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Why hiring a life insurance lawyer on your claim is smart

Why Hiring a Life Insurance Lawyer on Your Life Insurance Claim is Smart

Hiring a lawyer for a life insurance claim can be incredibly beneficial, especially in cases involving disputes, delays, or wrongful denial of benefits. Even if you don’t want to pay a lawyer upfront, knowing what they can bring to the table can help you make informed decisions and navigate the claims process more effectively. Here’s a detailed look at how a lawyer can help with life insurance claims, the types of issues they commonly address, and alternative strategies for accessing their expertise without hefty out-of-pocket expenses.

A real life insurance lawyer like lifeinsurancelawyernow.com has years of knowledge from reading life insurance policies and litigating in this field. This is no time for a beginner or learning as you go. Certainly, a grieving person, having suffered a loss, who is not a lawyer, should really not go at this alone, especially at a time like this.

Understanding Complex Policy Terms and Conditions

Life insurance policies can be full of technical and legal jargon that may be difficult for the average person to understand. Lawyers specializing in life insurance are well-versed in interpreting these terms and can clarify confusing policy conditions, exclusions, and stipulations that may impact a claim. This insight can be critical in ensuring that your claim submission aligns with policy requirements, reducing the risk of rejection or delay.

Policy Exclusions and Contestability Periods

For instance, policies often contain exclusions for certain causes of death, such as suicide within the first two years or death due to illegal activities. Additionally, life insurance policies have a “contestability period,” typically the first two years after the policy is issued, during which the insurer can investigate and deny claims if they find any misrepresentations on the application. A lawyer can help you interpret these aspects of the policy, preventing unexpected surprises and helping you decide if pursuing a claim is worthwhile.

Gathering and Organizing Necessary Documentation

One of the primary reasons life insurance claims are denied or delayed is the lack of required documentation. Each insurance provider has its own list of required documents, which may include the policyholder’s death certificate, medical records, proof of relationship, and sometimes even financial information. A lawyer can assist in gathering and organizing all necessary documentation, ensuring that you provide complete information in your claim.

Even minor mistakes, such as incorrect or missing information, can result in a denial or significant delays. By reviewing your documentation before submission, a lawyer can spot potential red flags and help prevent issues that may compromise your claim.

Filing a life insurance claim involves completing multiple forms, each with its own set of instructions and requirements. A lawyer can help you navigate this process, reducing the risk of errors that may lead to a denial. This is particularly valuable if you’re filing a complex claim involving supplemental benefits, such as accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage or additional riders that may be attached to the policy.

The Life Insurance Lawyer Helps on Complex Claims with Multiple Beneficiaries

When multiple beneficiaries are involved, claims can become even more complicated, particularly if the policyholder has not specified clear instructions on how benefits should be distributed. A lawyer can ensure that each beneficiary’s portion is calculated accurately and help you avoid potential conflicts among beneficiaries.

Handling Claim Denials and Appeals

If your claim is denied, a lawyer can help you understand why and evaluate your options for contesting the denial. Many insurance companies deny claims for technical reasons, such as alleged misrepresentation on the application or questions about the policyholder’s cause of death. In these cases, having a lawyer can increase your chances of successfully appealing the denial.

Lawyers specializing in life insurance law understand the legal grounds on which denials can be appealed. They know what evidence to present and how to argue effectively that the denial was unjustified. This expertise is especially helpful in complex cases where the insurer has refused to pay based on a contested cause of death or alleged misrepresentation.

Insurance companies typically impose strict deadlines for appealing denied claims, often as short as 30 or 60 days. Missing these deadlines can permanently bar you from recovering benefits. A lawyer will ensure you file within the required time frames and guide you through the appeals process, giving you a better chance of overturning the denial.

Negotiating with Insurance Companies

Even if your claim is approved, you may face challenges in receiving the full amount due, especially if the insurer tries to reduce the payout based on technicalities. Lawyers experienced in life insurance claims know how to negotiate effectively with insurance companies to secure fair compensation for their clients.

Protecting Against Undervaluation and Partial Settlements

Insurance companies sometimes offer partial settlements or undervalue claims in an attempt to reduce their payout obligations. Without legal expertise, you may feel pressured to accept these lower offers. A lawyer can evaluate the settlement offer, compare it to the full amount you’re owed, and negotiate on your behalf to increase the payout.

Preventing and Addressing Bad Faith Tactics

Insurance companies have a legal obligation to act in good faith, meaning they must handle claims fairly and promptly. However, some insurers use “bad faith” tactics to avoid paying claims, such as delaying payment, requesting unnecessary documentation, or denying claims without valid reason. Lawyers who specialize in insurance law can identify bad faith tactics and take steps to hold the insurer accountable.

If an insurer is acting in bad faith, a lawyer can take legal action on your behalf, potentially leading to punitive damages and other remedies beyond the original claim amount. This can be a powerful deterrent against further bad faith practices by the insurer and may even result in a higher payout than originally expected.

Maximizing Settlement and Identifying Additional Benefits

In some cases, the policyholder may be eligible for additional benefits that the insurer did not disclose. A lawyer can review the policy to identify any overlooked benefits, such as death benefits under separate riders, accidental death coverage, or other supplemental benefits.

For instance, if the policy includes accidental death and dismemberment coverage, beneficiaries may be eligible for a higher payout if the death was accidental. These add-on benefits may be easy to overlook, but a lawyer’s expertise can help ensure that you receive the full range of benefits available under the policy.

Legal Support in Cases Involving Fraud or Misrepresentation

Allegations of fraud or misrepresentation are one of the most common reasons for life insurance claim denials, especially during the contestability period. Insurers may claim that the policyholder omitted crucial health information or lied about lifestyle choices, which can lead to a denial. A lawyer can help you refute these allegations by gathering evidence, such as medical records or witness statements, to demonstrate that the policyholder was truthful.

Working Through the Insurer’s Investigation Process

In cases of alleged misrepresentation, insurance companies may conduct an investigation that includes requesting extensive information from beneficiaries. A lawyer can serve as a buffer between you and the insurer, protecting your rights and preventing the insurer from overstepping legal boundaries in the investigation process.

The life insurance company’s endless investigation is itself a way of denying claims. Sometimes people just run out of energy to push back in the claims process. Understandably, people are emotionally involved in the claim–they have had someone die. The life insurance company sees this as a routine event, for them to investigate, and to try to get an advantage on you–to avoid paying your claim.

