When can life insurance be denied?

Asked by: Zachary Kessler  |  Last update: April 11, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (26 votes)

They can include engaging in risky hobbies and behaviors like skydiving; having a history of DUIs or speeding tickets; having a dangerous job like roofing; having a criminal record or a less than ideal financial history; being a smoker; and failing a drug test.

Why would you be declined for life insurance?

Some life insurance applicants may be denied a policy for common health reasons such as obesity, high blood pressure readings, abnormal laboratory values, and chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, Parkinson's, liver disease, chronic kidney disease and behavioral health concerns.

What will disqualify me from life insurance?

A few common examples of pre-existing conditions include high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and asthma. Previous injuries might be considered pre-existing conditions, depending on their severity and any lasting effects.

When can a life insurance claim be denied?

Usually, within your life insurance policy, there is an "incontestability provision." If you should die during this contestability period and the insurance provider determines that your application included material misrepresentations, a life insurance claim could be denied. Honesty is always the best policy.

Under what circumstances will life insurance not pay?

Life insurance may not pay out if the policy expires, premiums aren't paid, or there are false statements on the application. Other reasons include death from illegal activities, suicide, or homicide, with insurers investigating claims thoroughly.

Been Denied Life Insurance, What Do I Do?

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What makes you uninsurable for life insurance?

This is often due to health challenges like diabetes and obesity, as well as non-health related life insurance disqualifiers like a dangerous job or hobby, a history of speeding tickets or using tobacco products. Here's how to understand what might make you uninsurable for life insurance and what your options are.

Why would a death benefit be denied?

But it's important to be aware that there are a few instances where life insurance won't pay out. Top reasons life insurance won't pay out may be because the policyholder lied on their application, their death was the result of suicide, or they passed away during the waiting period.

Which cases is likely to be declined by a life insurer?

People are typically denied life insurance because they fall into a high-risk category. This is often due to health challenges like diabetes, obesity or a previous diagnosis of serious disease. There are also nonhealth reasons for being denied life insurance.

Why won't life insurance pay out?

there is an exclusion clause in the policy which means that you can't claim for what's happened. you've missed some of the instalments of your premium. you didn't tell your insurer about a change in your circumstances. you haven't followed the claims process correctly.

How long does it take for a beneficiary to receive money?

How long does it take for beneficiaries to receive life insurance money? Life insurers typically take 14 to 60 days to pay out the death benefit after the beneficiary files the claim. This is because they must verify the policy terms and policyholder's death certificate and confirm who the beneficiaries are.

What disqualifies you from whole life insurance?

Pre-existing conditions – meaning any health issue or condition that existed before applying for coverage – are often considered high-risk by insurance companies and can lead to disqualification. Chronic conditions that require long-term medication or treatment can also impact eligibility.

What makes a person uninsurable?

“Factors such as pre-existing medical conditions, age, occupation and lifestyle choices can contribute to a person being considered 'uninsurable' according to standard underwriting guidelines,” says Tarek El Ali, Founder of Smart Insurance Agents.

Does life insurance check your income?

In order to assess your life insurance need, the insurer will need to know your age and income at the time of the application. One simple and common method is to calculate coverage as a multiple of annual income.

What disqualifies a person from life insurance?

Specific Conditions that May Disqualify You

Certain health conditions and lifestyle choices can significantly impact your eligibility for full coverage life insurance. Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure are among the top concerns for insurers.

What to do if you are uninsurable?

If you're denied insurance, the first step is to call another insurer—different companies have different parameters. However, if several insurers have denied you, you may need to consider these options: Join a state assigned risk pool – Auto insurers participate on a voluntary basis in state assigned risk pools.

What age does life insurance not pay?

Whole life policies are a form of permanent life insurance and they typically have no age limit. However, depending on the insurer, age limits can vary from around 80 to 85.

Why do I keep getting denied for life insurance?

Their reasons could be anything from a serious medical condition (like heart disease) or poor results from your life insurance medical exam to nonmedical reasons like bankruptcy, a criminal record, a positive drug test or even a dangerous hobby—carriers are not fans of insuring base jumpers in squirrel suits.

What deaths are not covered by life insurance?

Life insurance policies cover most causes of death, but exclusions such as suicide, dangerous or illegal activities, substance abuse, and misrepresentation can apply.

When can an insurance claim be rejected?

Some common causes for claims being rejected are non-disclosures, partial disclosures and wrong disclosures of important details such as age, nature of occupation, income, current insurance plans, major ailments or pre-existing medical conditions.

What conditions make you uninsurable for life insurance?

What medical conditions prevent you from getting life insurance?
  • Anxiety and depression.
  • Asthma.
  • Diabetes.
  • Heart disease.
  • High blood pressure.
  • High cholesterol.
  • HIV.
  • Obesity.

Which life insurance company denies the most claims?

Top 8 Worst Insurance Companies
  1. Allstate. We know you have seen the ads. ...
  2. Unum. Unum is a leading disability insurance provider in the United States has a reputation for denied and delayed insurance claims – even when claims include their own employees. ...
  3. State Farm. ...
  4. AIG. ...
  5. Anthem. ...
  6. Farmers Insurance Group. ...
  7. UnitedHealth. ...
  8. USAA.

What counts as declined insurance?

Declined car insurance means an insurer has refused to cover you. You might not have met the criteria for the policy, or they might know about misdemeanours in your past and see you as too much of a risk to insure. You could be declined car insurance for a new policy or a renewal for an existing one.

What age does death benefits stop?

Key takeaways

Survivor benefits for kids can help families weather the loss of a loved one. But monthly payments aren't automatic when a parent dies. Benefits typically end at age 18 but in some cases can last longer. Benefits accrue from the date you apply, not the date of a parent's death.

What is the average life insurance payout?

The average US life insurance payout is approximately $160,000. This figure can vary widely depending on the policy type, with term life insurance policies typically offering short-term lower death benefits and larger sums for whole-life universal life insurance.

How often do life insurance companies deny claims?

Almost 1 in 5, or 20%, of life insurance claims are denied by insurance companies, often due to material misrepresentation or incomplete medical history in the life insurance application. This high denial rate emphasizes the importance of working with a skilled life insurance lawyer to get the payout you deserve.