Life insurance is often seen as a way to protect families financially when a loved one dies. But what many people don’t know is that life insurance claims can sometimes be denied because of specific rules in the policy. For example, deaths caused by riots, protests, insurrections, political violence, or civil unrest might not be covered. That’s why it’s so important to understand what’s in your life insurance policy. Luckily, our life insurance law firm fights all denied life insurance claims. Some life insurance companies that have denied these claims include: Sagicor Life; Vantis Life; RSI Group; MassMutal; and TransAmerica.
Most life insurance policies have rules that exclude coverage for certain high-risk events, like war, terrorism, or civil unrest. Insurance companies include these exclusions to avoid huge financial losses if something major happens. For example, after George Floyd’s death in 2020, protests across the U.S. ranged from peaceful gatherings to violent clashes. Some families who lost loved ones during these events found out their life insurance claims were denied because the deaths happened during what insurers considered riots or civil disturbances.
A similar issue came up after the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. Several people died during the chaos, and some families had trouble getting life insurance payouts because the deaths fell under policy exclusions for riots or insurrections. These cases sparked debates about whether these rules are fair and whether they match what people expect from their insurance. Another situation involved a family whose main provider was killed during a local protest that turned violent. They had a good life insurance policy, but the company wouldn’t pay because of a clause excluding deaths tied to riots. These exclusions also tend to affect some people more than others. In areas where protests or unrest are more common, families may face more risk of being denied coverage. Insurance companies say they need these exclusions because such events are hard to predict and manage, but some argue that this puts an unfair burden on people who are already dealing with tough circumstances. Some states are looking at ways to fix this, like requiring insurance companies to offer optional add-ons for coverage related to riots or unrest. But these add-ons often come with higher premiums, making them hard to afford for low-income families.
Our life insurance attorneys will fight all: delayed life insurance claims; denied life insurance claims; life insurance beneficiary disputes; and life insurance interpleader lawsuits.