Life Insurance Lawyer Illinois

"Life Insurance Lawyers Serving Illinois: The Lassen Law Firm" Life insurance claims in Illinois can quickly become complicated, especially when faced with denied benefits or bad faith insurance practices. At The Lassen Law Firm, we are dedicated to helping clients across the Prairie State recover the payouts they deserve. Whether you're in Chicago, Springfield, Peoria, Rockford, or anywhere else in Illinois, our experienced team is here to fight for you.

As life insurance attorneys handling cases nationwide, including Illinois, our record speaks for itself—with over $750 million in policies recovered. At The Lassen Law Firm, we combine legal expertise with personalized support to ensure justice is served for our clients.

In Illinois, life insurance is a crucial tool for families to maintain financial stability in the event of the unexpected loss of a loved one. With the variety of insurance providers, including companies such as American General, AARP, MetLife, and Transamerica, families in the state can often rely on life insurance policies to cover funeral expenses, debts, or ongoing living costs. However, for many beneficiaries, their experience with life insurance may take a painful turn if their claim is denied. Life insurance companies, like those mentioned above, sometimes refuse to honor claims, citing a variety of reasons. It is essential for Illinois residents to understand the potential reasons for denial and take proactive steps to prevent or address these issues.

One of the most common reasons for life insurance claims being denied in Illinois is the failure to keep the policy active due to missed or late premium payments. Life insurance policies, including those issued by companies such as Reliance Standard, Banner, and Lincoln Heritage, require policyholders to make timely premium payments in order to keep the policy in force. If the policyholder misses a payment and does not bring the policy current within the grace period (typically 30 to 60 days), the insurer may consider the policy to have lapsed. When the policy lapses, any claim made after the policyholder’s death may be denied. This is especially concerning for Illinois residents, who may experience financial hardships or forgetfulness when it comes to premium payments. To avoid having a claim denied due to missed premiums, policyholders should set up reminders or automatic payments to ensure they never miss a payment. It’s also crucial to maintain open communication with the insurer to address any issues with payment as soon as they arise.

Another significant reason for life insurance claim denials in Illinois is related to the application process, specifically misrepresentation or failure to disclose material information about the policyholder’s health or lifestyle. Life insurance companies such as Reliastar, Symetra, and Foresters assess an applicant’s risk by reviewing their medical history and lifestyle habits, including any pre-existing conditions or high-risk behaviors. If an applicant fails to disclose relevant information, such as smoking, a history of heart disease, or recent major surgeries, the insurance company may later deny a claim if the death is linked to a condition that wasn’t disclosed during underwriting. This is particularly important during the policy’s contestability period, which generally lasts for the first two years. During this period, insurers such as Aetna, AIG, and Allianz can investigate the cause of death and may refuse to pay the death benefit if they find that misrepresentation occurred. For example, if a person dies of a heart attack and it is found that they had a history of heart disease that wasn’t disclosed when they applied for the policy, the claim could be denied. To avoid this, Illinois residents should ensure they fully disclose all relevant information when applying for life insurance and keep their policy updated if their health changes.

In Illinois, exclusions in life insurance policies also play a role in the denial of claims. Many life insurance policies, including those issued by companies like Mass Mutual, Pekin, and Prosperity, contain exclusions that can limit the circumstances under which a claim will be paid. One of the most common exclusions is for suicide, particularly if it occurs within the first two years of the policy. If a policyholder dies by suicide within this contestability period, companies like Prudential, Sagicor, and Securian are typically allowed to deny the claim. Other exclusions can include deaths caused by illegal activities, deaths while participating in high-risk activities such as extreme sports or skydiving, or deaths related to drug or alcohol abuse. These exclusions are often buried in the fine print of the policy and can come as a surprise to beneficiaries after a claim is denied. Illinois residents should carefully review the terms of their policies to ensure they are aware of any exclusions that might apply. In cases where exclusions could be relevant, it’s a good idea to discuss them with an insurance agent to ensure full understanding of the policy.

