions, though some have not.  In those states where limitation clauses are considered valid, certain restrictions may be imposed on their use, with some states providing more protection for insured parties than other states.  Illinois, for example, extends the contractual limitation by the amount of time the insurance company takes to process the claim.  In other words, the period of time in which an insured may bring a law suit “tolls” for the number of days that pass from the filing of the claim to the date of the denial.

Further, states may provide additional protection against statute limitation clauses in the form of applying a notification requirement.  In Illinois, an insurance company waives its right to impose a time limitation clause if the denial notice does not include the remaining time-period for bringing a law suit.  The rules in Pennsylvania are less protective, on the other hand, with courts finding that a denial letter does not necessarily need to specify the amount of time to bring suit in order for a limitation clause to apply.

The effect of suit limitation clauses can be devastating to policyholders whose claims have been illegitimately denied, giving an insurance company the incentive to delay processing of the claim, and ultimately, the ability to escape liability.  If your insurance claim has been delayed or denied, you should speak to an insurance attorney immediately.  Even if you think too much time has passed to dispute your wrongfully denied claim, we may be able to help collect the life or property insurance proceeds you deserve.

The Insurable Interest Doctrine and Its Effect on Your Life Insurance Claim

Erica S. Gelfand, Esq. Beneficiary Disputes, Delayed Life Insurance Claims, Denied Life Insurance Claims, Insurance Settlements, Law Offices of Heather D. Lee, Life Insurance, The Life Insurance Lawyer , , , ,

It may seem surprising that life insurance claims are commonly denied, and for many different reasons.  Life insurance companies reportedly refuse payment on approximately 5,000 policies each year, although we believe this figure is much higher.  One interesting reason that life insurance claims can be denied involves the lack of an insurable interest.  According to the insurable interest doctrine, in most states an individual cannot take an insurance policy out on the life of another person without having a legally-recognized insurable interest in that person’s life.  In other words, one cannot insure the life of another unless he or she derives some benefit or advantage from the continuance of the insured’s life.  The law does not want to encourage the practice of “wagering” on the life of another.  Allowing an individual to procure a policy on someone’s life without requiring the existence of an insurable interest may open the door to crimes being committed against the insured person.

The rules setting forth what constitutes a sufficient relationship differ amongst the states.  Generally, states consider the insurable interest requirement to be satisfied by blood ties or other affection-based relationships.  In many states, a monetary tie such as a business partnership is sufficient to create an insurable interest.  The line drawn by the various state statutes remains fuzzy, to say the least.  The majority of courts have found that determining whether a relationship gives rise to a sufficient insurable interest is a fact issue, meaning it is determinable on a case-by-case basis.

Whether an insurable interest exists is relatively easy to determine in some relationships.  For example, a husband and wife will almost always be found to have an insurable interest in each other’s lives.  But what about an unmarried couple?  Or grandparents and grandchildren?  Even the relationship between parent and child is treated differently depending on the state where the policy is issued.  For example, Illinois courts have found that the blood tie alone can be insufficient and have, in some cases, required a showing of monetary interest in order to bolster the insurable interest.  In New York and Pennsylvania, on the other hand, the parent-child relationship alone establishes an insurable interest sufficient to take out a life policy.

To further complicate the insurable interest doctrine, courts have held that expiration of the contestable period for life insurance policies does not defeat a claim denial for lack of an insurable interest.  Typically, insurance companies have a 2-year period to challenge the validity of a policy.  The vast majority of jurisdictions have held, however, that a lack of insurable interest can be raised to challenge a policy’s validity at any time, even after the contestable period has passed.  In New York, an outlier state, life insurance companies cannot refuse payment on such a basis unless the challenge was raised within the contestable period, which begins to run on the policy’s date of issue.

The lack of uniformity with respect to what constitutes an insurable interest can cause a great deal of confusion for beneficiaries.  Without the assistance of an experienced life insurance attorney, a proper beneficiary may lose the right to collect against a policy based on an insurance company’s arbitrary determination that a sufficient insurable interest does not exist.  If your life insurance claim has been delayed or denied, you should speak to a life insurance lawyer about the facts specific to your case immediately.

