Life Insurance Lawyer Serving Michigan

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When you’re looking for a seasoned life insurance lawyer serving Michigan, look no further than Boonswang Law. We’ve provided assistance to individuals across the state of Michigan, aiding them in filing their life insurance death benefits claims, and battling against life insurance claim rejections.

Life insurance companies may often reject claims for the most minor reason, as their profits for shareholders only accrue when they avoid payouts. We’re here to aid you in your fight against their denial. 

Contact us for your free consultation to find out what your case is worth.

Boonswang Law has assisted beneficiaries in various regions of Michigan, including:

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The Most Common Reasons Life Insurance Companies Deny Life Insurance Claims in Michigan

Beneficiaries of life insurance should ideally receive death benefits immediately upon the policyholder’s death, but this rarely happens. Life insurance companies unjustly refuse claims for death benefits for the following reasons.

The Policyholder's Cause of Death was Exempted from Coverage

Review the life insurance policy to find a list of “exclusions” situations under which the policy won’t provide a payout. Typical life insurance policies exclude suicide and acts of war or terrorism. 

If the cause of the policyholder’s death could potentially be covered under an exclusion, the life insurance company may refuse your claim — even if further investigations reveal that the death wasn’t excluded from coverage. 

If you’ve experienced life insurance claim denial due to an exclusion, get in touch with us. A Michigan life insurance attorney can assist you in securing your payout.

Connect with Michigan's Life Insurance Lawyers at Boonswang Law For Assistance With Your Life Insurance Claim

Navigating the life insurance company’s processes doesn’t have to be a solo journey. Already dealing with the emotional and legal aspects of a loved one’s death can be overwhelming. Don’t let the life insurance claim process add to this burden.

Let us help.

Our firm has supported numerous Michigan life insurance beneficiaries in obtaining the death benefits intended for them by their loved ones. 

Contact Boonswang Law today at (855) 865-4335 for a complimentary, no-obligation case evaluation.

The Life Insurance Policy Expired or Terminated

To keep life insurance coverage active, the policyholder needs to pay a monthly premium. If the premium payments are missed, the life insurance coverage will lapse, and any claims for death benefits on a lapsed policy will be denied.

Don’t accept this refusal without a fight! During our investigations, we’ve often found that the policyholder was not responsible for the lapse. Sometimes the policyholder’s employer may have failed to submit or process the forms to change group coverage to an individual life insurance policy. 

At other times, the life insurance company might have neglected to send legally obligatory notices to the policyholder. And in certain instances, the policyholder could have been eligible for a disability waiver of premium which they didn’t receive.

If your claim was denied due to policy lapse, reach out to us. We’ll investigate and ascertain whether the lapse was the policyholder’s fault. If it wasn’t, you might still be eligible for a payout.

The Policyholder Allegedly Misrepresented Themselves

People with health conditions, who are older, and those with lifestyle habits like smoking or drinking will be charged higher premiums than those who don’t. Thus, life insurance companies are permitted to deny claims if they discover that the policyholder allegedly misrepresented themselves on the initial application and medical questionnaire. 

This is a public policy intended to deter individuals from lying just to get a lower premium payment. For this reason, if a policyholder makes an innocent mistake on these documents, the life insurance company may refuse your claim for death benefits due to alleged misrepresentation.

We often manage to demonstrate that the alleged misrepresentation was not done with the intention to deceive, and we’ve managed to get our clients paid. If your claim was denied due to alleged misrepresentation, get in touch with us.

Insufficient Evidence of the Policyholder's Death

Life insurance companies typically accept a certified death certificate, a published obituary, or a funeral home bill as proof of death. However, if the policyholder passed away while overseas, you will only have foreign documents that demonstrate the death.

Occasionally, these documents may not provide sufficient information to convince the life insurance company when the policyholder dies. If you find your claim denied for this reason, get in touch with us — we’re here to assist you.

Insurance Scams & Bad Faith: What to Watch Out For

Navigating the complexities of life insurance policies can be daunting. Besides grappling with policy details and the claims process, you must also be vigilant about potential insurance scams and instances of insurance bad faith. You should be aware of the following.

