Life Insurance Claim? Three Things You Need to Know.

GUIDE FOR LIFE INSURANCE CLAIMS©
By: Mark Wolfe, Attorney at Law
Boteler Richardson Wolfe – Injury Lawyers*
mark@brwlawyers.com

*The firm handles denied life insurance claims in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida

 

denied life insurance

While most of us hope that a life insurance claim arising from the death of a loved one will be a simple and hassle free process, the fact is some life insurance claims are initially denied. These denials can be for many reasons. Some times the reasons for such a denial are legitimate, but many times they are wrong. In fact many insurance industry experts say that up to 40% of life insurance claim denials are done so wrongly. This guide will help you with some basic information about life insurance claims and locating policies. Then it reviews common reasons why life insurance claims are initially denied and concludes with important information for claimants if the claim is denied. Note from the author: If you are reviewing this publication or link during a time of loss, please accept my condolences and sympathy for your loss. I pray that you find comfort and understanding for your loss and that the passage of time will replace the sorrow of your loss with the joy and blessing of the memories of your time shared together. – Mark 

 

I. THE FIRST STEP

Notify the Company of the Claim. While this is a very basic step it can be a little difficult if the policy is older. Mergers and acquisitions of life insurance companies can make locating the correct successor or remainder company a little difficult. However, internet searches can usually help you quickly identify the correct company name and location for claim notification. Also, many life insurance agents or attorneys who handle life insurance claims have this information available or access to the correct resources to help identify where and how the claim should be submitted.

What You Need to Do. Once you’ve contacted the company you must complete the claim form. Many of these claim forms can now be downloaded from the company’s web site. At the very least you will have to submit a copy of the death certificate and the company may require additional records related to the claim. Always reference the claim number or policy number (or both) on all documents or material submitted. Until the claim is paid in full: Keep copies of all correspondence and documents sent to the life insurance company. Keep all letters and material sent from the life insurance company. If a claim is denied, make sure you understand and comply with the requirements for an appeal. (IMPORTANT: Please make sure to read more about appealing a denial below.)

II. LOCATING OTHER LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES

Locating Additional Policies. It’s a fact, many life insurance benefits go unclaimed because beneficiaries do not realize a policy exists. Below are some tips for locating additional life insurance policies.

1. Review the deceased’s check book or bank statements looking for premium payments.

2. Review the deceased’s tax returns for the last several years to see if interest or cash dividends from a life insurance policy were listed. There should be a corresponding 1099-INT from the life insurance company. These payments will be reported directly on form 1040, 1040A and 1040EZ or on Schedule B if an itemized tax return was filed,

3. Contact the decedent’s employer and/or former employers to see if any type of life insurance was offered through the company’s group benefit programs and if the decedent purchased a life insurance policy or was provided a life insurance policy through employment,

4. Review all disability policies for the decedent to see if death benefits are also provided,

5. Review any known life insurance policy to see if additional benefits such as double indemnity for accidental death may apply,

6. Check with the decedent’s auto insurance company or homeowner insurance company. Many of these companies will also offer life insurance policies for their customers,

7. Check with the decedent’s bank or financial institutions to see if life insurance benefits or policies were offered in connection with a checking or savings account or in connection with a brokerage account.

III. DENIAL OF LIFE BENEFITS AND APPEALS

Many times if a basic life insurance claim is denied, it is done so based upon a process known as “retroactive underwriting.” This usually occurs if the insured dies while the policy is the “contestability” period (usually 2 years from date of issue). This is a claim investigation technique that allows the insurance company to more fully and completely examine the deceased’s prior medical history. These prior medical records are reviewed thoroughly to see if the deceased left out or failed to disclose a pre-existing medical condition when completing the life insurance application. This “failure to disclose” is then used as grounds to deny the life insurance benefits. However, most claimants are not aware that such a denial must have materially affected the underwriting risk associated with issuing the policy. Simply put, the company must be able to legitimately argue that “but for” the undisclosed prior medical condition, the policy would not have been issued or the rates for the policy would have been significantly different. The issue of “material risk” is a complex issue that is often legally debatable.

