Denied Genworth Life Insurance Claims: Real Cases Where Families Fought Back and Won
At our life insurance law firm, we represent beneficiaries and estates who face wrongful denials from major insurance companies like Genworth Life Insurance Company. While insurers may cite policy lapses, exclusions, or misrepresentations as grounds to deny claims, those reasons don’t always hold up under legal scrutiny. Below are real-life Genworth life insurance disputes that show how policyholders and their families were able to reverse denials and recover significant benefits with the help of experienced life insurance lawyers.
Estate of Roberta v. Genworth: Wrong Address, Wrongful Lapse
Roberta L. purchased a $500,000 policy from Genworth in 2007 and consistently paid premiums until 2014, when she fell ill. She missed a few payments, and Genworth sent past-due notices—to the wrong address. Roberta never received proper notice about her missed payments or options for reinstatement, which was a violation of state law. After her death in 2015, Genworth denied the claim for nonpayment. Her estate challenged the denial, arguing Genworth failed to follow grace period and lapse notification regulations. With legal representation, the estate recovered the full $500,000 benefit plus interest and attorney fees. This case underscores how insurers can’t use a lapse defense when they themselves failed to follow proper procedure.
Estate of James v. Genworth: Disability Waiver Denial Leads to $300,000 Settlement
James M. owned a $250,000 Genworth life insurance policy and was current on payments until he suffered a stroke in 2013. He applied for a waiver of premium due to disability—a standard feature in many policies—but Genworth denied the waiver and continued to demand premium payments. Unable to work, James defaulted, and Genworth denied the claim after his 2014 death, citing lapse. The estate hired a life insurance dispute attorney who argued that Genworth failed to accommodate the waiver and wrongfully allowed the policy to lapse. The case was resolved with a settlement of $300,000, compensating for both the denied benefit and delay.
Estate of Mary v. Genworth: Misrepresentation Defense Overcome
Mary S. held a $100,000 policy with Genworth. When applying, she answered “no” to a question about prior diagnoses of cancer, diabetes, or heart disease. Genworth later learned she had been treated for breast cancer in 2007 and denied her claim after her death in 2010 for alleged material misrepresentation. The estate, however, argued that Mary never intentionally concealed her diagnosis—she may have misunderstood the question or been too ill to recall. The court agreed that her misstatement was not made with intent to deceive, and the estate recovered the full benefit plus interest and attorney fees. This case shows that not all misrepresentations justify a denial—intent and context matter.
Estate of John v. Genworth: Suicide Exclusion Challenged After Overdose
John D. purchased a $1 million Genworth policy in 2009, disclosing a history of alcohol abuse and mental health challenges. His policy included a two-year suicide exclusion clause, which is standard. In 2011, he died from an overdose involving alcohol and prescription medication. The medical examiner ruled the death accidental, but Genworth denied the claim, arguing it was self-inflicted and fell under the suicide exclusion. John's estate contested the denial, asserting that his addiction and mental illness rendered the death unintentional. The case settled confidentially, reflecting that Genworth was likely concerned about the exclusion’s applicability. This illustrates that overdose deaths are not always clearly intentional and that exclusions can be challenged.
What These Genworth Life Insurance Cases Show Us
From wrongful lapse notices to questionable misrepresentation claims, Genworth has denied life insurance claims under circumstances that were ultimately reversed or settled. These cases reveal common issues that beneficiaries face: lapses due to address errors or failure to send proper notices, unfair denials of disability waivers that should pause premium requirements, claims denied for misstatements that weren’t material or intentionally misleading, and misapplication of suicide or self-inflicted injury exclusions in complex medical cases. These denials are often not final. With legal help, families have been able to recover full policy amounts, interest, legal fees, and in some cases, additional damages or settlements.
How Our Life Insurance Lawyers Help Fight Denied Genworth Claims
We investigate each denial thoroughly—reviewing the application, payment history, medical records, and insurer conduct. If Genworth denied your claim for any of the following reasons, we can help: policy lapse due to non-payment or address errors, alleged misrepresentation on the application, suicide or drug overdose exclusions, disputes over beneficiary status or reinstatement rights, and failure to provide reinstatement options or waiver of premium rights. Our firm has helped clients across the country challenge major insurers and recover the money they were promised.
FAQ
Can Genworth deny a claim if the policy lapsed without proper notice?
No. Insurers must comply with state laws requiring grace periods and written lapse notices to the correct address. Failure to do so can make the lapse—and the denial—invalid.
What happens if the policyholder forgot about a past diagnosis?
If the misstatement was not intentional or material, the insurer may still be required to pay. Courts consider whether the error was made in good faith and whether it affected the underwriting decision.
Is an overdose automatically considered suicide under Genworth policies?
Not necessarily. If the overdose was accidental or caused by mental illness, the suicide exclusion may not apply. Legal challenges can succeed in these cases.
Can Genworth deny a disability waiver unfairly?
Yes, and they often do. If your claim was denied after an approved disability or waiver request, we can evaluate whether the insurer violated policy terms or acted in bad faith.