Life Insurance Lawyer Maine

Our Maine life insurance lawyers are here to help with your denied claim. We serve all states. Free consultation. No fee unless settlement.

2025 Maine Denied Life Insurance Claims

  • Mutual Security Life coronavirus denial $203,000.00
  • Mass shooting death denial $150,000.00
  • Inter-American Life COVID-19 denied $105,000.00
  • Denied SGLI claim change in beneficiary $406,400.00
  • Ameriprise wrong age on application $30,000.00
  • Executive Life power of attorney change $77,000.00
  • First Capital Life felony exclusion claim $128,000.00
  • Iowa Farm Life suicide gun accident won $175,000.00
  • American Standard Life alcohol exclusion $202,500.00
  • FG Life lapse of policy two month time $31,000.00
  • NEA Life chronic illness exclusion won $10,000.00
  • Globe denial material misrepresentation $109,250.00
  • Iowa Farm Life denial of benefits resolved $502,000.00
  • SGLI claim wife and ex dispute won $400,000.00
  • American General suicide exclusion $213,800.00
  • Equitable nonpayment of premium $103,000.00
  • Denial of FEGLI claim benefits won $409,300.00
  • Lewiston interpleader lawsuit resolved $740,000.00
  • Maine denied life insurance claim $921,500.00
  • FEGLI appeal resolved in three weeks $154,000.00
  • Denied AD&D claim suicide case won $920,000.00
  • Biddeford long delay of benefits obtained $950,000.00
  • Auburn Maine material misrepresentation $821,000.00
  • AIG divorce ex-spouse against spouse $319,300.00
  • Accidental Death & Dismemberment $750,000.00
  • Hartford drug exclusion opioid death $204,650.00
  • Bangor divorce settlement court order $350,000.00
  • AIG interpleader beneficiary dispute $560,000.00
  • Prudential denial of AD&D policy $526,000.00
  • ERISA appeal life insurance benefits $144,000.00
  • Denied life insurance claim Maine $815,300.00
  • New Jersey Life denial of benefits $270,000.00
  • USAA Life dispute among family $720,000.00
  • Standard autoerotic asphyxiation $320,000.00
  • Reliance Standard sickness exclusion $210,000.00
  • Maine divorce settlement life insurance $500,000.00
  • Portland ambiguous language resolved $911,000.00
  • Gerber denial felony exclusion $106,000.00

In Maine, life insurance is an essential safety net for families, offering a financial cushion when an insured person passes away. However, there are situations where life insurance claims are denied, and it’s important for residents to understand the less common reasons behind these denials. While most people are familiar with the traditional reasons, such as missed premium payments or misrepresentation on the application, other more obscure factors can also lead to a claim being rejected. Companies like Globe Life, Symetra, and AIG may deny claims for reasons that are less widely recognized but still impact the payout process. Additionally, disputes between beneficiaries or complex legal issues can add another layer of difficulty for survivors. Maine residents need to be aware of these challenges to ensure their loved ones aren’t left in a vulnerable position when filing a claim.

One reason for denial that may surprise policyholders in Maine is what’s known as “lack of insurable interest.” While it’s common knowledge that life insurance beneficiaries typically need to have a close relationship with the insured, such as being a spouse or dependent, this isn’t always the case. Insurers like MetLife, Reliastar, and American General may challenge a claim if they determine that the beneficiary did not have an insurable interest in the life of the insured. This could occur in cases where the beneficiary is a distant relative, a business partner, or someone with no clear financial dependency on the insured’s life. Even if the beneficiary is listed on the policy, the insurance company might claim that the beneficiary had no legitimate reason to be named, and this could lead to a denial of the claim. This is particularly concerning for Maine residents who might not fully understand the implications of insurable interest or assume that a will or informal arrangement overrides the insurance company’s rules.

Another less common but significant reason for denial comes into play when the insured’s death occurs under “suspicious circumstances.” Insurers like Prudential, Banner, and Securian may reject claims if there’s evidence suggesting the insured’s death was not accidental, natural, or due to an event covered under the policy. For instance, if the death occurs in circumstances that appear suspicious or involve potential foul play, the insurer might delay the payout or refuse to honor the claim until further investigation is completed. Even when there’s no criminal investigation, the insurance company may conduct its own internal review to determine if there was any intentional self-harm, fraud, or reckless behavior involved in the insured’s passing. This can happen in cases where the policyholder's death was the result of a high-risk hobby, such as skydiving or scuba diving, which the insurance company may not have been made aware of. The company may argue that the policyholder’s involvement in these activities constituted a breach of the policy’s terms and conditions, and the death should be considered outside the scope of coverage.

