Group Life Insurance

**Dillywilly** · 02-09-2011, 11:20 AM

My question involves insurance law for the state of: MD

I have a group life insurance policy on myself thru my employer, and also allows me to insure my husband and children if I want to. I chose to also insure husband. After my divorce I did not change my life insurance to remove my husband. He passed away. I received information from the insurance company that I am entitled to receive the insurance payout as long as I am still married. I sent in the death certificate and it was checked divorced at time of death, along with him having a different address than mine. Was the insurance company supposed to pay even though we were divorced? Should the money be returned?

**cbg** · 02-09-2011, 01:27 PM

There's nothing illegal about having a divorced spouse as a beneficiary. When my parents were divorced, they agreed that my father would make my mother the beneficiary of one of his life insurance policies, as a part of her spousal support. It's not at all uncommon.

Whether it violates the terms of your specific plan, however, no one here can say. You'd have to look at the terms of the group policy to see if former spouses are eligible.

**Betty3** · 02-09-2011, 04:25 PM

Generally whoever is named bene(s) in the policy at the time of the insured's death gets the
proceeds even ex spouse. However, you will have to check the policy provisions - there could be something in the provisions to the contrary re divorce.

**Betty3** · 02-22-2011, 01:12 AM

Quoting Aiken

Hi,
You should recheck the terms and conditions in the contract signed by you,
If there is no provision stated like after divorce you would not be beneficiary then why they were charging from you?
You can sue against the company for your right.
Thanks

The proceeds will go to the beneficiary named in the policy (divorced spouse in this case) unless there is a policy provision to the contrary in case of divorce.

Who was paying for the policy doesn't enter into this. Just because she was paying for policy doesn't make her bene of proceeds though she should be (since she is named bene) unless there is a pol. prov. to the contrary due to divorce.