Will an insurance company pay if cause of death is gunshot wound and manner is undetermined after the 2 year constabulary period in a case that was clearly a suicide?

  1. 180 POINTS
    Michael Quinn
    Insurance Broker, CompassInsuranceOptions.com, United States
    Life insurance typically will not pay a death claim if the cause of death is suicide within 2 years upon issue of the policy.

    After the 2 year contestability clause has passed, life insurance companies will pay the death benefit.  

    If suicide occurred within the contestability clause, the beneficiary should receive back the premiums that were already paid (not the death benefit).
    Answered on March 28, 2014
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  2. 10968 POINTS
    Tim Wilhoit
    Owner, Your Friend 4 Life, Brentwood TN
    Life insurance policies in most states with a few exceptions have a contestability clause on suicide. The method of suicide is irrelevant. Most contestability clauses are two years from the effective date. Yes, if the cause of death were to be ruled a suicide and the coverage has been in force of two years the death benefit most likely would be paid. If the gunshot wound were ruled by a coroner as accidental or homicide the contestability clause would not be effected and benefits would be paid in almost all cases.
    Answered on March 29, 2014
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  3. 21750 POINTS
    Jim Winkler
    CEO/Owner, Winkler Financial Group, Houston, Texas
    That is a great question! I am sorry for your loss, let me say that first...you are obviously aware that there is the two year cooling off period, and that it has passed, so I am going to assume that the company is dragging its feet about paying for some other reason. My guess would be that they are looking for evidence that will show that the death was a result of some form of criminal activity, or that there was some form of illness that wasn't properly disclosed on the application. In both cases, if there is something on the policy application that was signed off on ( and many policies will state that they will not pay out if the death occurs as a result of criminal activity, or fraud on the application) that they could use, they may be waiting on a more definitive answer from the police or coroner. I do not know the specifics of your case, nor anything about your insurer, so bear in mind that this is just guesswork on my part, and in no way infers, implies, or suggests any wrongdoing on the part of you, your loved one, or the insurance company. Just searching for an answer to your question. Thank you for asking.
    Answered on July 3, 2014
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