State Probes Into Wrongful Life Insurance Practices May Lead To Your Lost Policy

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The nation’s largest life insurance companies are feeling the heat as some states investigate wrongful insurance practices, particularly with respect to locating beneficiaries after an insured has died. In fact, it is estimated that tens of thousands of life insurance beneficiaries have been deprived of approximately $1 billion (or more) in unclaimed proceeds. Many of the life insurance companies currently under fire continue to claim that it is the sole responsibility of the beneficiary to notify the company of an insured’s death.

Life insurance beneficiaries often do not know a policy exists, however, and may not be in the best position to find out. Sometimes beneficiaries know about a loved one’s policy but do not know which life insurance company to contact and are unable to locate the policy documents.  Even worse, life insurance companies may mislead a beneficiary who does not have a copy of the policy and deter them from filing of a claim.  When thousands of policies go unclaimed every year, insurance companies just sit on the money.

But a life insurance company does not know when an insured has died, right? Wrong. State probes revealed that these companies have routinely checked the Social Security Administration’s ‘Death Master File’ for decades to discontinue annuity payments.  Until recently, life insurance companies never used the same source to notify beneficiaries of unclaimed policies.

In the past several months, multi-state settlement agreements have been reached with leading life insurance companies, including Prudential, John Hancock, and Metropolitan Life. The States of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Colorado, New York, California, and Florida are among the leaders of these probes. As a condition of the agreements, participating life insurance companies will be required to improve their practices and make better attempts to locate the beneficiaries of unclaimed policies. The problem with locating past unpaid beneficiaries, though, remains.

The issue that state regulators are not addressing is the inability to locate older records of unpaid policies. Life insurance companies are only required to keep records of “terminated” policies for a certain period of years. Consider that when an insured dies and a life insurance company no longer receives premium payments, the policy will be treated as “terminated.”  Years later, because these policies are not properly held as unclaimed property, the records are destroyed, leaving the beneficiary responsible for proving the life insurance company’s liability. Of course, if the beneficiary had such proof, the claim would not have been delayed.

If you believe that an insurance company owes you money, speak to a life insurance attorney about your options right away.  The Life & Property Insurance Law Offices of Heather D. Lee can assist you in filing your life insurance claim, demanding that the company pay you immediately and with all applicable interest accrued as a result of the delay.  We work aggressively to collect wrongfully delayed and denied life insurance claims and do not charge any fees whatsoever unless we are successful.

Common Reasons For Delaying & Denying Life Insurance Claims

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At least 5,000 life insurance claims are denied in the United States every year, and even more policies go unclaimed.  People are usually surprised to discover that life insurance companies can delay or deny claims for many different reasons.  In fact, most people believe that when an insured passes away, the beneficiary receives a payout immediately.  Unfortunately, this is too often not the case.  Like most businesses, life insurance companies are motivated by profit, having a strong financial incentive to collect premiums but later deny as many life insurance claims as possible, or to delay claims as long as possible.

DELAYED LIFE INSURANCE CLAIMS

If a life insurance company has failed to promptly issue payment of your life insurance proceeds, you may have a claim for breach of contract and bad faith insurance practices.  Life insurance companies must investigate your claim within a reasonable period of time, usually within sixty (60) days of the claim being filed or in accordance with the life insurance policy terms.  An insurance company may attempt to discourage you from hiring a life insurance lawyer by wrongfully delaying your life insurance claim, offering a reduced settlement amount, or making other efforts to avoid paying the full claim.

Some common tactics that life insurance companies will use to wrongfully delay your claim include but are not limited to the following:

Insured’s Death Occurring Within Contestable Period
Hospital Records/Medical Documentation Not Yet Received
Hospital or Medical Provider Refuses to Release Records
Failure to Provide Income Tax Returns
Failure to Provide Non-existent Medical Documentation
Independent Investigation Based on Suspicious Cause of Death
Independent Medical Review to Dispute Evidence
Beneficiary Dispute Based On Divorce
Beneficiary Dispute Based On Suspicious Cause of Death

No matter how badly you need the insurance proceeds, you should never accept a settlement offer without the advice of an experienced life insurance attorney.  An offer to settle your claim for a reduced amount may indicate that the insurance company’s reason for delaying or denying your claim is illegitimate.

