How Is A Life Insurance Claim Filed

If you have to file a life insurance claim, this may seem like a confusing or intimidating process, but this does not have to be the case. There are some tips and factors that can help you understand the claims process and make it much simpler and easier for you. If there has been a death, you are grieving and may just want to be left alone, but you still need to file the life insurance claim as soon as possible. There are a number of expenses that must be met, including the burial expenses, and the household bills and obligations do not stop just because a death has occurred. The first step you need to take is to find the life insurance policy, and there may be more than one. Having the actual policy can help you fill out the claims paperwork. Once you have found and gone over the policy it is time to start the claim process. If you can not locate the policy for any reason it may be a good idea to contact the life insurance agent or broker who sold the policy if possible.

A life insurance claim starts with either a phone call or letter. You will contact the life insurance company that issued the policy, and tell them that you need to file a claim for the policy. The company may ask some basic questions, and then send you out a claim form that needs to be completed. It is important to answer all the questions honestly, and as completely as possible. If a question is left blank or is not completed fully then you may experience delays while the company verifies missing information. The life insurance claim form is not complicated, but it can seem intimidating because of all the questions being asked. There is usually a section on the claim form for the policy number, and this will be located on the policy itself. If you do not have the policy and as a result you do not know the number the life insurance agent or the issuing company can give you this information.

After you have filled out the life insurance claim form, it must be returned with a certified copy of the death certificate. One certificate is required for each claim being filed. If there is more than one life insurance policy in effect then you will need a certified death certificate for each claim being made. Filing a life insurance claim is not difficult if you have the policy, or know which life insurance company issued the policy. But what if you do not have any of this information? There is a step you can take to determine whether a policy is in effect or not. You can contact the Missing Policy Service with the information about the deceased, and include a self addressed stamped envelope. There is a fee involved for the administration costs, because the information is sent to around one hundred of the biggest insurers in the country to try and find the policy that is lost. Your inquiry should be sent to Missing Policy Service: American Council of Life Insurance, 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004-2599.