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To file a life insurance claim, you'll need the death certificate, the policy number (if available), and proof of your identity as the beneficiary. Contact the insurance carrier's claims department to request the claim forms. Our Claim Assist service guides you through every step—from gathering documents to submitting the claim and tracking it until payout.

Most life insurance claims are paid within 30-60 days after the carrier receives all required documentation. Simple claims with complete paperwork may be processed faster. Delays typically occur due to missing documents, beneficiary disputes, or claims requiring investigation. Our concierge service helps ensure your claim is complete and properly submitted to minimize delays.

At minimum, you'll need a certified death certificate (not a photocopy). Other commonly required documents include: the original policy or policy number, claimant's government-issued ID, completed claim form from the carrier, and proof of beneficiary status. For employer-provided policies, you may also need employment verification. We help you create a complete checklist based on your specific situation.

Yes, you can file a claim without the original policy document. You'll need to provide the policy number and carrier name if possible. If you don't have this information, carriers can search their records using the deceased's name, date of birth, and Social Security number. Our policy search is included free with Claim Assist — we search carrier databases, employer records, and state records to locate lost policies.

There are several ways to find a deceased person's life insurance: check personal records and mail for premium notices, contact their employer's HR department, search the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator, review bank statements for premium payments, and contact known insurance agents. Our Policy Finder service conducts a comprehensive search of industry databases and carrier records.

The NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator is a free service from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners that searches participating insurance company records for policies belonging to deceased individuals. Results take 30-90 days. Our Policy Finder service searches carrier databases directly, checks employer records, and conducts state record searches for faster, more thorough results.

Over $10 billion in life insurance benefits have gone unclaimed since 2016. Common reasons include: beneficiaries not knowing a policy exists, lost or missing policy documents, outdated beneficiary information, insurance company name changes making carriers hard to locate, and claims being denied due to documentation issues. MedaSynq helps prevent this by securely storing policy information and guiding beneficiaries through claims.

To claim unclaimed life insurance benefits: first, use your state's unclaimed property database to search for funds. If you find a policy, contact the insurance carrier directly with proof of your beneficiary status and a death certificate. For older unclaimed policies, you may need to provide additional documentation proving your relationship. Our team can assist with complex unclaimed benefit cases.

Only named beneficiaries on the policy can file a claim. Primary beneficiaries have first claim to the death benefit. If primary beneficiaries are deceased or cannot be located, contingent (secondary) beneficiaries may file. If no valid beneficiaries exist, the death benefit typically goes to the deceased's estate. We help verify beneficiary status and guide proper claimants through the process.

If the primary beneficiary has died, the contingent (secondary) beneficiary receives the death benefit. If there are no living beneficiaries named, the payout typically goes to the policy owner's estate and is distributed according to their will or state intestacy laws. Some policies allow per stirpes distribution to a deceased beneficiary's heirs.

Common reasons for claim denial include: death during the contestability period (usually 2 years) with misrepresentation on the application, suicide within the exclusion period, death from excluded activities (like illegal drug use), lapsed policy due to non-payment, or fraudulent claims. If your claim is denied, you have the right to appeal. Our service includes assistance with denied claims.

You can only file a claim if you're named as a beneficiary on the policy. Being a spouse or child doesn't automatically make you a beneficiary—the policy owner must have designated you. If you believe you were named but aren't sure, the insurance carrier can verify beneficiary status with proper identification and a death certificate.