To discourage beneficiaries from pursuing a wrongfully denied life insurance claim, life insurance companies will mail complex denial letters designed to confuse you.  Life insurance companies know that you are likely unfamiliar with the life insurance contract itself, or with your rights as the beneficiary.
Some common tactics that insurance companies will use to wrongfully deny your claim include but are not limited to the following:
Policy Lapse Due to Nonpayment
Misrepresentations Regarding Age, Employment and/or Income
Failure to Disclose Immaterial Pre-Existing Medical Condition
Failure to Disclose Medical Appointments/Regular Check-Ups
Failure to Disclose Unknown/Unofficial Medical Diagnosis
Failure to Disclose Condition Requiring Future Treatment
Failure to Disclose Prior Alcohol, Drug, or Tobacco Use
Failure to Disclose Criminal History on Application for Insurance
Accidental Death Related to Independent Medical Condition
Accidental Death Actually Self-Inflicted
Accidental Death Caused by Alcohol/Drug Use or Crime
Accidental Death Not Occurring Within Specific Time/Date
Accidental Overdose Caused by Misuse of Medication
Policy Not Active Due to Death Occurring Prior to Effective Date
Policy Not Active Based on Period of Limited Activity Exclusion
Independent Investigation Based on Suspicious Cause of Death
Insufficient Evidence to Show Heart Attack
Independent Medical Examiner Disputes Evidence
Change In Health After Policy Lapse Due to Nonpayment
Change In Health Condition Prior to Effective Date of Insurance
Handwriting Expert Claims False Application Signature
Failure to Elect and/or Qualify for Employment Coverage
Failure to Convert Employment Coverage to Individual Policy
Insurance Company Not Responsible for Agency Errors
Insured Not Resident of United States on Date of Death
Failure to Properly Change Beneficiary
Policy Lapse Due to Depleted Cash Value
Many insurance companies have large legal departments prepared to defend denied life insurance claims, which can discourage a beneficiary from hiring a life insurance attorney, appealing a denied life insurance claim, or filing a law suit.
The Life & Property Insurance Law Offices of Heather D. Lee, Esquire are familiar with the various tactics used by life insurance companies to delay and deny claims, and we are experienced in pressuring insurance companies to quickly complete the claims process and pay all proceeds due under their life insurance policies.  If your insurance claim is being wrongfully delayed or denied, Contact Us for your free case evaluation today.

Heather D. Lee, Esquire Wins Reinstatement Of Policy When Life Insurance Company Failed To Give Notice Of Payment Lapse

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Insurance companies must generally notify an insured when a policy is at risk of lapsing due to nonpayment.  Such notification may be required by statute, as a term in the insurance contract, or by customary practice.  Policies commonly provide for a grace period of thirty-one (31) days, which allows an insured to avoid cancellation of insurance coverage if premiums are paid within the specified time-frame.  This is especially important with respect to life insurance policies because coverage is based on the applicant’s health at the time the policy becomes active.  In other words, if a life insurance contract lapses after the grace-period expires, reinstatement is subject to the same medical underwriting requirements as an application for a new policy.

Consider the following example: Larger-Than-Life Insurance Company (LTL) issues a life insurance policy to Youthful Yolanda, who faithfully pays her premiums for 15 years by monthly automatic withdrawals from her bank account.  Last month, though, Yolanda’s premium payment was returned due to insufficient funds in her account, triggering a 31-day grace period.  Despite LTL’s customary practice of notifying insureds when automatic premium withdrawals are returned, it fails to notify Yolanda that her policy will soon lapse. Unfortunately, Yolanda did not realize the payment was returned, resulting in the cancellation of her life insurance policy.  Since Yolanda is not so youthful anymore, and her health has changed over the past 15 years, she is no longer eligible for a new life insurance policy.  Even though LTL is entitled to keep all of her previous payments, Yolanda no longer has coverage and LTL refuses to reinstate her lapsed policy.

This is a fairly common story, with variations.  Sometimes insurance companies mail the appropriate notification too late, or to an incorrect mailing address because it has failed to process an address-change request.  Just this month, the Life & Property Insurance Law Offices of Heather D. Lee, Esquire successfully fought for reinstatement of a life insurance policy that lapsed when a major insurance company mailed notification of an overdue premium payment after the grace period had already expired.  Even a timely mailing may not contain the proper information to provide sufficient notice, such as the amount due or the date a policy will terminate.

If your life insurance policy has lapsed for nonpayment, or if you are a beneficiary whose claim has been denied because a policy lapsed prior to the insured’s death, you should speak to an experienced life insurance lawyer about your rights.  Heather D. Lee, Esquire offers free consultations on all life and property insurance cases.