Contact Employers and Member OrganizationsContact past and present employers, as well as professional and social organizations of which your loved one was a member. Many people receive free or low-cost policies through work or as a member benefit. Even if your loved one was retired or no longer active in these groups, the policy could still be in place. Show
Do an Online SearchSeveral websites offer free search tools to help users find unclaimed assets, including death benefits. Simply type your loved one’s name into the search box at any of the following sites:
There are also companies who will search for a lost policy for your loved one, and they can be a helpful resource for how to find out if someone has life insurance. Representatives will contact hundreds of life insurance companies on your behalf to determine whether your loved one had a policy. Fees vary, and scams involving this type of service do exist, so do your research before you go this route. Call Your State Insurance Commissioner’s OfficeIf you haven’t had any luck locating a policy, get in touch with the Insurance Commissioner in your state. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ websitelists the contact information for each state office. When an authorized person makes an inquiry to a policy, the state office typically forwards the request to licensed agencies within the state. The agencies will perform a search and, if a contract is found, will then make contact. If the person making the request is not an authorized party, the agency will not contact him or her, but will attempt to contact the named beneficiary. Does Your Living Relative Have Life Insurance?Though the best way to figure out if your relative has coverage is to ask him or her, there are some situations where it’s not an option. For example, if your loved one lives with dementia or mental illness, he or she may not be able to tell you the status of his or her coverage. The same may be true if your relative has been injured in a sudden accident or unforeseen medical emergency. If you need to know if your living relative has life insurance, you should follow the same steps listed above. FAQsWho can request information about a life insurance policy?Even after death, companies must protect the privacy of their clients. In most cases, next of kin and policy beneficiaries can request information about a policy, but they may need to provide proof to the insurance company. What information do I need to make a claim?To make a claim, you will need several pieces of documentation:
To start the process, simply contact the life insurance company that issued the policy and they’ll provide you with instructions. What happens to the death benefits if no one claims the money?Insurance companies turn over unclaimed death benefits to the state’s unclaimed property office. This is usually the office of the State Treasurer. The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators’ websitelists this contact information by state. Can you be the beneficiary of a life insurance policy and not know it?Yes, you can. There is no requirement to notify a person when you list him or her on a policy. It’s important to know how to find out if someone has life insurance if you’ll be responsible for settling their estate or paying any of their final expenses, including their funeral. The easiest way, of course, is to ask your loved ones. If that’s not an option, the steps above can help you find the critical documents you need. There are several things you can do to find out if someone left behind a life insurance policy when he or she died. To find an unclaimed life insurance policy, talk with friends and relatives, check personal records the deceased left behind and contact your state insurance commissioner’s office.
Fact Checked A qualified expert reviewed the content on this page to ensure it is factually accurate, meets current industry standards and helps readers achieve a better understanding of retirement topics. Cite Us APA Turner, T. (2022, July 28). How To Find Out If Someone Has Life Insurance. RetireGuide.com. Retrieved November 16, 2022, from https://www.retireguide.com/life-insurance/payout/policy-search/ MLA Turner, Terry. "How To Find Out If Someone Has Life Insurance." RetireGuide.com, 28 Jul 2022, https://www.retireguide.com/life-insurance/payout/policy-search/. Chicago Turner, Terry. "How To Find Out If Someone Has Life Insurance." RetireGuide.com. Last modified July 28, 2022. https://www.retireguide.com/life-insurance/payout/policy-search/. Key Takeaways
What Is an Unclaimed Life Insurance PolicyIf a person with a life insurance policy dies, but his or her beneficiaries are unaware of the coverage, it is an unclaimed life insurance policy. This is relatively common and can happen for several reasons. Reasons a Life Insurance Policy May Be Unclaimed
The amount of unclaimed life insurance benefits in the United States topped $1 billion dollars by 2013, according to Consumer Reports. At the time, the average payout was $2,000 and some were as much as $300,000. Consumer Reports estimates that the odds that you are a beneficiary of an unclaimed life insurance payout is about one in 600 — better than your chances of winning the Powerball lottery. How to Find a Life Insurance Policy When Someone DiesThere are several ways to find a life insurance policy when someone dies. These include internet tools and some detective work on your own. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) — a group that represents the chief insurance regulators of each of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and U.S. Territories — has an online tool that can help track down unclaimed life insurance policies. Once you fill out an online form on the policy locator tool, the NAIC will ask participating insurance companies to scour their records to see if they have a life insurance policy in the name of the deceased person you listed on the form. The companies will also look for policies that name you as a beneficiary. The NAIC tool has been around since 2016. More than 145,000 people had used it as of July 31, 2020. In that time, the policy locator had found 46,665 matches with claims totaling $650,520,451. Life Insurance Policy Locator You can use the Life Insurance Policy Locator from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to find life insurance policies and annuity contracts of deceased family members and close relatives. Source: National Association of Insurance Commissioners Other Ways to Find a Lost Life Insurance PolicyThe NAIC locator tool only works with participating life insurance companies. If it doesn’t turn up a match, you can still do some work on your own to track down a missing or lost life insurance policy. 14 Ways to Find a Lost or Unclaimed Life Insurance Policy
What If the Insurance Company Changed Names or Went out of Business?If the insurance company has changed its name, has gone out of business or has been bought out by another insurer, you may be able to do an internet search to find out what company currently has its assets and policies. Once you have the new name, find the state of the company’s home office and contact that state’s insurance commission or department. You can find a list of insurance company names and home office addresses in “A.M. Best’s Insurance Reports,” an annually updated report on companies. It is available in many larger libraries.
On Medicare? Maximize your 2023 savings! The Medicare Annual Enrollment period is now open. Visit GoHealth today to see what savings you may qualify for with a new plan. Obtaining a Death Certificate When Filing a Life Insurance ClaimTo claim a death benefit payout from a life insurance policy you will need two things: A copy of the life insurance policy and a copy of the policyholder’s death certificate. A death certificate is a legal document recording a person’s death. Obtaining a death certificate copy is likely easier and more straightforward than tracking down a lost or unclaimed life insurance policy. Where to Obtain a Death Certificate
Death certificates are public records in some, but not all states. In some states, you will need to provide proof of your relationship to the deceased. In those cases, generally only immediate family members, government agencies, the executor of the deceased’s estate and funeral directors can request an official copy. To request a copy, you’ll need to show a valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license and proof of your relationship to the deceased such as a birth certificate or marriage license. The life insurance company will also have its own rules on how to submit the death certificate. This varies from company to company, so you should check with the company about its requirements before submitting the death certificate along with the policy. Last Modified: July 28, 2022 7 Cited Research Articles
Is there a database to find life insurance policies?The NAIC Life Policy Locator can assist you as consumers in locating life insurance policies and annuity contracts of a deceased family member or close relationship.
Can you trace a life insurance policy?Submit a request to the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator Service. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Life Insurance Policy Locator Service, a free online tool, can assist you in locating life insurance policies.
How do I find out if a life insurance policy is valid?To find out if a life insurance policy is valid, you can check with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
|