While it may seem tempting to avoid hiring a lawyer to save money, having legal support can make a significant difference in the outcome of a life insurance claim. You could think you are saving money, but the reality is, the life insurance company has not paid you, and may never pay you, without a qualified lawyer on your side. Lawyers bring knowledge, expertise, and negotiation skills that can improve your chances of a successful and timely payout. By understanding the role a lawyer can play in a life insurance claim, you’ll be better prepared to make informed choices that protect your rights and increase your likelihood of a favorable outcome.

We have done this a lot. We take the time to know you and your case. We start working for you NOW. We communicate with you, respond to your calls, are available to you. We focus on how to win your case. If you have a problem getting your life insurance claim paid, rescission, beneficiary disputes, or your policy has been cancelled or has other issues on it, you need to contact Life Insurance Lawyer NOW.com or life insurance justice.com. Use the form on our site, or email us, or call (888) 997-4070 or (818) 937-0937 to speak directly to an experienced life insurance lawyer. We are the best life insurance lawyers around, and we are real lawyers, not a lawyer referral service or “middleman”, and we are nice to work with, too; we are here for you NOW.

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Life Insurance Claims And Tesla

Life Insurance Claims and Tesla

Filing a life insurance claim as a beneficiary at Tesla’s Fremont facility involves understanding the company’s insurance offerings, gathering essential documents, and following a set of claim procedures. Life insurance through an employer like Tesla is typically structured as group life insurance, which offers employees and sometimes their families access to basic and supplemental life insurance benefits. To navigate the claim process smoothly, it’s helpful to know what to expect and what steps to take, as well as what obstacles could potentially arise.

This guide provides a detailed overview of the life insurance claim process for beneficiaries, covering necessary documentation, the claims process, and how to handle common issues.

Understanding Tesla’s Life Insurance Policy

Tesla provides life insurance coverage as a benefit to its employees, which generally includes both basic and optional (supplemental) life insurance. Knowing the details of this coverage can help beneficiaries understand their entitlements. We can help you get your life insurance claim paid from Tesla’s life insurance coverage.

Types of Life Insurance Available at Tesla Fremont

Basic Life Insurance: Basic life insurance is typically employer-funded and provides a set benefit amount for each employee. This coverage might equal a specific multiple of the employee’s annual salary (e.g., one to two times the salary). As your life insurance lawyer, we can check to be sure that the life insurance benefits are calculated properly.

Supplemental Life Insurance: Employees at Tesla Fremont may have the option to purchase supplemental life insurance to increase their coverage. This policy is typically employee-funded, with premiums deducted directly from the employee’s paycheck. This is important evidence for the life insurance lawyer to have.

Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Many employers, including Tesla, offer AD&D coverage as a rider or separate policy that provides benefits in the event of an employee’s accidental death or injury. This coverage may offer a benefit amount separate from or in addition to standard life insurance. The meaning of an accident to a life insurance company can be very different than a person’s ordinary understanding of what an accident involves. Life insurance companies almost always resist paying accidental death policies because of the added requirement of showing the accident, consistent with the policy language.

It’s helpful for beneficiaries to review policy details, such as coverage amounts and any supplemental policies. This information can typically be obtained from Tesla’s human resources department or the company’s benefits provider. Familiarizing yourself with these aspects can ensure you understand the scope of benefits available.

Preparing to File a Life Insurance Claim

The first step in making a life insurance claim is preparing the required documentation and information. This involves gathering key documents, such as the death certificate, and contacting the appropriate parties to initiate the process.

Essential Documents Needed

Policy Information: If available, the policy document or summary of benefits can provide essential details, including policy numbers and coverage amounts. Even if a beneficiary does not have the policy, Tesla’s HR or the insurer can usually assist in verifying the details.

Identification: Beneficiaries may need to provide valid identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, to confirm their identity.

Claim Form: The life insurance claim form, provided by the insurance company, will require the beneficiary’s information, the policyholder’s details, and the cause of death. This form initiates the claim process. It is important to make your claim to protect your rights.

Death Certificate: A certified copy of the policyholder’s death certificate is required for filing a life insurance claim. This document serves as proof of death and must be an official copy issued by the appropriate authority, such as a county clerk or health department.

Contact Vital Records: In most cases, the county health department or a state’s vital records office will issue a death certificate. In California, this can be done through the California Department of Public Health or the Alameda County Clerk’s Office if the death occurred in Fremont. Your life insurance lawyer now can help prepare the claim, and can get the Certified Death Certificate without you having to stress about anything else.

Order Multiple Copies: Beneficiaries should order multiple certified copies of the death certificate, as this document may be needed for various aspects of the claims process, probate, and other financial matters. Having a certified copy of the death certificate available will possibly help speed up the process when it is needed.

Submitting the Life Insurance Claim

Once the necessary documents are gathered, the next step is submitting the claim to Tesla’s life insurance provider. Tesla’s insurance benefits are typically managed through an external provider, so the claim must be sent to the designated insurance company.

Identify the Insurance Provider: Tesla’s HR department or benefits administrator can confirm the name and contact details of the life insurance provider. Companies like Tesla often partner with large insurance firms such as MetLife, Prudential, or Cigna, though providers can change over time. Recently, Tesla has used Prudential on its employees.

Complete the Claim Form: Fill out the insurance provider’s claim form accurately, including all relevant information about the policyholder and beneficiary. Double-check the form for accuracy to avoid delays. Submit the completed claim form along with the death certificate, proof of identity, and any other documents requested by the insurer. Most insurers allow beneficiaries to mail or upload these documents through a secure online portal.

After processing, the insurance provider will notify the beneficiary of their decision. If the claim is approved, the insurer will typically pay out the death benefit in a lump sum or other disbursement option if available, such as installment payments or an annuity. Some insurers offer the option of a retained asset account, which allows beneficiaries to withdraw funds as needed, rather than receiving a single large payment. There is no requirement that the beneficiary agree to leave any funds with the life insurance company.

Common Challenges in Life Insurance Claims and How to Handle Them

Filing a life insurance claim can sometimes present obstacles, especially if there are issues with documentation, disputes over beneficiaries, or questions about the policyholder’s intentions. Here are common challenges and suggestions for handling each.

