Thrivent denies many claims, however, our top life insurance lawyers have fought many Thrivent denied life insurance claims. Aside from Thrivent, our life insurance firm has resolved countless claims from MetLife; Assurity; Corebridge Financial; AAA Life; and more. A common reason for life insurance claim denials is misrepresentation of health history on the insurance application. This issue shows the importance of complete honesty when applying for life insurance, as even minor omissions or inaccuracies can have far-reaching consequences. Let us delve into some real-world examples of claims denied due to undisclosed or misrepresented health conditions. One of the most common cases involves undisclosed heart conditions. Consider the story of a man who applied for a life insurance policy. During the application process, he was asked if he had ever experienced symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or any diagnosed heart conditions. He answered “no,” despite having been treated for mild angina a few years prior. The applicant reasoned that his condition was under control with medication and did not feel it was necessary to disclose. When he passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack three years into the policy, his family filed a claim. Upon investigation, the insurer obtained his medical records and discovered the undisclosed history of angina. The insurance company denied the claim, citing material misrepresentation. Our top life insurance lawyers fight all denied life insurance claims.
Another example revolves around smoking. Smoking is a major factor in life insurance underwriting, as it significantly impacts an applicant's health and life expectancy. A woman applied for a policy and declared herself a non-smoker, despite being an occasional smoker who indulged in cigarettes socially. She believed that her occasional smoking habit was negligible and would not affect her coverage. Tragically, she passed away from lung cancer five years later. During the claim investigation, the insurance company found evidence of her smoking history through medical records and testimony from acquaintances. The insurer classified her omission as a misrepresentation and denied the claim. This case highlights the risks of underreporting or misrepresenting lifestyle habits, as insurers often verify such details thoroughly when processing claims. However, a life insurance law firm can be retained to fight any denied life insurance claim. A more complex example involves applicants who fail to disclose mental health conditions. One man had a history of depression and anxiety, applied for a term life insurance policy. Believing that his mental health history was irrelevant and fearing stigma, he did not disclose his diagnosis or the fact that he had been on medication in the past. Several years later, he died by suicide. Although many life insurance policies have a contestability period and specific exclusions for suicide within the first two years, this occurred well after that window. However, during the claims process, the insurer’s review uncovered his undisclosed mental health history. They argued that the omission constituted material misrepresentation and denied the claim. For the grieving family, there only choice was to retain a life insurance law firm to fight the denial.
These examples demonstrate that insurers take the accuracy of applications very seriously. When applicants fail to disclose relevant health information, whether intentionally or unintentional, it gives insurers grounds to deny claims.
It is essential for anyone who has been denied a life insurance claim to understand that retaining a lawyer is crucial.