Accidental death or double indemnity benefits. Some companies issue stand alone accidental death life insurance policies or some standard life insurance policies have a “double indemnity clause” which pays twice the face value of the policy if the death is caused by an accident. Yet the policy language concerning the term “accidental death” is often drafted so vaguely that it gives the company lots of “wiggle” room to initially deny accidental death benefits. Terms like “sole and only proximate cause of death” often involve complex medical and legal analysis but give the company a very legalistic sounding reason not to pay.

BEFORE YOU FILE AN APPEAL OF A DENIAL OF LIFE INSURANCE BENEFITS. If you have questions about the denial of any life insurance benefits, make sure you fully understand your rights and obligations under the policy. Most life insurance policies allow claimants to file an appeal of the decision to deny benefits. Yet many times claimants are unaware of the potential consequences of simply “appealing” the denial without knowing the exact appeal protocol set forth in the policy. Generally, once a company has denied the life insurance claim, the claimant has the burden of identifying specific reasons for the appeal and providing supporting documents or records to support the appeal. If the life insurance policy in question has been provided through the decedent’s employment or through a group plan, the failure to comply with the appeal requirements can be extremely detrimental. In one recent example a Federal Court determined that the claimant’s failure to submit any “new evidence” during the appeal process provided for in the plan, precluded the claimant from presenting that new evidence at trial. [See Hancock v. MetLife, 590 F.3d 1141 (10th Circuit 2009).]

NOTE: If the claim is denied consider consulting immediately with an experienced life insurance claims attorney in your State. Note: Most attorneys who handle life insurance claims for beneficiaries do not charge for a consultation and work on a contingency fee (no benefits = no fees). Also, many times an experienced attorney can help resolve a denied claim before having to resort to filing a lawsuit.

IV. CONCLUSION

While life insurance claims should be simple and easy, they can often times become arduous and legally complex. The simple fact is insurance companies do not like to pay claims and have tremendous resources to fight claims. With many claimants of life insurance benefits in a state of grief and mourning, the insurance company knows it has the upper hand and this often results in the wrongful denial of life insurance benefits. If you believe your claim for life insurance benefits has been wrongfully denied, please consider consulting with an experienced attorney who knows and understands this area of the law.  Boteler Richardson Wolfe consultations are free: call 251 410-7761 to speak directly with Mark Wolfe or send him an email: mark@brwlawyers.com (include “Life Insurance” in the subject line.)  * Prosecuting denied life insurance claims in Alabama, Mississippi & Florida

 

REQUIRED DISCLAIMERS: Alabama Rule of Professional Conduct 7.2: No representation is made that the quality of legal service to be performed is greater than the services provided by other lawyers. The Mississippi Supreme Court advises that a decision on legal services is important and should not be based solely on advertisements. Free background information is available upon request to a Mississippi attorney. The listing of any area of practice by a Mississippi attorney does not indicate any certification of expertise therein. See Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.2(d), Rule 7.4(a), Rule 7.6(a) (1997). Statement in compliance with Florida Bar Advertising Rules: “The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. [Florida Rule 4-7.2(d)]. General Disclaimer: This information is posted for general information purposes to help those interested parties or persons with potential civil claims better understand their rights and potential causes of action. If readers are currently represented by an attorney on the subject matter of this post then they are encouraged to continue with said representation. No attorney-client relationship is established by this post.

 

The insurance adjuster wants to take a recorded statement from me. What do I need to know?

5 Things you Need to Know BEFORE Giving a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Company.

by Mark Wolfe

NUMBER ONE: Set up the recorded statement for a time and date that is convenient for your schedule and get a transcript or copy of your statement. As you will see below you will need to do some basic preparation before your give your recorded statement so make sure you schedule the statement in advance so you can prepare. Also, make sure you have enough time for the statement so you are not rushed or hurried. Most recorded statements do no last more than fifteen to thirty minutes, but you may want to allow up to an hour just in case it runs longer. Ask if you will be given a chance to review the statement or at least be given a transcript or copy of the statement. [Most legitimate insurance companies will provide a copy but you must ask for it.] If the adjuster wants to know why you want a copy you can explain it is simply to make sure the transcript is accurate and that you would like to have a chance to correct any misstatements, inaccurate responses or mistakes you may have made. If the company agrees to give you a transcript or copy, verify this in a written communication. Some companies such as Omni Insurance Company now require the claimant to pay $15.00 for a transcript of the recorded statement. Even if you have to pay for the copy or transcript, it’s worth it to make sure it is correct.