Sometimes, the policy document or details about the beneficiary designation might not be readily available. If this happens, reach out to Tesla’s HR or the insurance provider to request a summary of the policy or verification of beneficiary status. The insurer can often provide this information if you can verify your relationship to the deceased. Some information is necessary but at times, life insurance companies will request unnecessary information, which can delay a claim for no good reason at all.

Disputes Between Beneficiaries

In some cases, multiple beneficiaries may dispute their entitlements to the death benefit, especially if there are concerns about recent beneficiary changes or unclear designations. If a dispute arises, beneficiaries may need to seek mediation or consider legal assistance. Consulting a life insurance attorney can help clarify beneficiary rights and facilitate a fair resolution if the matter is escalated.

Delays in Claim Processing

Insurance claims can sometimes be delayed due to administrative issues, incomplete documentation, or other factors. Delays indicate that the life insurance company may be looking for a way to not pay the claim. The life insurance company investigation can be for a number of reasons.

Contested Claims Due to Cause of Death

Some life insurance policies include exclusions, such as for suicide or certain high-risk activities. If the cause of death falls within these exclusions, the insurance company may deny the claim or pay a reduced benefit. In cases of denial, beneficiaries can:

Appeal the Decision: Insurers generally have an appeals process that allows beneficiaries to contest a denied claim. This may involve submitting additional evidence, such as medical records or statements from witnesses. This is very important, that an appeal must have an additional amount of evidence or additional explanations. Many people, we have found, lose out on the value of an appeal because they have not hired a life insurance lawyer and they only repeat the same arguments as before. Because those arguments were unsuccessful on the claim, they are likely to be unsuccessful on an appeal of the denied claim.

Special Complicated Circumstances (Including AD&D Claims)

If the policyholder had Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage and their death was due to an accident, the beneficiary may be eligible for an additional payout. However, proving the death qualifies as accidental may require further documentation, such as accident reports or statements from law enforcement.

Additional Support Resources for Tesla Fremont Beneficiaries

Filing a life insurance claim can be emotionally taxing, especially in the wake of a loved one’s passing. Beneficiaries have access to various resources to assist them in the process. There is also the Tesla’s HR and Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Tesla’s HR department and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) may offer support for navigating the insurance claim process. The EAP can also provide counseling and financial guidance, which can be beneficial during this time.

Filing a life insurance claim as a beneficiary of someone who worked at Tesla Freemont can be a difficult task, at the worst possible time. Tesla Fremont involves understanding the details of Tesla’s insurance coverage, gathering essential documentation, and following the proper steps to submit the claim. While the process may feel overwhelming, careful planning, regular communication with the insurance provider, and support from Tesla’s HR team can help ensure a smoother experience. By preparing thoroughly and addressing any challenges, beneficiaries can navigate the claim process and access the financial support intended for them during a difficult time.

We have done this a lot. We take the time to know you and your case. We start working for you NOW. We communicate with you, respond to your calls, are available to you. We focus on how to win your case. If you have a problem getting your life insurance claim paid, rescission, beneficiary disputes, or your policy has been cancelled or has other issues on it, you need to contact Life Insurance Lawyer NOW.com or life insurance justice.com. Use the form on our site, or email us, or call (888) 997-4070 or (818) 937-0937 to speak directly to an experienced life insurance lawyer. We are the best life insurance lawyers around, and we are real lawyers, not a lawyer referral service or “middleman”, and we are nice to work with, too; we are here for you NOW.

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Evidence of Life Insurance Insurability

Getting Your Life Insurance Claim Benefits Paid Even if You Have Been Denied Based on No Evidence of Insurability “EOI”

We have been successful on getting life insurance claims paid when the employer’s insurance company says a document called an “EOI” for “Evidence of Insurability” has not been completed. If you or your loved one had a paycheck deduction, paying life insurance coverages, only to have the claim later denied based on the lack of some document called an “EOI”, or “Evidence of Insurability” we have long argued that these denials are unjust. These claims must be paid.

Even if your denial of your life insurance claim was up to four years ago, we can go back and reopen the claim. Even though this is a long window to look back, don’t let this time go by! The longer since the claim was denied, generally the more difficult it is to reopen the claim and get it paid. But we urge you, for the benefit of your family, to get us working on your past denied life insurance claim, especially if it was denied based on a lack of Evidence of Insurability EOI document, if denied in the last 4 years.

A life insurance claimant denied benefits because there was no Evidence of Insurability (EOI) can still pursue payment through various approaches, including understanding the specific reasons for the denial, leveraging legal or policy frameworks, and possibly filing appeals or legal claims based on insurance law. Evidence of Insurability is a part of the life insurance underwriting process that requires proof of a person’s health status before being insured. But many times, when an employee is signing up for benefits, especially on-line, there is no one from the employer or the insurance company who actually asks for this form to be completed. Nobody even sends the form to the employee, not in paper form or even by PDF. But the insurance premium is paid through the employee’s payroll deduction. Then, unfortunately, the person dies. Too many people are surprised at the later denial of a life insurance claim, even though they paid the premiums, when the life insurance company says there was no Evidence of Insurability (EOI). However, claimants who were denied benefits due to a lack of EOI may have recourse depending on the circumstances of the denial, applicable state and federal laws, and the terms of the insurance policy.

Understanding Evidence of Insurability (EOI) and Its Role in Life Insurance

Evidence of Insurability (EOI) is documentation or proof that a person seeking life insurance is insurable based on their health and risk profile. Insurance companies often require EOI to assess whether a person qualifies for coverage, particularly when they apply for additional insurance beyond the guaranteed amount or after an initial enrollment period.

EOI typically includes health questionnaires and may involve medical exams or reports from healthcare providers. If a person fails to submit the required EOI, or if the EOI shows that the person has health issues that pose a high risk, the insurance company may deny coverage.

For a claimant to receive benefits after a denial based on lack of EOI, it is essential to explore why the denial occurred and whether there is any legal or procedural way to challenge it.

Common Reasons for Denial of Benefits Due to Lack of EOI

There are several common reasons why life insurance claims are denied due to the absence of EOI:

Incomplete EOI Application: If the employee did not submit a complete or accurate EOI form, the insurer may deny coverage, asserting that the policy was never fully underwritten. Usually the denial is based on the lack of any Evidence of Insurability EOI form being submitted. Our clients are shocked to hear that both the employer and the life insurance company deny that they even have to ask people to complete the form. The employers and life insurance company typically point to some hidden language or fine print, claiming that the employee had the total responsibility to get the Evidence of Insurability EOI form, and not the people who actually manage the applications and plan.

