Life Insurance Claim Question

[mediagod]

My father passed suddenly last week, nearly a month after taking out a $10,000 insurance policy. Just a couple quick questions.

1) We made the call and are getting a claim form. They have already stated there will be an investigation. The family had previously already decided on NO autopsy and the coroner signed off on the death. Is the investigation prompted because of the short amount of time between inception of insurance and his death?

2) He was listed in the policy as a 'non-smoker'. Dad had smoked in early years and occasionally but at the time of signing he had quit smoking....how is it viewed by insurance companies when a person has smoked most of their lives but near the end quit? It seems confusing as to how long a person must NOT smoke to be considered a 'non-smoker'?

Thanks in advance for any guidance you might be able to offer or any general advice on the claims process as it pertains to our specific circumstances.

[Anonymous]

1) We made the call and are getting a claim form. They have already stated there will be an investigation. The family had previously already decided on NO autopsy and the coroner signed off on the death. Is the investigation prompted because of the short amount of time between inception of insurance and his death?

Probably.

2) He was listed in the policy as a 'non-smoker'. Dad had smoked in early years and occasionally but at the time of signing he had quit smoking....how is it viewed by insurance companies when a person has smoked most of their lives but near the end quit? It seems confusing as to how long a person must NOT smoke to be considered a 'non-smoker'?

Generally speaking, that will be defined somewhere in the insurance policy application. Often the question is specific - i.e., "Has this applicant smoked during the past 12 months".

[jonesy]

It is typically asked if they've used tobacco in the past 5 years. This can even mean a cigar 6 months ago with a friend. Any tobacco use is subject to a two-year incontestibility clause which they will pay nothing out but the refunded premium payments. After the first two years they will pay out the full benefit. Insurance companies generally reserve the right to perform an autopsy if needed (which they pay for) and this will generally be on the application or contract (or both). In life insurance claims do legally need need to be paid out promptly and you are generally entitled to interest on the payment while they hold it. So the investigation should not take very long.