Without a life insurance policy, your family members and loved ones may have to face a huge financial crisis along with the emotional grief caused by your unfortunate demise. However, having a proper life insurance policy is as important as having complete knowledge about making a death claim under the life insurance policy. Without knowing about the right approach to make a death claim under the life insurance policy, claims can get rejected.
How to Make a Life Insurance Claim in Case of a Death?
The below-mentioned procedure would help you to file a death claim.
1. Lodging a Claim
If you are the life insured, then in the case of your demise your nominee must intimate the insurance provider about your death immediately. Your nominee can contact the life insurance provider directly with the help of a toll-free number. The insurance provider can be intimated with the help of a written form as well. The form can be obtained from the registered website of the insurance provider or by visiting the nearest branch office of the life insurance company. There would be the necessity to share certain details such as the policy number, name of the insured person, date of death, place of death, death certificate, etc.
2. Processing of the Claim
To start the claim processing, your nominee must submit the valid documents. After the receipt of the necessary documents, the Claims Assistance Team will take up the responsibility. The team will be doing an assessment of the claim, the documents submitted, the declaration of the nominee, etc. if needed, the Claims Assistance Team might ask for the submission of other additional documents as well.
The major documents which are needed in case of a natural death claim are
- The life insurance policy document
- The claim form which has been duly filled and signed
- Original death certificate or a photocopy of the death certificate
If your death has been accidental, then there are some additional documents needed to claim by your nominee. Those documents are
- Statement of the attending doctor or certificate by the medical attendant
- Hospital certificate
- Medical reports which include your Admission and Discharge Summary, your Death Summary, and Test reports
- Employer’s Certificate
- Post-mortem report
- Police FIR report
- A final investigation report by the police
3. Acceptance of the Claim and Pay-out
With the claim resolution procedure proceeding further when all the documents are being submitted and the claim is accepted, the insurance provider would settle the claim.
Usually, the insurance providers choose to pay their policyholders by the ECS (Electronic Clearance Service). You will have to submit your bank details along with a cancelled cheque.
The insurance provider must settle the death claim within 30 days of receipt of the documents. However, there may be suspicious death cases in which the insurance provider would take more time to investigate. The insurance provider has to settle such cases within 6 months from the date of receipt of the written intimation for the death claim.
Some Points to Keep in Mind While Making a Death Claim
- If your nominee also dies along with you, then the death benefit would be paid to your next legal heir. In this case, the claimant i.e. your next legal heir must provide the legal title of succession.
- In case, your nominee dies before you then you can declare another person as your nominee while your life insurance policy is in force.
- It is always advisable to make the death claim at the earliest without any delay.
- When your claim for death benefit is genuine and is supported by all valid documents, there are very low probabilities of the claim being rejected. But, if the insurance provider finds out that the claim is a fraudulent one then the claim might get rejected.
Conclusion
So, life insurance is the best way to secure the future of your family members. Your nominee must read the terms and conditions mentioned in the policy document and should also submit the necessary documents failing which can result in delayed claim processing or claim rejection.