Late or Missing Evidence of Insurability EOI Submission: In some cases, the policyholder might have missed the deadline to submit their Evidence of Insurability EOI, especially if they applied for additional coverage after the initial enrollment period. This is a second, and more tricky denial of the life insurance claim that we have seen. Even if the employee did submit the Evidence of Insurability EOI, the insurance company may try to deny the claim, saying that the form was not submitted during the right time. The right time may be a limited window of time for open enrollments, or enrollments after the employee qualified. But again, this ground of denial of the life insurance claim, that the Evidence of Insurability EOI form was submitted at the wrong time, is something that we can fight.

Challenging Denial Based on Lack of Evidence of Insurability EOI

A denied life insurance claimant who was told there was no EOI can pursue payment by challenging the denial through various methods, including policy review, legal avenues, and appeals processes. Each strategy may depend on the details of the policy and the circumstances leading up to the denial. We urge you to not do this complicated, administrative work on your own, but to have us do it.

Documents We Need to Get Your Life Insurance Claim Paid Even if You are Denied on Evidence of Insurability EOI– Get the Insurance Policy and Enrollment Materials

One of the first steps for a claimant is to carefully review the terms of the insurance policy and any enrollment materials the policyholder may have signed.

If You are Already Denied, and Need to Appeal, Please Consult Us

Most insurance companies, including those operating under group life insurance plans governed by ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act), offer a formal appeals process for denied claims. Claimants can challenge the denial by submitting an appeal letter that addresses the reasons for denial and provides supporting documentation to demonstrate coverage.

Appealing Based on Administrative Errors: If the denial was due to administrative mistakes, such as the policyholder not being properly notified of the need for EOI or missing deadlines due to the insurance company’s communication failures, this can be a basis for an appeal. Providing documentation that proves the policyholder was eligible for coverage or that errors occurred during the EOI process can strengthen the appeal. However, we see that the life insurance companies and the employers deny that they even have to provide the Evidence of Insurability EOI materials for the employee to complete at the start.

In cases involving group life insurance policies provided through an employer, the plan is often governed by ERISA. Under ERISA, claimants have specific rights to challenge denied claims, and the appeals process is mandatory before resorting to litigation.

Filing an ERISA Appeal: For claimants whose policies fall under ERISA, it is essential to exhaust all administrative remedies, including the internal appeals process, before filing a lawsuit. ERISA also requires the insurance company to provide a clear and comprehensive explanation for why a claim was denied and to furnish the claimant with access to the documentation and reasoning behind the decision. If you are the claimant, you really should not do the appeal without a qualified lawyer. The insurance company has already denied the claim, despite your best efforts. To get a different result, you need something different–life insurance lawyer now as your lawyer.

Some different arguments that we may use on a life insurance appeal. Several court cases and legal precedents have shaped how claims involving lack of EOI are handled, particularly when claimants challenge denials. Miscommunication or Administrative Errors: Courts have sometimes ruled in favor of claimants when it can be shown that the insurance company or employer failed to provide clear instructions about the EOI requirement. In such cases, claimants may successfully argue that the lack of coverage was due to the insurer’s or employer’s failure to fulfill their responsibilities. Under ERISA, courts have consistently held that plan administrators and insurers must provide clear, comprehensive reasons for denying a claim and ensure that claimants are given access to the documentation and criteria used to make the decision. This transparency can help claimants build their case during the appeals process. Precedents in Denied Coverage Cases. In some cases, courts have ordered insurance companies to pay benefits when it is found that the insurer did not properly enforce the EOI requirement or acted in bad faith. For example, if the insurer accepted premiums but later denied coverage on the grounds of no EOI without having properly communicated that requirement, the court may rule in favor of the claimant.

While being denied life insurance benefits due to lack of Evidence of Insurability can be disheartening, claimants still have several avenues to pursue payment. By carefully reviewing the policy, understanding the specific reasons for denial, and exploring appeals and legal options, claimants can challenge wrongful denials and potentially recover the benefits they are owed.

We have done this a lot. We take the time to know you and your case. We start working for you NOW. We communicate with you, respond to your calls, are available to you. We focus on how to win your case. If you have a problem getting your life insurance claim paid, rescission, beneficiary disputes, or your policy has been cancelled or has other issues on it, you need to contact Life Insurance Lawyer NOW.com or life insurance justice.com. Use the form on our site, or email us, or call (888) 997-4070 or (818) 937-0937 to speak directly to an experienced life insurance lawyer. We are the best life insurance lawyers around, and we are real lawyers, not a lawyer referral service or “middleman”, and we are nice to work with, too; we are here for you NOW.

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Denied Life Insurance Claim Due to Lapse in California 2025

Many times, the first defense a life insurance company uses to deny a claim seems simple: the life insurance company just says that the policy premium bill was not paid on time. The life insurance companies often say if the payment is not on time, the policy won’t cover the death. This is a legally incorrect statement in California, especially with a recent ruling of the California Supreme Court about what it takes for a company to cancel a life insurance policy.

Life insurance companies routinely deny claims due to non-payment of premiums. While some of these denials may pass the legal requirements, we see many of them that are violations of California law. People know that a policy requires payment. But few people know the actual legal requirements that a life insurance company must follow to lapse a life insurance policy–so it doesn’t pay for the death of a California insured.

The laws and regulations stating what an insurance company has to do when a payment is not received, so it can lawfully deny a life insurance claim on the policy, vary from state to state. California has a special law, passed in 2013, that applies to all current life insurance policies, even if you bought the life insurance policy long before 2013. This is a huge development that makes the denials of life insurance claims, by many life insurance companies, illegal in California. That means that we can, as your life insurance lawyers, make the life insurance company pay your claim–even if they have previously denied your claim, saying that the policy was cancelled or lapsed because of a lack of payment.

State laws are different in what a life insurance company has to do to legally lapse and not pay a policy. We have made life insurance companies pay on policies even when they already said no. Because non-payment on a life insurance policy is just the first requirement for a life insurance company to deny a claim for lack of policy premium payment. The next two steps are for the life insurance company to do–and we see them fail to do it as legally required, over and over.