NUMBER TWO: Prepare for the recorded statement: 1) Review the accident report before giving the statement. If you do not have the accident report, get a copy or ask the adjuster to furnish you with a copy before scheduling the statement. [Again, most legitimate insurance companies will mail, fax or e-mail you a copy of the accident report but just as with getting a transcript of your statement, you have to ask for it.] 2) Make sure you know your direction of travel and the name of the road you were on. You will also need to be able to identify the direction of travel for the other driver and what road he or she was on. 3) Make sure you know the time of the collision. 4) Review in your mind your route of travel and be able to tell the adjuster where you were going and the purpose of your trip. 5) Know the names of all passengers and if possible their contact information, especially if you believe they can help validate your account of how the collision occurred. 6) You will need to know the weather conditions and if safety belts and/or child restraints were being used by you and your passengers. 7) You will need to be prepared to describe the property damage to your vehicle and the other involved vehicles as well as describe the post-collision position of the vehicles. 8) You will need to have the contact information for any witnesses known to you. 9) You will probably be asked for information about your employment such as how long you have been employed, the type of work you do and your job’s physical requirements, your pay rate and the name and telephone number of your immediate supervisor. NOTE: If you are making a lost wage claim or loss of revenue claim, you can anticipate a more detailed inquiry into these areas. 10) If you were injured, even slightly, you need to be prepared to describe your injuries with specificity and in detail. Your description of your injuries should always be honest and never exaggerated but you need to make sure all injuries are mentioned. Bruises and small contusions from seat belts are often forgotten or not mentioned as are small cuts or abrasions. If you have received medical attention, or are still receiving medical care for injuries from the collision, be sure you have the healthcare providers name, address and telephone number available and be prepared to tell the adjuster about the number of visits and what you have been told about your injuries. Also, if you were injured in the collision and making a bodily injury claim for medical bills and related damages, be prepared to answer questions about your past medical history, i.e., other similar injuries, other prior accidents or incidents, etc.

NUMBER THREE: What to do when giving the statement: 1) Relax and try not to be nervous. 2) Be polite and use yes or no instead on unghn-hughn or ungh-ungh’s. The later responses can be very difficult to discern and transcribe and are easily transcribed incorrectly. Also, remember this may be your only chance to interact directly with the insurance company. For the remainder of the claim process, you are primarily just another claim number to the insurance company. You want to make a good impression. See Claimant Profiling information in Suggestion Five. 3) Answer the question. Many times people go into a long narrative in response to a simple question. Try to be concise and accurate in your response. 4) Confirm on the record that you will be getting a transcript or copy of the statement. Many companies will now send you a digital sound document of your statement by e-mail. 5) If you were injured in the collision and anticipate making a bodily injury claim, ask the adjuster on the record and at the end of the statement if he or she has a preferred healthcare provider or doctor you need to go see to verify or validate your injury. Most of the time at the end of the statement the adjuster will give you an opportunity to say or add anything to the statement and this is the perfect time to ask the adjuster about a preferred healthcare provider. WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT. Most companies do not have preferred healthcare providers for you to see and most will not ask you to see a doctor of their choice to validate the claim, but by offering to do so, you are telling the adjuster early on that your injury claim is legitimate and meritorious because you are willing to allow them to “independently verify” the truthfulness of your injury claim. Obviously in catastrophic injury situations or broken bone claims, this offer is not as important, but if you have a soft-tissue injury such an offer can help establish in the adjuster’s mind that your claim is legitimate and you are not trying to present a fraudulent or exaggerated claim.
NUMBER FOUR: What not to do when giving the recorded statement: 1) Do not exaggerate or overstate any aspect of the collision or your injuries. Be honest and candid in your account of the collision and your injuries. 2) Do not speculate. If you do not know an answer it is OK to say you do not know; however, try to give an estimate if at all possible. NOTE: Excessive use of “I don’t know” is often considered by adjusters as being deceitful or not completely honest or candid. 3) Do not give out personal information such as your date of birth and your social security number during the statement. You can confirm the last four digits of your social security number but in this day and age of identity theft it’s better not put your personal information into a statement that will be transcribed by someone you do not know. Understand the adjuster will need this information to process your claim. We are not advocating that you not provide said information, we just do not believe the recorded statement is the appropriate place to disclose said information. Often times this information can be confirmed with the adjuster after the statement is over and the recorder turned off. 4) Do not agree with any commentary or suppositions asserted by the adjuster about your actions or details of the collision. In other words, do not let the adjuster “put words in your mouth.” NOTE: Most legitimate insurance companies do not allow adjusters to do this, but some companies encourage, or do not strongly discourage, this type of gamesmanship by their adjusters. Some examples: “So you’re saying you’re really not hurt that bad and aren’t going to need medical care.” – “OK, if I understand what you’ve said, you’re not really really 100% certain the accident was our insured’s fault.” – “Based on what you’ve told me so far, wouldn’t you agree that you could have avoided this collision if you would’ve swerved just a split second sooner?” – “So based upon what you’ve told me about your work requirements, wouldn’t you agree you could probably be working even though your doctor told you to stay off work for two to three weeks.” If you find yourself confronted with this situation, you can simply tell the adjuster you are not going to agree or disagree with any of his or her characterizations. Also, if you do not believe the adjuster is being fair to you because of these type of forced questions, stop the statement. Giving a recorded statement is a courtesy and if the adjuster is going to abuse that courtesy then you have a right to stop or cancel the statement. NOTE: If you stop or cancel the recorded statement for whatever reason, send a written communication to the adjuster documenting why you felt it necessary to cancel or adjourn the statement. If you do not believe the adjuster was being fair or if he or she was rude and/or ugly, describe the adjuster’s behavior in detail.

