One of life’s hardest experiences is to lose a spouse. During this time, your emotions are running high, your routine is disrupted, and the future is very uncertain. All of a sudden, this shift in the middle of all of that grief is not the easiest thing to deal with.In this time, you may not want to go to work. But in the middle of this grief, you may be relying on a life insurance policy to help you to cover expenses or provide financial stability or even pay for a funeral. So when that claim is denied, it can feel like a second blow and that breathing room you were relying on is gone.
While it’s undoubtedly stressful, a denied life insurance claim isn’t always the end of the road. There are so many things that you can do to challenge the decision, and help is available, such as speaking with an insurance attorney. They’ll be able to help you to understand the reasons behind the denial and guide you through the process of the appeal. Before you take action, it can help to understand why claims get denied and what your options could be.
- Read through the denial letter. An insurance company is required to explain in writing why the claim has been denied. The formal or confusing language of the letter can go over your head, but this is where you can ask for help. Common reasons for denial include missed premium payments, discrepancies in the application for life insurance, or even policy exclusions that are related to the cause of death. Even if the explanation feels frustrating, it is your starting point because here you now can exactly understand why the claim was denied and this will shape your next steps.
- Get your documents together. Before you contact anybody, you could start to appeal the decision. Collect everything related to the policy and to the death itself. This includes the original life insurance contract, payment history, the death certificate and any communication between you and the insurance company. Everything must be organised both physically and digitally, and having these details at your fingertips can make the process feel a little less overwhelming, which is what you need at this time.
- Ask for a clearer explanation. If the denial letter is just packed with jargon and is unclear, you have every right to request a more straightforward explanation. Calling the insurance company’s claims department and asking for clarification is your first step. Sometimes the denials come from minor technicalities that can be resolved with a few corrections or documents. Be polite but persistent here. You deserve an understanding of what’s happening, and you deserve not to be left in the lurch.
- Consult an attorney. If the issue does become more complicated, this is where you contact an insurance attorney. These are professionals who specialize in the navigation of insurance policies and disputes, and they’ll be able to really drill down into why the denial was lawful or if it’s worth appealing.
- You could consider appealing. If you feel that the denial was unjust or based on outdated information, you could formally appeal the decision. Most insurance companies have a process for this in place already, so you can follow that process to the end. Your appeal may include new documentation, medical records, corrected forms, or even personal statements. Deadlines can be quite tight with 60 days or less from the time of denial, so you need to act promptly. Working with somebody like an attorney can help you down track.
- Read through the original application. Many life insurance denials stem from what’s called material misrepresentation. In other words, mistakes or omissions In the original application, maybe your partner forgot to disclose the medical condition or the insurance claim. Something was left out that wasn’t. Carefully comparing the application with your partner’s medical and personal records can help identify whether it has merit or not.
- Go easy on yourself. You can easily get caught up in the paperwork and the phone calls here, but you have to remember that you are still grieving. This is a process that can bring up a lot of emotions, so make sure that you’ve given yourself permission to take breaks, lean on your friends and speak to a doctor along the way. You don’t have to go through all of these steps in one day. It’s important to move at your own pace.