Jump to content

Dad’s life insurance


Seraphim

Recommended Posts

My dad left me a tiny bit of life insurance money. There were 4 beneficiaries of the policy one being my dad’s youngest sister. One of the questions to claim the policy is they asked if the policyholder had at one time smoked. Now of course my aunt put yes , but that my dad quit in the 1980’s which he did. So now of course we all have to put that .

 

My dad did not die of lung related illness but from kidney failure. Would that disqualify his policy?

Link to comment

Too late now. Be honest and the insurance company will do whatever it does. Your aunt was correct filling it out truthfully. Fraud disqualifies people. Of course the insurance has access to whatever medical records they may need as well as the death certificate, which states the cause of death. Why worry about it?

There were 4 beneficiaries of the policy one being my dad’s youngest sister. Would that disqualify his policy?
Link to comment
Too late now. Be honest and the insurance company will do whatever it does. Your aunt was correct filling it out truthfully. Fraud disqualifies people. Of course the insurance has access to whatever medical records they may need as well as the death certificate, which states the cause of death. Why worry about it?

My brother brought up he the point. But either way the amount of money whether I get it or not changes nothing. It is not a life changing amount.

Link to comment

Who is the executor? Do you have a copy of the policy and will? If he died intestate, you'll have to contact his next of kin. If he has a will, contact the executor, and if you don't have a copy of the policy and are sure you have a standing in it, contact the insurance company. You don't need an attorney.

But either way the amount of money whether I get it or not changes nothing.
Link to comment
Who is the executor? Do you have a copy of the policy and will? If he died intestate, you'll have to contact his next of kin. If he has a will, contact the executor, and if you don't have a copy of the policy and are sure you have a standing in it, contact the insurance company. You don't need an attorney.

I was sent a letter as a beneficiary yes ; of course I have claim.

Link to comment

Whether your dad smoking 20 years ago will affect the policy or not is basically in the fine print in the policy, which you can read for yourself. It may or it may not. Depends on the particular policy. However, lying or failing to disclose proper information on your claim is considered fraud and that will definitely be grounds for denial of your claim.

 

Basically, just be truthful. If the claim is denied and you have some questions about that or want to know if it's worth fighting the insurance company over that, then you can speak to an attorney.

 

Can't speak for Canada, but in the US, you can get a free consultation and attorneys work on a contingency basis on these types of claims. In other words, if they win, they'll take a certain percentage, which isn't even that big, and if they can't, no cost to you unless it goes to court and you'll need to cover filing costs. Granted lawyers won't go forward unless you want to. Also, most contingency attorneys are pretty good at not wasting their time, so if they urge you to go forward, they are pretty certain they'll win. Mostly, these things get quickly settled out of court once an attorney shows up.

Link to comment

Seraphim,

 

Insurance companies have been for the last 15-20 years reviewing the original policy application when it comes time to pay on the policy trying to find a reason not to pay. So if your father put down he was a non smoker and then they find out he did in fact smoke at one time they will claim he was untruthful on his application and void the policy and not pay. I have seen it done with medical policies as well where someone had cancer and the bills stated adding up to a lot of money, a review was done of the original application and the woman had made a simple mistake filling out the form so they claimed she was not forthcoming and tried to cancel the policy and not pay the medical bills. She ended up dying before it was resolved by her husband in court. He won but it just shows how far they will go to so they do not have to pay up.

 

If you are or were a smoker you pay a higher premium and after you die if they can prove you were untruthful then they will not pay. I doubt they would give back all the premiums your dad paid in either.

 

Your aunt already said he smoked so put down he smoked but quit 40 years ago which is true and see what happens. Unfortunately insurance companies are not generous people and have whole departments dedicated to finding ways to not pay out on a policy.

 

Luckily like you said it isn't a huge amount of money.

 

How have you been otherwise?

 

Lost

Link to comment
Seraphim,

 

Insurance companies have been for the last 15-20 years reviewing the original policy application when it comes time to pay on the policy trying to find a reason not to pay. So if your father put down he was a non smoker and then they find out he did in fact smoke at one time they will claim he was untruthful on his application and void the policy and not pay. I have seen it done with medical policies as well where someone had cancer and the bills stated adding up to a lot of money, a review was done of the original application and the woman had made a simple mistake filling out the form so they claimed she was not forthcoming and tried to cancel the policy and not pay the medical bills. She ended up dying before it was resolved by her husband in court. He won but it just shows how far they will go to so they do not have to pay up.

 

If you are or were a smoker you pay a higher premium and after you die if they can prove you were untruthful then they will not pay. I doubt they would give back all the premiums your dad paid in either.

 

Your aunt already said he smoked so put down he smoked but quit 40 years ago which is true and see what happens. Unfortunately insurance companies are not generous people and have whole departments dedicated to finding ways to not pay out on a policy.

 

Luckily like you said it isn't a huge amount of money.

 

How have you been otherwise?

 

Lost

See, I have zero clue what he told them because he was a pathological liar and believed his own lies.

 

I have been ok as long as I keep working.

Link to comment

Good to hear you are doing okay.

 

Keep busy and if you need help reach out. Just call a friend and say I am feeling down and need someone to help keep my mind off all of it. Help them help you. Go for walk to catch up, sit on the phone and talk or whatever to break out of the cycle.

 

Don't be surprised if the insurance company sends you a letter explain a reduced payout or no payout. Their shareholders stay happy when they don't pay out.

 

Fingers crossed it all goes well and you can use that money to buy a nice memorial for your dad.

 

Lost

Link to comment

Contact the insurance company and tell the truth. Tell them your dad quit smoking 40 years ago and passed away due to stopping dialysis. Be forthright and the insurance company will determine what to do at that point. I hope you receive your fair share and I'm very sorry for your loss, ~Seraphim~.

Link to comment
Contact the insurance company and tell the truth. Tell them your dad quit smoking 40 years ago and passed away due to stopping dialysis. Be forthright and the insurance company will determine what to do at that point. I hope you receive your fair share and I'm very sorry for your loss, ~Seraphim~.

The paperwork was filled out honestly and sent in. They have the death certificate already.

Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...