Have You Been Wrongfully Denied an Insurance Benefit?
On February 1, 2018 our family unexpectedly lost our 25 year old brother Christopher. It’s hard enough to lose a loved one. But what do you do when the life insurance company who insured your loved one won’t pay a death benefit?
Most insurance companies are reputable and honest. But when an insurance company does wrongfully deny a claim most families are often not equiped to challenge a claim denial. What’s worst is that, waiting to long and directly communicating with the insuance company can sometimes do irreparable harm to your case.
WHEN A DEATH CLAIM IS DENIED OR DELAYED, TRY TO FIND OUT WHY BUT DON’T LET THE INSURANCE COMPANY GIVE YOU THE RUNAROUND.”
- The policy owner failed to pay premiums on time, causing the policy to lapse.
- The policy owner lied or otherwise made a “material misrepresentation” on their application. “
- The insured’s death was not within the scope of coverage.
- The insured’s family or heirs fails to provide the necessary documentation.
Steps to Take When You Think You Are Wrongfully Denied and being given the runaround.
- Gather and preserve your policy and all communications with the Insurance company.
- Contact Maryland Insurance Administration.
- Review your policy and communications with a bad faith insurance attorney.
Often cases come down to deaths that occur during the 2-year “contestability window” when insurance companies can contest a claim based on misrepresentations or omissions by the insured, or a failure of the insured and/or the heirs to understand the nature and complexities of the application and coverage.
This is caused by verly complex applications for life insurance and overly detailed policies with exclusions that are calculated to benefit the insurance company that are often overlooked by most consumers. Some consumers who are convinced that they have life insurance that would pay off the house, when what they had was an accidental death policy instead.
Bottom line: If the insurer stalls, contact the state. And be prepared to call a lawyer.
The insurance companies know the law and have built elaborate systems to make consumers think they are in compliance when sometimes they are not. To equal this playing field you must consult an attorney to find out what rights and options you have. DO NOT CASH ANY CHECKS OR SIGN ANYTHING!
The case against my brother’s insurance company was resolved with one demand letter along with the right records, the right arguments, and the right case law.
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