A particularly tricky situation arises when there is a dispute over the interpretation of policy language, especially around exclusions. Life insurance policies often contain specific exclusions for causes of death that may seem unclear to the average person. For example, policies issued by companies such as Lincoln Financial, USAA, and Transamerica may have clauses that exclude deaths resulting from acts of war, civil unrest, or even certain forms of terrorism. In Maine, where the proximity to international borders and the unpredictability of certain natural events might lead to a broader interpretation of these clauses, claims could be denied if the insured dies in an event considered an act of terrorism or a war-related incident. Even if the cause of death was not directly related to combat or warfare, some insurers might argue that the policyholder’s death occurred in an environment that posed excessive risk, and they would refuse to payout based on those terms. These exclusions are often buried in the fine print of the policy, and policyholders may not realize how they affect their coverage until it’s too late.

A rare but nonetheless important reason for denial relates to “pre-existing conditions.” While most people are aware that insurers may not cover deaths related to pre-existing conditions within the first two years of a policy, it’s less widely known that some insurers will scrutinize the policyholder's medical history more deeply, even after the contestability period has passed. Companies like Globe Life, Reliance Standard, and MassMutual may deny claims if they discover that the insured had an undisclosed medical condition or prior treatment that directly contributed to their death, even years after the policy was issued. For instance, if an insured person failed to disclose their history of heart disease, and the cause of death was a related heart attack, the insurer might argue that the original underwriting process was misled, and deny the claim. This issue can create confusion and tension for beneficiaries, especially when they believe the death was unrelated to any pre-existing conditions, only to find that their loved one’s medical history was more significant than originally thought.

In Maine, one of the less common reasons for claim denial that can leave families in a tough spot involves “misrepresentation of lifestyle or occupation.” Life insurance companies like AIG, New York Life, and Foresters often ask policyholders about their work and personal habits, especially if the insured is employed in high-risk jobs or engages in dangerous activities like rock climbing, deep-sea diving, or hazardous construction work. If the policyholder fails to disclose this information when applying for insurance, the company may later use that omission as grounds for denying a claim if the death was in any way linked to those activities. For example, if a policyholder who works in a high-risk occupation like offshore drilling or as a stunt performer dies while engaged in a work-related accident, the insurance company could claim that the insured had an obligation to inform them of the risk associated with their occupation. The omission could result in the policy being voided or the claim being denied. This situation highlights the importance of full transparency when filling out a life insurance application.

Beneficiary disputes can also complicate the life insurance claims process in Maine. Even when the insured has clearly designated a beneficiary in their policy, it is not uncommon for relatives or others to contest the choice, especially if there are changes made to the beneficiary designation shortly before the death. For example, an ex-spouse might challenge the claim, arguing that they were the rightful beneficiary, or a family member could claim that they were the one who should have received the benefits, not the policyholder’s new partner. Disputes over beneficiary designations often result in lengthy legal battles, and life insurance companies such as Lincoln Heritage, Hartford Life, and Symetra might be left with no choice but to hold the payout until the dispute is resolved.

In these cases, the insurer may file what’s known as an interpleader lawsuit. An interpleader is a legal action taken by the insurance company when they are uncertain about the rightful recipient of the death benefit. By filing an interpleader, insurers like Securian, Reliastar, and Transamerica ask the court to determine which party should receive the death benefit. While this legal process is meant to protect the insurer from being caught in the middle of a dispute, it often delays the payout, leaving the beneficiaries without the support they need. The process can drag on for months or even years, causing financial and emotional strain on the family while the legal system sorts out who has the legal right to the policy proceeds.

Finally, in some cases, a life insurance claim may be delayed or denied because of an issue with the insured’s mental health history. Insurance companies like MassMutual, Protective Life, and State Farm may deny claims if it is discovered that the insured had a history of mental health issues, such as depression, suicidal thoughts, or bipolar disorder, which they failed to disclose during the underwriting process. If a death occurs under circumstances that suggest mental health issues were a contributing factor, the insurer may argue that the policyholder was at greater risk of dying prematurely due to these undisclosed conditions. This denial could be especially challenging for beneficiaries, as it might not be clear until after the death that the insured’s mental health history was a significant factor in the decision to deny the claim.

Questions about life insurance claims in Maine

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Maine?

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

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

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 Maine?

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 Maine?

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 Maine state law?

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