Another reason for claim denials in Illinois is the involvement of the insured in risky behavior or activities that are not covered by the insurance policy. Many life insurance policies, including those issued by companies such as State Farm, The Hartford, and Unum, have clauses that specifically exclude high-risk activities such as skydiving, bungee jumping, and motorcycling from coverage. If a policyholder dies while engaging in one of these activities, the insurance company may deny the claim. In Illinois, some residents may enjoy outdoor adventures or participate in activities deemed dangerous by insurers. If someone dies in an accident during one of these activities, even if it’s an accident, the life insurance company may argue that the cause of death falls outside of the coverage parameters. Illinois residents should take the time to carefully review their policy’s exclusions to ensure they understand the risks involved and consider whether their activities could jeopardize their coverage.

A further reason for life insurance claim denials in Illinois involves administrative errors or clerical mistakes on the part of the insurer. Life insurance companies, including companies like American National, Shelter Life, and Ohio National, occasionally make mistakes that can lead to the denial of claims. For example, an insurer may incorrectly update a policyholder’s personal information, leading to confusion about beneficiaries or other key details when the policyholder passes away. Additionally, paperwork may be lost or filed incorrectly, causing unnecessary delays in processing the claim or, in some cases, leading to a denial. While this is less common, administrative errors can have a serious impact on beneficiaries who are already grieving the loss of a loved one. To avoid such issues, Illinois residents should maintain records of all life insurance correspondence, payments, and updates. If a claim is denied due to a clerical mistake, contacting the insurer and providing the necessary proof can often resolve the issue.

Illinois residents should also be aware of the contestability period, a clause that is standard in most life insurance policies, including those issued by companies like Liberty Mutual, Liberty National, and Lincoln Financial. The contestability period generally lasts two years and allows insurance companies to thoroughly investigate a claim, even if the death appears to be natural. During this period, if the insurance company uncovers any discrepancies or misrepresentations in the application, they may deny the claim. This period is important for beneficiaries to understand because if the policyholder dies during this time, it’s not uncommon for the insurer to scrutinize the circumstances surrounding the death. To avoid a claim denial during this period, Illinois policyholders should be especially diligent about providing accurate information when applying for life insurance.

Finally, in some instances, life insurance claims are denied due to the policyholder’s involvement in activities that violate the terms of the policy. For example, insurance companies such as American Family, American Fidelity, and American Income Life may deny claims if the policyholder dies as a result of committing a crime or engaging in illegal behavior. These clauses are typically outlined in the policy and serve as a safeguard for the insurer, but they can lead to claim denials for beneficiaries who were unaware that such activities would impact coverage.

If a life insurance claim is denied in Illinois, beneficiaries have the right to appeal the decision. The first step is to carefully review the denial letter to understand the reason for the denial. In some cases, the denial may have been due to an administrative error, which can be corrected with additional documentation. In other cases, if the reason for denial is due to misrepresentation or exclusions, it may be necessary to seek legal advice or assistance to pursue the appeal. Legal professionals who specialize in life insurance claims can help beneficiaries navigate the complexities of the appeals process, especially in cases where the denial is related to complicated policy terms or exclusions.

Questions about life insurance claims in Illinois

What do I do if my life insurance claim in Illinois was denied?

You need to a top Illinois life insurance lawyer to represent you.

What do I do If I was served with a life insurance interpleader lawsuit in Illinois?

You don't want to jeopardize your case, so you'll need a top Illinois life insurance attorney for representation.

What do I do if I have a life insurance beneficiary dispute in Illinois?

Our top Illinois life insurance law firm can represent you with respect to your beneficiary dispute.

Why would an accidental death & dismemberment life insurance claim in Illinois be denied?

An AD&D life insurance claim is typically denied either because the death was caused by a medical event not an accident, or that there was alcohol involved which is typically an exclusion in the policy.