Part of the reason for this is that California has particular two steps required of the life insurance company. The life insurance companies fought these two additional requirements for years. But the big development in California is that the companies lost this fight. The life insurance companies are required to do these two additional steps. We make sure that they do, and this usually results in the payment of the life insurance policy.

These two steps require the life insurance company to give the right notice, in clear legally described language, to the right people, at the right time. Only after doing all this right, can the life insurance company then do the second step, which is the notice that the policy is not going to pay. These are the responsibilities of the life insurance company to do, at the right times.

Part of our work, as your life insurance lawyers, is to focus on every step that the life insurance company is required to do. The life insurance company has to send the rights notice at the right time. The notice has to go to the correct address. Sometimes there is even another person who much receive additional notice on the policy. That notice must state the correct amount that is due and when it was due. The life insurance company must give enough notice for the additional grace period for receiving the overdue payment. During all this time, even if the correct first notice has been given, the policy is still in force. We see many life insurance companies fail to follow the California laws, and instead work under the laws of other states–which can be very different.

We have seen life insurance companies fail to account correctly for the payments to date. Sometimes the life insurance companies add additional bogus charges and fees, that are simply not a part of the life insurance contract. Those charges and fees can deplete the amount of premium dollars available for the policy payment. We have seen those charges cause the policy to appear to be in “non-payment” or “underpayment” phases. The life insurance, when dealing with a California insured, has to calculate the lapse warning days correctly, and update the policy to the correct number of days, even if the life insurance policy states a shorter time. California state law is supreme over the actual words of the life insurance policy, if there is a shorter time stated in the policy. The lapse notice cannot be confusing or unclear, or in type that is too small. Even if the policyholder or the insured has passed away, if you are the beneficiary, we can enforce these requirements for you, against the life insurance company.

One of the special California requirements is that the life insurance company must send notice of the lapse before it occurs. California requires notice to the insured or policyholder, not just a letter after a lapse has happened. The requirement of notice, and the timing required, is a special requirement that life insurance companies operating from headquarters outside of California may easily miss. We won’t miss the requirement.

Another requirement of notice is that in California, the life insurance company must give notice that an additional notice may be requested to be provided to a person, in addition to the insured or policyholder. If there is a notice requirement to another person or company, that notice must also be given, in just the right way, for the life insurance company to fulfill its legal obligation to give the right notice. This is very important, because we see many cases where the life insurance policyholder or insured becomes ill, either at home or then is admitted to the hospital, and is unable to take care of their ordinary business–like paying their life insurance bill. If there is not a deposit to the account that pays the life insurance, or pre-paid billing already in place, a life insurance policy may cancel or lapse just because the person has become ill. (We have other ways of reviewing the life insurance policy about what is supposed to happen when there is a hospitalization or serious illness that causes a premium to go unpaid–don’t give up!). The notice to a second person is an important requirement that can be missed by a life insurance company that is rushing to lapse a policy.

If a insurance company violates the California law and regulations about life insurance policy lapse in California, the company must pay the claim, even if they have previously denied your claim due to lapse or non-payment of the policy. If a life insurance claim is denied due to lapse in California, it is important to have a consultation with a life insurance attorney experienced in this area of law. We are the most experienced, California life insurance attorneys, who have actually (previously) helped to write the policies. We have handled and won life insurance lapse cases in California and will aggressively fight for you to be paid, even if the life insurance company has already denied your claim saying the policy was unpaid and lapsed.

As Your Life Insurance Attorneys Now, This is How We Work

We work now on your claim, and many times can get claims paid quickly, in a matter of months, or sooner, depending on the facts and how wrong the life insurance company is about your claim. We help you get all the information you have to us, without a burden on you. We start with the life insurance company now, getting them to provide the required information to us. We work like super accountants, to review how and when the life insurance company received every penny on the account, and when the life insurance did with the money. We check every notice the life insurance company sent, and show what they failed to do correctly. We don’t let the claims adjusters double-talk and happy-talk us; we get to the life insurance company lawyers and senior managers. We show them what the life insurance company did wrong, and how they need to pay, now.

 

Some Life Insurance Company that We Know Have Lapse Problems in California

We beat life insurance companies so much that they usually require us to sign confidentiality agreements. We can’t name names and amounts of companies. These life insurance companies don’t want to admit in public that we have made them pay lots of life insurance policies–after the life insurance company has sent a lapse letter stating that they denied the claim. But we can say that these companies generally, and other, too–have lapse problems in California (and some other states) and that we can really push your claim to payment if these lapse problems happened to you.

We have successfully recovered denied life insurance claims due to lapse and non-apyment in California from these and many additional life insurance companies:

  • AARP Life Insurance / New York Life
  • North American Company for Life and Health Insurance
  • Genworth Life Insurance Company
  • Protective Life Insurance Company
  • Minnesota Life Insurance Company
  • Monumental Life Insurance Company
  • MetLife Insurance Company
  • Transamerica Life Insurance Company, Transamerica Premier Life Insurance Company
  • Voya Life Insurance Company

If a California life insurance company denied your claim due to a policy lapse, call our experienced California life insurance attorneys today for a free consultation.

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Can You Dispute a Life Insurance Beneficiary?

Yes, if you have reasonable grounds to believe that the person the life insurance company shows as the beneficiary is not the person intended by the insured. The first question is what do the records of the life insurance company show? Who is the named beneficiary? When were they named? Was the insured person capable of knowing what they were doing? Did someone force the insured person to make a change that was not really the insured’s person intent? There are other questions and considerations, too. We have seen it all.

What you need to do if someone is disputing that you are the beneficiary. You should be sure to make your claim for the benefits. You should follow up on your claim, and insist that it be paid. If the life insurance company has received another claim, from another person, it may file an interpleader complaint. An interpleader complaint is the process the life insurance company uses to have a judge decide who is the lawful beneficiary. An interpleader is a legal process–actually a lawsuit brought by the insurance company–so the judge hears all the evidence and decides for the insurance company. But as a lawsuit, you need a sharp life insurance lawyer to get all the evidence that is needed, and get it admitted into evidence, so you get the right decision.

If you are not listed with the life insurance company as the beneficiary, the company might not even talk to you about it. If you meet the wall of confidentiality and privacy, you really need an experienced life insurance attorney to help you, now. Even if a beneficiary designation has been lost or rejected by the company, if the company’s computer system doesn’t list you, they might not talk to you at all. Even if you are the son or daughter of the insured person. Just getting the facts and real answers from the life insurance company can take a lawyer.

