Making a life insurance claim

What the beneficiary does

As the named beneficiary, contact the insurer to start the claim and request the claimant's statement. You'll typically need to provide:

• A certified copy of the death certificate.
• The policy number (check the deceased's records, or ask the insurer to search by name).
• Completed claim forms, with your name and details matching the beneficiary designation.
• Sometimes, for early or accidental deaths, additional documents (a coroner's report, medical records).

Timeline

A valid, uncontested claim on a policy that's been in force beyond the contestability period is often paid within a few weeks of the insurer receiving complete documents. When a claim drags, it's almost always because paperwork is missing or the insurer has opened a contestability review.

The contestability period

For roughly the first two years a policy is in force, the insurer can investigate the original application and deny the claim for material misrepresentation — an undisclosed health condition, understated smoking, or a risky activity left off the form. After two years, claims are generally incontestable except for fraud. An honest, complete application is the single best protection a policyholder can leave their family.

Common issues that stall or reduce a claim

• No named beneficiary — proceeds fall into the estate, triggering probate, delay, and possible creditor claims. See beneficiary designations.
• A lapsed policy — missed premiums past the grace period can void coverage; ask about reinstatement rules.
• The suicide clause — commonly excluded in the first two years, then covered.
• A minor beneficiary with no trustee — the payout can be tied up by the courts until the child reaches the age of majority.

If the claim is denied

Request the specific reason in writing and the application the insurer is relying on. Then escalate: the insurer's internal complaints office, the OmbudService for Life & Health Insurance (OLHI) — free and independent — and then the provincial regulator. Because contested life claims often involve large sums and disputed medical history, they frequently warrant a lawyer; the Fight-Back Kit has the letters to start.