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Why You Need an Experienced Life Insurance Lawyer By Your Side in Illinois
If you have recently lost a loved one, dealing with their life insurance company is probably the last thing you need. And all too frequently, filing a claim for death benefits isn’t as straightforward as it should be.
If you’ve filed your life insurance claim and your payout is being delayed or your life insurance claim was denied, reach out to an experienced life insurance lawyer serving Illinois at right away.
At Boonswang Law, we know all of the reasons the life insurance companies try to use to unfairly delay or deny claims, and we will help you fight back. Contact us today for a free legal consultation.
Boonswang Law has a team of experienced life insurance lawyers serving Illinois. We’ve helped life insurance beneficiaries who live in and near the following cities in Illinois:
- Chicago
- Aurora
- Joliet
- Naperville
- Rockford
- Springfield
- Peoria
- Elgin
- Champaign
- Waukegan
- Cicero
- Bloomington
- Arlington Heights
- Evanston
- Bolingbrook
- Schaumberg
- Decatur
Contact Boonswang Law Today to Discuss Your Life Insurance Claim with an Illinois Life Insurance Lawyer
Common Reasons Life Insurance Claims Denied in Illinois
You might assume that when someone purchases a life insurance policy, their beneficiaries will automatically receive death benefits when they die. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Life insurance companies frequently use the following reasons to initially refuse to pay beneficiaries’ claims for death benefits, often unfairly.
Call the Illinois Life Insurance Lawyers at Boonswang Law Today
If you are feeling overwhelmed by the thought of dealing with the life insurance company, know that you don’t have to go through this alone.
We have helped many Illinois life insurance beneficiaries in your position get the benefits their loved one intended that they receive.
Call Boonswang Law today at (855) 865-4335 to set up your free, no-obligation consultation.
Insufficient Proof of Death
A life insurance company requires official proof of the death of the insured in order to process a claim for death benefits. Typically, life insurance companies accept proof of death in the form of a certified death certificate, an obituary, or a bill from the funeral home. If the policyholder died overseas, sometimes a foreign death certificate is not enough. If your claim has been denied for this reason, contact us — we can help you.
Lapse or Termination of the Life Insurance Policy
Life insurance policies generally require that a premium is paid each month in order to maintain coverage. If the policyholder fails to pay premiums, coverage can lapse, resulting in any subsequent claims for death benefits being denied.
Lapse in coverage isn’t always the insured’s fault. If lapsed payments was cited as the reason for your claim denial, call us so we can attempt to recover your death benefits.
Policy Exclusion Applies to Cause of Death
Life insurance policies always coverage exclusions, and each policy is different. Examples of common exclusions from coverage include death due to risk-taking behavior or suicide. If the policyholder’s cause of death was listed in the policy’s exlusions, circumstances are excluded in the policy, the life insurance company will deny your claim.
If your claim for death benefits was denied because an exclusion allegedly applies to the cause of death, give us a call. An Illinois life insurance lawyer can help you understand your policy’s exclusions.
Life Insurance Fraud
Life insurance fraud occurs in several different ways. The life insurance company may allege that the insured faked their death, that the beneficiary killed the insured in order to collect death benefits, or that a change in beneficiary designation at the last minute was done through coercion or duress.
Not only will fraud cause claims to be denied, but the persons responsible for the fraud could face serious legal consequences.
Insurance Scams & Bad Faith: What to Watch Out For
As a life insurance beneficiary, you want to trust in your policy’s promises. But sometimes, unethical practices and scams can throw these assurances into jeopardy. At Boonswang Law, we are committed to guiding you through these complex issues, helping you understand them and, if necessary, fighting for your rights.
Below, we’ve thoroughly outlined four main scams life insurance companies employ, and how to avoid them.
Indexed Universal Life Insurance
Indexed universal life insurance (IUL) ties cash value accumulation to a stock market index. However, it can be exploited in scams where the policy’s risks and costs are not adequately disclosed. This deception can lead to much lower returns than promised, potentially jeopardizing your financial future.
To avoid falling prey to such scams, be sure to get a full understanding the terms of all indexed universal life insurance policies before you agree to it. Seek independent advice if necessary. If you believe you’ve been a victim of an IUL scam, it’s important to act quickly. Contacting a life insurance attorney at Boonswang Law who can help you explore your legal options and potentially recover your losses.
Churning Scams
Churning is an unethical practice where an agent excessively trades within a client’s account to generate commissions. This unnecessary activity can erode your life insurance policy’s cash value and lead to substantial financial loss.
You can avoid churning scams with the right knowledge vigilance — monitor your policy’s activity closely and question any transactions that don’t align with your stated goals or risk tolerance.