If you are going to dispute a beneficiary, carefully consider the evidence that may be available to support your dispute. Who has that evidence? Who is a strong witness? What would the doctors say? There are many different possible sources of evidence, depending on what you believe was the wrong that was done. It takes a very aggressive life insurance attorney to be able to gather the necessary evidence, and to bring it to Court, in a way that will win.

Disputing a life insurance beneficiary is possible but you need the right facts. Sometimes, these facts can come from a doctor who reviews medical records. Just getting the right medical records can take a lawyer’s work. Sometimes, you need to get other people, witnesses, to talk to an investigator and make a statement. Sometimes, we work with handwriting and computer experts to see if certain documents are even properly signed by the person. There can be other parts of our investigation, too. Because we worked for life insurance companies, and know just how they manage claims, we are the best choice for you. We will know what to do to help your claim, and we will take action, now.

 

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Can You Sue a Life Insurance Company?

Yes, but you need a very aggressive life insurance lawyer to do it. Life insurance companies have been in business a long time and have lots of lawyers working for them. They are huge companies. They have lots of experience in not paying claims. If a life insurance company has denied your claim, or delayed your claim, get us on your side. If the life insurance company is investigating but has not paid, you may need us to sue the company, to get them to pay. If the life insurance company says the life insurance policy was cancelled, so there are no benefits due, we may be able to help. Sometimes it takes a lawsuit and a lawyer that the life insurance company knows from other cases, to get that claim paid.

Remember, the life insurance company does not want to pay your claim. These claims are very expensive, compared the cost of the life insurance policy. The life insurance company expects only a few of the policies to really ever have claims made. Only a part of those claims does it expect to ever pay. The life insurance company will do more to not pay a claim than it ever did to sell a policy. Our clients are often surprised by the intense questioning that the claims adjuster or investigator will put them through. None of our clients expect the many questions and requests for all sorts of documents that are required in a claim. If the life insurance company really sees a chance to not pay a claim, their focus on not paying that claim goes way up.

Because life insurance claims are relatively rare, few regular people have much experience with them. Look at what you have suddenly found yourself involved in–a disputed life insurance claim. You are not at your best–you have lost a loved one. Whether sudden or the result of a long illness, the loss of a loved one is difficult. You cannot overestimate the experience of the life insurance company in investigating and denying life insurance claims. When you hear that a life insurance company has been in business for 150 years, remember, they have been denying claims for 149 years. Life insurance companies are staffed by long term employees who are trained in how to find a reason to not pay.

Life insurance companies keep detailed files on all the ways they are investigating the claim, and you, to see if the payment is required. They have lots of questions for you. They have many needs for all sorts of different documents. They have investigators on staff. They have medical doctors working for them, to review records. But the biggest fear they have: they don’t want you to sue them using an experienced life insurance attorney, like us, who knows how to understand what they are really doing. The life insurance company is very good at making their own self interests look like they are doing a fair job. Most attorneys won’t know how to show the real motive of the life insurance company–to not pay your claim. Because we have worked so much for insurance companies in the past, and know how they think and what they look for, we can see if they were really doing their job, or if they need to be sued, because they are really just trying to not pay, and to blame it somehow on you–or your passed away loved one.

You can sue a life insurance company. But you need a sharp life insurance lawyer like us to work it for you. Life insurance company’s build their files to support their actions. Even if the life insurance company has delayed your claim, investigated things that just don’t matter, or denied the claim. The company has lots of documents showing how what they did seemed reasonable, and even required under the contract. Your lawyer needs to be experienced reading these files and knowing what is really going on at the life insurance company. There are lots of costs in a life insurance case. You need a successful lawyer to be able to support those costs, to get your case to where you can win. The last thing you need is an inexperienced lawyer, or someone who doesn’t have many years of experience with life insurance companies. This is why you need a strong and aggressive life insurance lawyer like us to handle your claim.

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Can a Life Insurance Company Refuse to Pay a Claim?

Life insurance companies need specific evidence that supports a legal justification to not pay a claim. Even if a life insurance company is suspicious of a claim, it must pay. Even if the life insurance company lacks some of the information that the company has asked for, it must pay. A hunch or mistrust is not enough of a reason to justify not paying a claim. If a life insurance refuses to pay a claim, a life insurance lawyer can sometimes force the insurance company to make a different decision, to pay.

If a claim takes too long, to our clients that is the same as a claim denied. A claim delayed is a claim denied, we always say. If the life insurance company just doesn’t want to pay the claim–but knows it doesn’t really have enough evidence to deny the claim–the investigation may just drag on and on. Usually, the life insurance company will keep asking for information, and at some point, most people will either need to do too much work to get the information. Or maybe they just don’t know how to get the information requested, and they think without it, the claim is done. The life insurance company will say, “oh, they never provided the information requested, so we did not pay” even though what really happened is that the person got worn out. We are here to help, because we will help get the necessary information. We won’t let your claim be delayed as way of never paying the claim.

Another way life insurance companies refuse to pay a claim is to investigate for too long. The life insurance company will say that they are “seeking medical records” and just never seem to get those records. So they don’t complete the claim, and they don’t pay. Or the life insurance company asks for other information, like the names of witnesses, or documents that you just don’t have. The response to the request for information is not received, and the life insurance company doesn’t pay. Just like a denial, but without a denial.

A life insurance policy is a special kind of contract–where the life insurance company is really trusted to do its part of the bargain. Especially because a life insurance policy pays after the person has passed away, law supports the payment of a life insurance claim. There is even a public interest in claims being paid. If a life insurance company chooses to deny a claim, it needs a strong explanation of why. That explanation needs to justify the life insurance company breaching the contract.

Sometimes, the life insurance company tries to refund the premiums, and pretend the policy was never even purchased. That is called rescission, or to rescind, the life insurance policy. Rescission requires strong evidence of a misrepresentation by the insured, on the application. People are surprised when they get a check from the life insurance company for much less than the benefits.

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Principal Financial Life Insurance Company Claim Denied ?

Principal Financial Life Insurance Company is the life insurance part of the Principal Financial Group. Principal is a big company that handles it life insurance claims out of Des Moines, Iowa. Principal sells big life insurance policies both through employers, creating ERISA issues, and through agents, which are individual policies.