Can policy lapse be a reason for a denied life insurance claim in Illinois?

Yes, but the lapse can be contested by our life insurance attorneys.

Is alleged misrepresentation on a life insurance application a reason for a denied life insurance claim in Illinois?

Yes, but our life law firm can dispute the misrepresentation.

Can an alcohol exclusion be a reason for a denied life insurance claim in Illinois?

Yes, but there are ways a life insurance lawyer can dispute this.

What do I do about a bad faith ERISA life insurance denial of death benefits in Illinois?

As you only have one appeal, best to have our lawyers resolve it.

What should I do about a life insurance contestability period claim denial in Illinois?

You should always get legal representation as any denial can be contested.

What do I do if I get a denial letter for my life insurance claim stating it was denied due to Illinois state law?

There are many exceptions to denials based on Illinois state law.

What life insurance companies in Illinois deny the most claims?

Allstate in Northbrook, State Farm in Bloomington, and Country Financial deny a large percentage of claims.

2025 Illinois Denied Life Insurance Claims

National Benefit life coronavirus denial $77,000.00
Trustmark Life felony exclusion we won $50,000.00
Principal Life COVID-19 denial resolved $91,000.00
Columbian Mutual sickness exclusion $84,000.00
Denied VGLI claim beneficiaries $405,250.00
Accidental Death & Dismemberment $900,000.00
Scotia Life lapse of premiums resolved $60,000.00
Prosperity life prescription drug denial $89,000.00
Lombard autoerotic asphyxiation death $209,000.00
American Equity felony gun denial $155,000.00
Birla Sun emergency room visit records $67,000.00
Royal Neighbors Life long lapse of payment $104,000.00
Anthem autoerotic asphyxiation death $409,000.00
AARP denial due to coronavirus resolved $112,000.00
US Financial denied life claim we won $229,000.00
Term Life lapse of premiums resolved $75,000.00
AD&D denial alcohol car crash we won $80,000.00
Paul Reverse material misrepresentation $67,000.00
United Life insurable interest issue $33,000.00
Manhattan Life long delay medical records $109,000.00
Costco Life insurance claim denied won $11,000.00

First National COVID-19 exclusion won $251,000.00
Midland National suicide exclusion $316,400.00
SGLI resolution of competing beneficiaries $400,000.00
Trans Premier material misrepresentation $281,000.00
Navy Federal alcohol exclusion denial $112,800.00
Denied life insurance claim Illinois $3,000,000.00
Denied FEGLI claim only took a week to win $149,000.00
United Republic delay of claim resolved $506,300.00
Family Life policy not in force allegedly $106,000.00
Peoria ambiguous policy language case $545,000.00
Illinois divorce and life insurance $720,000.00
Elgin no coverage at the time of death $490,000.00
RiverSource fentanyl exclusion case $220,000.00
Denied SGLI claim due to dispute $407,210.00
Rockford competing beneficiary claimants $605,000.00
Naperville accidental death and dismemberment $2,100,000.00
Aurora mistake on the application won $378,000.00
Mass shooting death $212,100.00
Denied SGLI claim change of beneficiary $401,000.00
Inter-American delay of benefits we got $505,000.00
Joliet divorce court orders settlement $514,000.00
Illinois bad faith life insurance claim $867,000.00
Mass shooting death exclusion $125,000.00
Springfield alleged fraud resolved $934,000.00
Prudential AD&D policy accidental death $529,300.00
Cicero denial of benefits medical records $711,000.00
Denied AD&D claim due to stabbing $890,000.00
Mony misrepresentation at renewal $102,750.00
Globe denied due to foreign death $108,600.00
Chicago denied life insurance claim $5,000,000.00
Southern Farm Bureau prescription drug $273,000.00
Guardian Life autoerotic asphyxiation death $314,200.00
Illinois denied life insurance claim $1,500,000.00
Banner application deceptively worded $112,900.00
Northwestern interpleader case resolved $402,740.00