Life Insurance Lawyer Iowa

"Life Insurance Lawyers Serving Iowa: The Lassen Law Firm" Life insurance claims in Iowa can be challenging, especially when insurance companies deny benefits or act in bad faith. That’s where The Lassen Law Firm comes in. We proudly serve clients across the Hawkeye State, from Des Moines to Cedar Rapids, Davenport to Sioux City, and everywhere in between, helping individuals and families recover the benefits they’re entitled to.

As experienced life insurance attorneys handling cases nationwide, including Iowa, our results speak volumes—with over $750 million in policies recovered. At The Lassen Law Firm, we combine legal expertise with compassionate, results-driven representation to ensure justice for every client.

In Iowa, life insurance plays a critical role in ensuring that families are financially protected after the loss of a loved one. Despite its importance, life insurance claims can sometimes be denied, leading to financial difficulties and additional stress during an already challenging time. Insurance companies like Symetra, American National, and Transamerica, among others like MetLife, Reliastar, and Lincoln Financial, are often involved in these disputes. While some reasons for claim denial are common—such as missed premiums or misrepresentation—there are other, less common factors that could result in a claim being denied. Understanding these uncommon denial reasons is essential for Iowa residents to navigate the insurance landscape and ensure they are adequately covered when tragedy strikes.

One less common but significant reason for life insurance claim denial in Iowa is the involvement of the policyholder in a “hazardous occupation” or "high-risk work." Insurance companies like AIG, The Hartford, and Banner often exclude coverage for deaths that occur as a result of certain occupations that are deemed particularly dangerous. For example, if the policyholder worked in high-risk professions such as construction, logging, or mining, and the policyholder dies in an accident while performing their job, the insurer may deny the claim on the grounds that the policyholder's occupation was a material risk not disclosed during the application process. Some policies contain specific clauses that exclude death benefits related to high-risk jobs, so it’s important for Iowa residents to fully understand what their policy covers. For individuals who work in high-risk professions, it is essential to carefully read the terms of the policy to confirm whether their occupation is covered or if they may need to purchase additional coverage.

Another less common denial reason in Iowa involves the impact of living abroad. Life insurance policies from companies such as Liberty Mutual, Reliastar, and Prudential can sometimes include exclusions related to the policyholder living or traveling outside of the country for extended periods. While travel abroad generally isn’t an issue for most policyholders, if the insured person relocates to another country, especially one that’s considered high-risk or unstable, the life insurance company may deny the claim, especially if the policyholder dies due to an illness or accident in that country. This is particularly important for Iowans who may live part-time or permanently abroad. Life insurance providers may also deny claims if they determine that the insured was engaged in activities considered dangerous in certain foreign countries, such as living in areas prone to war or natural disasters. To avoid such situations, policyholders in Iowa should notify their insurer if they plan to live or travel abroad for an extended period, and check for any restrictions related to international residence or travel within the policy’s terms and conditions.

In a less typical situation, some life insurance claims in Iowa may be denied due to the policyholder’s participation in illegal acts or civil disobedience. Life insurance providers such as Aetna, American General, and Mass Mutual often have clauses in their policies that exclude coverage for deaths resulting from illegal activities. This includes deaths that happen during the commission of a crime or even deaths tied to civil disobedience, such as during protests or demonstrations where violence may occur. If the policyholder was involved in illegal activities at the time of their death, the insurer may refuse to pay out the death benefit. Iowa residents should be aware that if their actions put them at risk in illegal circumstances, this could have significant consequences for their life insurance coverage. This is especially important for those who are involved in high-risk political activism or other forms of civil unrest, as certain insurers may refuse claims for these types of fatalities.

In rare cases, a life insurance company might deny a claim due to issues surrounding the insured's lifestyle, particularly if they were engaged in activities deemed “morally hazardous” by the insurer. Insurance companies like MetLife, Lincoln Heritage, and Reliastar may choose to refuse claims in cases where the insured had a lifestyle that they consider to be detrimental to their health, such as engaging in extreme gambling, habitual drug use, or chronic reckless behavior. For instance, if an insured person’s death is caused by a gambling-related incident or a result of risky or criminal actions tied to their lifestyle choices, the insurance company might invoke a clause in the policy that excludes payouts under these circumstances. This is more of a subjective area of underwriting, but insurers generally try to protect themselves from paying out for deaths related to behavior that they view as reckless or harmful. While this is relatively uncommon, Iowa policyholders should be cautious about how their personal lifestyle choices could impact the validity of their coverage, especially if their actions could be interpreted as irresponsible or harmful by the insurance company.