Principal Life will investigate the big four life insurance claim questions. Was the policy paid for? Was the beneficiary clearly stated? Was the death within two years of the policy starting? Were drugs or alcohol involved? There are some differences between life insurance claims on policies through work and those people buy directly from the company. We know the differences and will be sure the Principal doesn’t get into areas that are not fair for investigation.

We have seen Principal obtain lots of past medical records, when investigating a life insurance claim. Principal, like other life insurance companies, gets lots of medical records. The insurance company is looking for some medical test or doctor note that shows a condition that the person did not talk about in the application. A life insurance policy application has many questions about medical history. If the life insurance company can find something that they think is not the same as on the application–they call it a misrepresentation–and use that to rescind the policy. What is policy rescission–it is like the policy never happened. If you get a medical records authorization as part of a life insurance investigation, this indicates there may be possibility the policy will be voided.

Principal, like the other large insurance companies selling to many people in California, will check to see that the policy premiums have been paid. While that sounds simple, sometimes it is not. If your loved one paid for the insurance through their work, but got sick or left the employer, there is a certain amount of time the policy may continue. There is right to convert the policy to an individual policy. An individual policy, where your insured bought the insurance through an agent, will have clearer requirements for payment and cancellation. Cancellation of a life insurance policy for non-payment, especially in California, requires very specific notice and timing. If your insured one passed close to the time of the cancellation, you should have us review that timing. There are times that the life insurance company gets it wrong, or has not done what it must do, and we have gotten life insurance claims paid even when the life insurance company says it was too late.

Principal will really look for exclusions in the life insurance policy contract, especially if there was an accident involving alcohol or drugs. If your insured has life insurance policy language about the involvement of alcohol, it is very important to have a qualified life insurance lawyer look at the policy and the facts. We have had claims where the insurance company denied the policy on the basis of an illegal “drug” use but the testing was not specific enough. Because of the type of testing done, we proved that the result could have been from an ordinary medication. Our client was paid the policy benefits. There are many other specifics about testing for alcohol and drugs that may change what a life insurance does with their first reaction–to not pay the claim.

Principal is a publicly traded stock company which may create financial pressures for it. Even though Principal has more than $800 billion assets, and about $15 billion in revenues, they can investigate life insurance claims closely. Even the largest of life insurance companies, like Principal Life, will investigate these big four life insurance claim questions hard. If you have a claim with Principal, and it is not simply paid quickly, you should contact us to have a free consultation and review about all the particulars of your claim.

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Ameritas Life Insurance Corp Claim Denied ?

Ameritas Life Insurance Corp

Ameritas Life Insurance Company, actually Corp., is based in Lincoln Nebraska and was formed in 1887.   Ameritas is a life insurance company that sells a lot of policies, throughout California and the US.  While Ameritas sells more than life insurance policies, we focus on getting life insurance claims paid with Ameritas.  Ameritas has an aggressive investigation department that supports their claims adjustors, who are less detailed about their reviews of claims.  Ameritas also seems to have a “deny them all” attitude about claims, especially if the claim is in the first two year of the life insurance policy.  They are, we think, stubborn.  This company really takes you having a lawyer to get them to pay a claim in the first two years, and sometimes even beyond that.  The question of whether Ameritas will pay your claim has a lot to do with how the facts are presented.  Having us as your life insurance lawyer will help you get paid, faster.

Ameritas Life Insurance Company uses agents for selling policies, even though many of the agents are remote or virtual.  Ameritas still has the agent between the insured and the company.  Ameritas Life Insurance includes other, merged in life insurance companies, including Acacia Life Insurance Company, and The Union Central Life Insurance Company, and Unifi Mutual Holding Company.  Ameritas has very strong financial ratings and is a very large size.  This is a life insurance company that can certainly afford to pay your life insurance claim–if you can persuade the company to pay.  Making a life insurance company is something that we can really do.

All Ameritas policies require medical examinations.  While this may be a bit of a hassle when you are buying the policy, this is something that helps us get your policy paid.  Not only does the insurance company have a detailed medical questionnaire as part of the insurance application, but there is an actual person who comes out to the insured person, to do a basic exam, too.  Typically, the main questions on the medical examination are also repeated.  This is very important, to us, because it helps show that the insurance company had all the information that they needed to know if they wanted to sell the life insurance policy in the first place.  As your lawyers, we believe very strongly that after a life insurance policy has had the unfortunate death of the insured person, the policy needs to be paid.  The life insurance company should not be allowed to do an excessive investigation after the insured person has passed away.

Ameritas does sell a full line of life insurance policies, including value plus term, indexed universal life, universal life, variable universal life, and whole life.  People can easily become confused with these many different contracts.  This is something that we can really help on, too, because we are experienced at reading life insurance policies and contracts, and can make sense of them, for your benefit.

If you have a life insurance claim with Ameritas, we recommend keeping careful notes of what each claims handler says to you.  Ameritas will ask for a medical records authorization.  Be sure you know if you have the legal authority to sign such an authorization.  Ameritas may not like complying with all of the California insurance standards on communication and processing the claim.  If you have the sense that Ameritas is taking too long, or stretching the truth to try to avoid paying a claim, you should listen to that sense, and get a qualified California life insurance lawyer on your side, now.

We have done this a lot.  We take the time to know you and your case.  We start working for you NOW.  We communicate with you, respond to your calls, are available to you.  We focus on how to win your case.  If you have a problem getting your life insurance claim paid, rescission, beneficiary disputes, or your policy has been cancelled or has other issues on it, you need to contact Life Insurance Lawyer NOW.com or life insurance justice.com.  We work with most clients virtually, so you never even have to come into an office.  Use the form on our site, or email us, or call (888) 997-4070 or (818) 937-0937 to speak directly to an experienced life insurance lawyer.   We are the best life insurance lawyers around, and we are real lawyers, we treat you with the highest respect and care, and we are here for you NOW.

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Life Insurance Keeps Going Up

Life Insurance Keeps Going Up Were you sold a life insurance policy and now, years later, the premium costs are jumping higher? Did the sales agent show you how the policy costs would stay level, or even be covered by the value of the policy, to only suddenly now be surprised at premiums that are much higher than expected? Is the life insurance company adding unexplained costs and fees to your premiums, making the cost of life insurance go up? The life insurance company may be violating the law, the contract, and other regulations. You need a life insurance lawyer to review the situation–at no cost to you–to learn if the law can save you those additional premium costs.

