Exclusions, Terms and Claims

A life insurance policy is a contract, and the contract decides what gets paid. This section translates the parts that trip people up: the contestability period, suicide clauses, exclusions for certain activities, riders, grace periods and the difference between an owner, an insured and a beneficiary.

If you are buying, read the plain-English terms guide and the exclusions guide first so you know what to look for in a sample policy. If you are a beneficiary dealing with a death, the claim-filing guide gives a step-by-step sequence, including how to find a policy you did not know existed. The denial guide explains the patterns behind most contested claims, nearly all of which come down to application accuracy, lapsed coverage or beneficiary paperwork.

Nothing here replaces the actual language of your own policy. Policy forms and state rules differ, so treat these guides as a map of what to ask, and read the contract and your state insurance department resources for the details that govern your case.