Life Insurance Claim
Life Insurance Claim Denied – Get Help Now
Why Life Insurance Claims Get Denied
When a loved one passes away, the life insurance payout is often critical for keeping a family financially stable. Unfortunately, some insurance companies look for reasons to avoid paying. Common tactics include:
- Policy Lapsed or Non-Payment – Claiming premiums weren’t paid and the policy expired before death.
- Material Misrepresentation – Alleging the insured lied or omitted information on the application, such as a medical condition or smoking history.
- Contestability Period Issues – If death occurred within the first two years of the policy, insurers often conduct aggressive investigations to find any discrepancy.
- Excluded Cause of Death – Asserting that the death falls under an exclusion, such as suicide within the exclusion period, death during certain activities, or criminal conduct.
- Beneficiary Disputes – Conflicts over who is entitled to the payout.
- Paperwork or Procedural Issues – Denials based on missing forms or documents, which are often fixable.
What to Do When Your Claim is Denied
A denial is not the end of the road. Protect your rights by:
01
Keeping the Denial Letter
It outlines the insurer’s reasoning and cites policy provisions.
02
Requesting the Policy and Application File
You need the full documents to understand your case.
03
Tracking Deadlines
Some policies set short appeal windows.
04
Speaking with an Attorney Early
Maryland life insurance law is complex, especially around contestability and misrepresentation issues.
How We Challenge Life Insurance Denials
Our process starts with a close review of your policy and the denial reason. We:
- Investigate whether a claimed misrepresentation was truly material and whether the insured knew about the alleged condition.
- Examine lapse disputes to see if the insurer followed Maryland’s notice requirements—failure to send proper grace and lapse notices can invalidate a lapse.
- Scrutinize exclusions to see if they really apply, often consulting independent experts or witnesses.
- Prepare strong appeal letters backed by evidence, and if necessary, file suit for breach of contract and bad faith.
Understanding the Contestability Period
Most life insurance policies have a two-year contestability period from the date they take effect. If the insured dies during this time, the insurer can investigate and potentially deny based on alleged misstatements. But after this period, they typically can’t contest coverage except for non-payment. Even within the contestability period, they must prove the misstatement was intentional and material.
Our Fee Structure
We handle denied life insurance claims on a contingency basis—you pay nothing upfront. We only earn a fee if we recover money for you, aligning our success with yours.
Free Case Evaluation
Get Experienced Legal Help
A denied life insurance claim can deepen the hardship after losing a loved one. Our Maryland and Washington, D.C. attorneys know the tactics insurers use and how to counter them. We’ll review your denial, explain your options, and fight to get the benefits your loved one intended you to have. Contact us today for a free consultation.