A less frequent but still notable reason for life insurance claim denial in Iowa is linked to the “moral hazard” principle, which is a condition under which an individual’s behaviors are influenced by the knowledge that they are insured. For instance, if a life insurance company such as State Farm, Sagicor, or New York Life believes that the policyholder intentionally put themselves in a situation where harm was more likely to occur in order to benefit from a life insurance payout (for example, committing an act of self-harm or deliberately putting themselves at risk for death), the insurer might cite moral hazard and deny the claim. This is a controversial and rare occurrence, but some insurance companies scrutinize claims when there’s a perceived intentional risk taken by the insured to trigger the policy’s death benefit. It’s a difficult area of life insurance to navigate because of the subjective nature of determining moral hazard, but policyholders in Iowa should be aware that this is a possibility under certain circumstances, especially if there are any suspicions regarding the insured’s intent or actions.

Additionally, some life insurance claims are denied in Iowa due to complications arising from the contestability period, especially in cases where the policyholder has made multiple claims or has had lapses in the policy. Insurers like Transamerica, American National, and Symetra have contestability clauses that allow them to review the circumstances surrounding the insured’s death if it occurs within the first two years of the policy. While most claims are denied during this period for typical reasons such as misrepresentation or non-disclosure, certain more complicated situations can arise, especially if there have been multiple alterations or changes to the policy during its early stages. This could include revising the coverage amounts, changing beneficiaries, or reapplying for the policy after an initial rejection. In these cases, the insurer may invoke the contestability period to investigate the validity of the claim. Iowa residents should be mindful that this clause can result in delays or denials, and it’s crucial to ensure that all paperwork is accurate and consistent when applying for or altering a life insurance policy.

Lastly, the most uncommon reason for denial that some Iowa residents may encounter is related to the policyholder’s personal debts and financial troubles. If an insurer discovers that the insured had significant outstanding debts at the time of death, particularly if those debts involved fraudulent activities or legal violations, the insurance company may choose to deny the claim. This situation is rare, but in some cases, if the policyholder’s financial history or obligations were intentionally hidden or misrepresented during the application process, insurers like AIG, Liberty Mutual, or Foresters may invoke fraud clauses or consider the death to be a result of the insured’s risky financial decisions. To avoid this, it’s important for policyholders to be transparent about their financial situation and ensure that no material facts are left out when they apply for life insurance.

If an Iowa resident experiences a life insurance claim denial, the first step is to thoroughly review the denial letter to understand the specific reason behind the decision. Many life insurance companies, including those like MetLife, Nationwide, and American Income Life, provide detailed explanations of their reasoning in the denial notice. If the reason is unclear or seems unfounded, it’s essential to request further clarification from the insurer. In cases where the denial is due to administrative errors or policy misinterpretations, contacting the company directly may resolve the issue. However, if the denial is based on more complex issues such as exclusion clauses, misrepresentation, or moral hazard, seeking legal advice from an attorney specializing in life insurance disputes can be beneficial. Attorneys experienced in these matters can help beneficiaries navigate the claims process, especially when there are significant complications or concerns about the legitimacy of the denial.

Questions about life insurance claims in Iowa

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why would an accidental death & dismemberment life insurance claim in Iowa 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 Iowa?

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 Iowa?

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

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

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 Iowa?

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 Iowa?

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 Iowa state law?

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

What are the worst life insurance companies in Iowa for paying claims?

These Indiana life insurance companies deny many claims: Fidelity & Guarantee Life in Des Moines and American Equity Investment Life also in Des Moines.

2025 Iowa Denied Life Insurance Claims

  • Liberty misrepresentation on the application $308,430.00
  • Prudential AD&D accidental death denial $512,699.00
  • Waterloo no coverage at the time of death $116,000.00
  • Denied SGLI claim beneficiary dispute $404,200.00
  • Mass shooting life insurance denied $387,000.00
  • ERISA life insurance appeal successfully won $132,000.00
  • Denied FEGLI claim resolved by us $405,300.00
  • Nationwide prescription drug exclusion $271,300.00
  • Transamerica autoerotic asphyxiation death $324,420.00
  • Iowa denied life insurance claim $1,300,00.00
  • Family Heritage delay of benefits medical $168,200.00
  • American General ambiguity on application $419,500.00
  • Athene Life misrepresentation health resolved $201,000.00
  • Des Moines mistake on the application $1,090,000.00
  • Denied AD&D claim heart attack won by us $505,800.00
  • Sioux City ambiguous policy language $573,000.00
  • Davenport dangerous activity exclusion $784,000.00
  • Mass Mutual alcohol exclusion resolved $615,30000
  • Chubb Life insurance claim denial won $101,100.00
  • Iowa bad faith life insurance claim case $837,000.00
  • USAA sickness exclusion paid up $303,150.00
  • Iowa City interpleader lawsuit we won $840,000.00
  • Wilton RE life felony exclusion resolved $303,900.00
  • Denied life insurance claim Iowa $920,600.00
  • Unum long delay no reason $525,750.00
  • AIG prescription exclusion $154,000.00
  • Iowa divorce and life insurance case $712,000.00
  • SGLI beneficiary dispute settled $400,000.00