When there are big changes in the costs of insurance, you need a life insurance fraud lawyer to review those changes. Many times, courts have determined that life insurance companies have overcharged people. Too often, the overcharging on the costs of insurance has been too much for people to pay. So they lose the policy, after all they have already paid, closer to the time that they may need the policy. This is a terrible situation for you and your family. We can help.

We have the knowledge and expertise to examine exactly why your life insurance premiums have suddenly gotten so high. Those high premiums are set by the insurance company, on a yearly basis. Too many times, the premium costs are not really related to how often the insurance company expects to pay benefits. There are other parts of “costs” that the big life insurance companies are pushing into the costs calculations. When they put those costs onto the bills, for their own benefit, too many people are unable to pay the new cost of insurance. The surprising truth is that sometimes the life insurance company is breaching the life insurance contract, in a complicated and financial way, but the result is a loss of benefits for your family.

For example, many universal life policies had guaranteed interest rates of 4% written into the contract. But the reality of the last decade has made it harder for the life insurance company investments to make that. The life insurance company is a big financial company and never wants to show that they are making less money than before. So the life insurance company decides to increase premiums, in a surprise to you, to make sure the company makes more and more money. That isn’t right, and it is a violation of law.

Some life insurance companies have just increased their billing of “costs” to make up for losses that were a risk the company took on itself, for selling the policy. Sometimes the company just inflates the costs, in an effort to bill you more. The insurance company knows that you will do everything possible to pay your life insurance premiums currently because having the protection for your family is important.

Sometimes, the life insurance company is charging too much, because of a complicated formula that it misuses, where part of the calculation is on “mortality charges” which is an insurance term about the expected numbers of insured people who will pass away during each year. Because many times the mortality expectations and the mortality realities are different, if an insurance company keeps increasing premiums but really should be decreasing them, this is something that is a breach of the insurance contract. This is difficult to realize without the use of the right life insurance lawyer.

Sometimes, the life insurance company be forced to pay money to policyholders, reinstate coverage, or pay penalties, or a combination of all three. Sometimes the solutions is to have a lawsuit obtain a no-lapse Endorsement, where the life insurance company promises to provide guaranteed coverage ensuring that the Policy woul dremain in effect even if the Policy’s accumulation value was insufficient to cover the required monthly deductions withdrawn from the accumulation account.

Another bad motivation of a life insurance company, but one they will not admit, is that they want to see policies cancelled for non-payment. After paying for years, the life insurance company gets to keep all that money, without the continued risk that they will actually have to pay out the death benefits to your family. The risk only increases each year, so the life insurance company has a mixed motive to try to get the policy to end before you do.

Were you sold a Universal Life Insurance Policy or a policy where costs cause higher premiums?

We are currently investigating the practices of the following companies:

Transamerica Life Insurance Company
Transamerica Premier Life Insurance Company
MetLife
Equitable
Prudential Life Insurance Company
Pruco Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co.
Principal Financial Group
Lincoln National Corp.
Western & Southern Financial Group
American International Group AIG
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.
State Farm Life Insurance Company ‘
Jackson National Life Insurance Company
John Hancock Life Insurance Co.
Pacific Life Life Insurance Company
Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America
Securian Life Insurance Company
Hartford Life & Accident Ins. Co.
Standard Life & Casualty Ins. Co.
Nationwide Mutual Group
Sun Life Financial

If you own a universal life policy issued by these companies, or a policy where costs are part of the life insurance premiums, you may have a fraud claim. We can investigate your situation–at no up front cost or fee to you–and determine if this is something we can help get fixed.

How to know if you have a universal life insurance policy or wrongful costs charged policy?

If you were sold a life insurance policy in the past years, where you were told the premium would be handled by the investment growth, or that the costs of insurance would not go up, you may have a case. If there were marketing materials that showed how the cost of the policy would go down or be paid by the earlier premiums paid into the policy, and invested, that may be universal life. If you were told that the investment part of the life insurance policy would always be guaranteed to make 4% or a similar number, those are flags for a universal policy that we can help on. These are not usually term life policies, where the policy premium is scheduled and expected to go up after a level term, that is stated in the policy, usually of 10 or 20 years.

Universal life insurance policies will cost more than simple term life but are sold with a lifetime or longer coverage. Coverage that is always there is a typical selling point. To be complicated, the owner of a universal life policy gets coverage that does not expire, a certain amount of “death benefit” and a “cash value” account that is supposed to earn money to help pay the policy. The “cash value” is usually sold as earning money untaxed so there is an added benefit. The cash value account is used, if the plan works out, to pay the policy premiums in the later years. But the risk is that the cash value does not grow fast enough, or the life insurance company adds in excessive costs (increasing the premiums). As ever, if the premiums are not paid by the right time, then the policy can lapse, then be cancelled, losing all coverage and value

Consumer Federation of America Asks for State Insurance Commissioner Investigation

The Consumer Federation of America recently sent a letter to the insurance commissioners in each state asking them to investigate these practices.

A spokesman for Transamerica wrote in an email to the Baltimore Sun that insurance companies have been grappling with how to deal with the historically low insurance rates in recent years. According to Alfred W. Redmer Jr., the insurance commissioner of Maryland, “[t]he cost of insurance is supposed to be based on the current mortality tables, which have nothing to do with the interest rates.”

If you have a universal life policy, or a policy where you have learned of a surprise in increases in premiums and or other cost charges; or who seen big increases changes in the projected future costs or values, you owe it to yourself to talk with us. Keeping your life insurance in force, there to protect your family, at a fair cost, is too valuable to lose.

We know life insurance. We take the time to know you and your case. We start working for you NOW. We communicate with you, respond to your calls, are available to you. We focus on how to win your case. If you have a problem getting your life insurance claim paid, rescission, beneficiary disputes, or your policy has been cancelled or has other issues on it, you need to contact Life Insurance Lawyer NOW.com or life insurance justice.com. Use the form on our site, or email us, or call (888) 997-4070 or (818) 937-0937 to speak directly to an experienced life insurance lawyer. We are the best life insurance lawyers around, and we are real lawyers, not a lawyer referral service or “middleman”, and we are nice to work with, too; we are here for you NOW.