If you suspect you’ve been a victim of a churning scam, don’t hesitate to reach out to a life insurance lawyer at Boonswang Law. Our experienced team is prepared to investigate and take action to restore your financial security.
Insurance Bad Faith
Insurance bad faith refers to an insurer’s refusal to pay a policyholder’s legitimate claim without a valid reason. This practice can leave you in a tough spot, struggling to recover what is rightfully yours.
To protect yourself against insurance bad faith, ensure that all policy documents and interactions with your insurer are well-documented. If you find yourself battling against an uncooperative insurer, remember you’re not alone. Contact Boonswang Law’s life insurance lawyer services. Our life insurance lawyers serving IL are dedicated to fighting insurance bad faith, helping you secure the benefits you are due.
What You Can Expect When You Hire an Experienced Illinois Life Insurance Lawyer
If you’ve never worked with a life insurance lawyer in IL, know that there are several benefits to hiring Boonswang Law instead of trying to handle your life insurance claim on your own. Below are some of the many ways we can and will assist you with your claim:
- We handle all correspondence and communications with the life insurance company
- We keep you in the loop as to developments in processing your claim
- We review the terms of the policy and explain coverage and exclusions
- We investigate why your claim has been denied or delayed
- We investigate the cause of death of the insured and whether the denial reason used applies
- We follow up on any delayed payouts
- We settle disputes over incorrect payout amounts
The fact is that life insurance companies only make money for their shareholders when they DON’T pay claims. Yes, life insurance companies have incentive to cite any possibly-applicable reason to delay or deny your claim. For this reason, many valid claims are unfairly denied or payout is unfairly delayed. We will help you fight back and get paid.
Frequently Asked Questions About Illinois Life Insurance Claims
My Life Insurance Claim was Denied, What Do I Do?
You can contest any life insurance claim denial.
If your life insurance claim was denied, the life insurance company will send you an explanation letter listing the reason or reasons they will not pay your claim. In many instances, those reasons are insufficient or do not actually apply. An experienced IL life insurance lawyer can assist you in disputing a denied claim.
Call us — we know how to navigate the situation to improve your chances of getting the money you deserve.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Life Insurance Claim Paid in IL?
It usually takes a life insurance company 30-60 days to process a claim for death benefits.
Try to file your claim as soon after the insured’s death as possible to expedite processing. Working with a IL life insurance lawyer can ensure that your claim is filed timely and correctly and that the process goes as smoothly as possible.
How Do I Know Whether Someone Had A Life Insurance Policy?
Unfortunately, there is no public record of insurance policyholders. If you believe that a loved one may have had a life insurance policy, investigate by contacting their employer to ask about group life insurance, looking through their paperwork for life insurance information, and reviewing their bank statements for evidence of life insurance premium payments.
Can I Share Life Insurance Benefits With My Siblings?
Sure! There are no rules against a beneficiary sharing their death benefit with their siblings if the insured listed only one of their children as the beneficiary.
Can the Beneficiary Designation Be Contested?
Yes, if there is suspicion that the change was made fraudulently or under duress, or if the change was made in defiance of a court order.
Everyone may change life insurance beneficiaries while they are alive as long as they are of sound mind and not under duress, and not subject to a court order.
Can a Spouse or Former Spouse Contest A Life Insurance Policy?
Yes. There can be some confusion over who is entitled to what when an insured gets divorced or remarried because state law varies. An experienced life insurance lawyer can help you understand your rights as the deceased’s spouse or former spouse.
Can I Still Receive Death Benefits if the Insurance Policy Has Lapsed?
Maybe. It depends on the circumstances causing the lapse or termination of the policy.
If the lapse was not the fault of the insured, you may still receive a death benefit. Examples of this include when the insured does not receive the required notices and when the insured is not given the conversion forms by their employer. Every situation is different, so it’s best to talk to a Illinois life insurance lawyer so they can directly address the specific policy in question.
Can a Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation Be Changed After the Insured’s Death?
No. The policyholder generally is the only person who can make changes to the policy. Any paperwork showing that the beneficiary has been changed after the insured’s death is fraudulent. Contact Boonswang Law immediately if you believe that someone is attempting to scam you out of your death benefits.
What Do I Do if My Claim Was Denied Due to Misrepresentation?
Give us a call — we can help.
Alleged misrepresentation on the part of the insured is a common reason life insurance companies use to deny otherwise valid life insurance claims. We have gotten beneficiaries paid in cases where it was an honest mistake on the part of the insured, there is no evidence of the intent to deceive, and the cause of death had nothing to do with the alleged misrepresentation.
Life Insurance Attorneys Serving These States*
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- US Virgin Islands
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