NUMBER FIVE: A few last things to consider. 1) While the adjuster’s main job in a recorded statement is to gather information related to the claim, he or she will also be gleaning notes for your “Claimant Profile.” Most major insurance companies now use some sort of “claimant profile” in the claims process. A claimant profile can be very detailed and complex or it can be something very simple but the main idea is to bring into the claims process some sort of general assessment about the personality and background of the claimant. We live in the information age and information is power. The more information about you an insurance company can gather the more accurate their profile of you will be. This profiling can be very complex and include personality traits, such as “likelihood to consult an attorney,” “easily discouraged,” “financially distressed, “ ”very anxious and impatient for claim resolution,”etc. The company will have also reviewed your past insurance claims history and may bring that into your claimant profile: “Past bodily injury litigant.” Your driving history will also be pulled in to your claimant profile. How you handle yourself during the recorded statement may also find it’s way into your claimant profile: “Claimant was polite and well spoken during statement. High credibility assigned.” So remember to be polite and courteous during the recorded statement. 2) Try to be understanding of the adjusters job and position. While most adjusters handle themselves in a professional and civil manner please remember because of continued cut-backs by insurance companies, most adjusters are overworked, underpaid and mostly unappreciated by their company. Sometimes the stress of their job is reflected in the way they communicate with claimants. So even if the adjuster is having a bad day, try not to react in-kind. Stay calm and polite. Finally, 3) if the insurance company sends you a transcript or digital recording of your statement, take time to review it as soon as possible. Send a written communication to the adjuster with any corrections. Also, if you think one of your responses may need further explanation or more details, make the additions in the written communication.

If you would like a free consultation with Mark (or any of our attorneys) about your insurance claim, please email him at mark@brwlawyers.com or send a text to 251 533-9548 (cell). You can also call Mark directly at 251 410-7761.

REQUIRED DISCLAIMERS: Alabama Rule of Professional Conduct 7.2: No representation is made that the quality of legal service to be performed is greater than the services provided by other lawyers. The Mississippi Supreme Court advises that a decision on legal services is important and should not be based solely on advertisements. Free background information is available upon request to a Mississippi attorney. The listing of any area of practice by a Mississippi attorney does not indicate any certification of expertise therein. See Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.2(d), Rule 7.4(a), Rule 7.6(a) (1997). Statement in compliance with Florida Bar Advertising Rules: “The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. [Florida Rule 4-7.2(d)]. General Disclaimer: This information is posted for general information purposes to help those interested parties or persons with potential civil claims better understand their rights and potential causes of action. If readers are currently represented by an attorney on the subject matter of this post then they are encouraged to continue with said representation. No attorney-client relationship is established by this post.