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After a policyholder dies, the beneficiary will need to file a life insurance claim by following these steps:
- Obtain several copies of the death certificate.
- Check for other policies such as accidental death and dismemberment policies, which employers sometimes offer as riders to their insurance policies.
- Contact the policyholder’s agent or the insurance company for claim paperwork.
- Send in the required documents with a certified copy of the death certificate.
- Request claim forms
- Choose how your proceeds will be paid
- Submit the completed forms
After submitting a claim, the beneficiary can generally decide whether to receive payments in a lump sum or installments. It can take a few days to a few weeks to see your check. But if you have done everything correctly, the benefit should be in your hands reasonably soon.
Disability Insurance
For those who have contracted coronavirus and aren't able to work due to its symptoms, disability insurance should cover losses in earnings during any period of illness and ensuing recovery. But what about those who were merely exposed and quarantined? They are undoubtedly unable to work due to the virus, but would they qualify for disability insurance payments?
Due to the risk such individuals face, they may be eligible to receive disability benefits while sheltering in place, although such claims may be controversial. It is likely such claims will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
If you have suffered a disability during the COVID-19 pandemic that keeps you from working, remember that your insurer is there to help you with the claims process. Keep in mind that claims are always evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Almost all life insurance policies, including term policies, pay double the limits of coverage if a death occurs from accidental causes as opposed to natural causes. A question arises, is it possible to recover accidental death benefits as a result of exposure to COVID-19 since death from the virus is sudden, unexpected and unintended? Given the Corona Virus pandemic, would it be considered a natural death or an accidental death?
Traditional life insurance policies, such as whole and term life, likely cover deaths from COVID-19, according to spokespeople from industry research group LIMRA, State Farm and Farmers New World Life (part of Farmers Insurance).
However, there are a few exceptions. For example, an insurer might deny a claim for a coronavirus death if the policyholder:
- Submitted an inaccurate or incomplete application.
- Didn’t pay insurance premiums.
- Bought only an accidental death policy.
People who are employed when they die may have a group term life insurance policy through their company. Usually, the employer will contact the beneficiary upon the policyholder’s death, but you can also use the process below to make a claim if you know the insurance company’s name.