Indexed Universal Life Insurance

Indexed Universal Life Insurance (IUL) is a type of permanent life insurance that ties the cash value of the policy to a stock market index. While this can potentially increase your cash value more quickly, it also introduces more risk. It’s not uncommon for agents to sell IUL policies by highlighting only the potential for high returns, while downplaying or omitting the risks involved.

If you’re considering an IUL policy, ensure that you’re fully aware of the potential downside. If you’ve purchased an IUL policy and believe you were not properly informed of the risks, you may have a case for misrepresentation.

Churning Scams

Churning refers to a practice where an agent encourages you to replace your existing life insurance policy with a new one, often with the same company. They may claim that the new policy offers better benefits, but the primary motivation for the agent is usually to earn another round of commissions. 

Churning can result in higher premiums, surrender charges from your old policy, and a new contestability period.

If you believe you’re a victim of churning, seek legal assistance immediately. This type of scam can severely impact your financial health and your beneficiaries’ future.

Insurance Bad Faith

Insurers are obliged to operate in good faith, which involves treating policyholders fairly and promptly, paying legitimate claims, and providing clear reasons for claim denials. Bad faith, on the other hand, is characterized by unreasonable delays in paying claims, denying claims without a valid reason, and failing to properly investigate claims.

If you suspect your insurance company is acting in bad faith, it’s crucial to seek legal counsel. In Michigan, victims of insurance bad faith can potentially recover more than just the policy amount — they can also receive compensation for any additional losses suffered as a result of the insurer’s actions.

Common Questions About Life Insurance Claims in MI

What Happens When the Life Insurance Beneficiary is Dead?

The policyholder’s estate receives the death benefits if the named beneficiary predeceases the policyholder and no contingent or secondary beneficiaries are appointed. Consequently, the policyholder’s creditors may lay claim to these benefits. To avert this, the policyholder should frequently update their beneficiary designations and ensure that they name contingent beneficiaries.

Discovering life insurance details may prove challenging, as no comprehensive database listing life insurance policyholders exists. However, some proactive steps may help. Reach out to the policyholder’s employer about potential group life insurance coverage. Examine the policyholder’s important papers for evidence of a life insurance policy, and scan their bank statements for indications of life insurance premium payments.

Insurance companies generally process and pay a death benefits claim within 30-60 days. Collaborating with a MI life insurance lawyer from the outset can ensure that your claim is lodged in a timely and accurate manner, promoting a smoother process.

If your claim seems to be facing unreasonable delays, the life insurance company may owe you interest on the death benefit. Reach out to us – we can assist you in getting paid.

Claim denials can be contested. Carefully review the explanation letter sent by the insurance company as it outlines their denial reasoning. Should you require help, don’t hesitate to call us. Many times, we’ve found the stated denial reason does not apply.

Policy lapse denial shouldn’t be accepted without challenge. Reach out to us — we’ll conduct a thorough investigation to uncover and assess the circumstances leading to coverage lapse. If the lapse wasn’t the policyholder’s fault, you might still be eligible to receive the death benefit.

Minors cannot directly receive life insurance death benefits. If the policyholder didn’t set up a trust for the benefit payout, the court will appoint someone to manage the funds on behalf of the minor child.

Dispute the denial and reach out to us for support. In all misrepresentation cases we’ve handled, we often find that the policyholder didn’t intend to deceive the insurance company, even if there was an error. Our efforts have frequently resulted in payout successes for our clients under these circumstances.

If the beneficiary change appears to have been made fraudulently or under duress, or if it defies a court order, it is advisable to file a beneficiary dispute.

No, any forms indicating a beneficiary change post the policyholder’s death are fraudulent. Contact us immediately if you suspect a fraudulent attempt to deny you the death benefits.

Indeed, if they have a valid reason. The rights of a former or current spouse being the beneficiary despite another designation vary significantly from state to state. An experienced MI life insurance lawyer can help you comprehend your rights as the policyholder’s spouse or former spouse.