Which Life Insurance Companies Are the Worst at Paying Claims?
Some life insurance companies have a pattern of denying or delaying legitimate claims, leaving grieving families without the financial support they were promised. Whether due to poor customer service, high rejection rates, or tactics aimed at avoiding payouts, certain insurers stand out for the wrong reasons. Below, we break down 70 of the worst life insurance companies when it comes to claim approvals—plus what to do if your claim is denied.
Worst 70 Life Insurance Companies and Their Denial Reasons
Unum
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Misrepresentation in the application process, failure to meet policy’s beneficiary requirements, policy lapse due to missed premium payments, ambiguous policy exclusions, failure to meet age requirements, contestability period clauses.Globe Life
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Non-disclosure of risky lifestyle behaviors, policy lapses due to delayed premium payments, death occurring during contestability period, beneficiary designation errors, unclear cause of death, misinterpretation of policy terms.MetLife
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Misrepresentation during the application process, failure to submit required documentation, claims under the contestability period, ambiguous exclusions related to types of death, administrative errors, policy lapses due to missed payments.Colonial Penn
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Death occurring during contestability period, administrative delays, failure to meet policy terms, discrepancies in beneficiary designations, policy cancellation due to missed premiums, misinterpretation of policy clauses.Bankers Life
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Contestability period clauses, administrative errors in processing claims, incorrect beneficiary designation, failure to provide required supporting documents, policy lapsed due to non-payment of premiums, exclusion of specific causes of death under policy.Allianz
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Non-disclosure of high-risk activities, improper beneficiary designations, claims under contestability period, failure to meet premium payment deadlines, exclusion of certain deaths (e.g., accidental), and policy cancellations due to paperwork errors.TIAA
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Policy lapse due to missed premiums, contested beneficiary designations, failure to submit the correct documentation, ambiguous policy exclusions, claims made during contestability period, misinterpretation of policy’s death benefit conditions.Protective Life
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Administrative errors in processing claims, policy lapse due to non-payment, beneficiary designation discrepancies, exclusions related to accidental death, claims under contestability period, incorrect beneficiary details.Cincinnati Life
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Non-payment of premiums, failure to meet policy’s beneficiary requirements, death during contestability period, miscommunication regarding cause of death, misinterpretation of policy exclusions, death resulting from excluded causes (e.g., alcohol-related incidents).AIG
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Misrepresentation on the application form, death occurring during contestability period, disputes over beneficiary designations, administrative delays, lapsed policies due to unpaid premiums, unclear policy terms regarding exclusions.Stonebridge Life
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Claims under contestability period, non-payment of premiums, death due to excluded circumstances (such as alcohol or drug-related causes), ambiguity in policy terms, beneficiary disputes, policy lapsed due to administrative oversight.Geico
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Incorrect beneficiary information, death during contestability period, failure to meet policy requirements, confusion about cause of death, ambiguous exclusions regarding certain circumstances (e.g., death while traveling abroad), administrative errors.Liberty Mutual
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Policy lapsed due to missed premium payments, exclusion of certain deaths (e.g., suicides), beneficiary designation errors, claims denied under contestability period, disputes over the cause of death, misapplication of policy terms.Lincoln National
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Non-payment of premiums, beneficiary disputes, death occurring under the contestability period, ambiguous policy language, policy cancellation for lack of required documents, misrepresentation on the application.Ethos
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Contestability period issues, death not meeting policy’s death benefit conditions, ambiguous exclusions related to certain causes of death, incomplete or missing documents, failure to comply with policy renewal terms.True Blue
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Misrepresentation on the application, death occurring during contestability period, incorrect beneficiary designations, policy lapse due to missed premium payments, administrative errors, claims denied due to ambiguous exclusions.Choice Mutual
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Non-payment of premiums, failure to submit required paperwork, disputes over beneficiary designations, death under contestability period, misinterpretation of policy exclusions, death caused by a risk not covered by the policy.American Fidelity
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Miscommunication regarding beneficiary names, policy lapse due to missed premium payments, claims made during contestability period, exclusion for accidental death or injuries, errors in policy language interpretation, late submission of required documents.SBLI (Savings Bank Life Insurance)
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Claims under contestability period, misrepresentation during the application process, beneficiary designation issues, policy cancellation due to administrative errors, failure to meet documentation requirements, exclusion for death in excluded circumstances (e.g., alcohol consumption).Primerica
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Policy lapse due to non-payment of premiums, beneficiary disputes, administrative errors, claims made during the contestability period, policy exclusions for certain causes of death, failure to meet policy conditions.Ohio National
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Claims under contestability period, non-payment of premiums, disputes over beneficiary designation, administrative issues, miscommunication regarding cause of death, ambiguous exclusions in policy wording.Brighthouse Financial
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Failure to meet premium payment requirements, death occurring during contestability period, failure to submit required medical information, beneficiary disputes, administrative errors in processing claims.North American
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Policy lapsed due to missed premiums, death during contestability period, beneficiary issues, failure to submit required documentation, misinterpretation of policy exclusions.Lincoln Financial
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Non-payment of premiums, misinterpretation of policy exclusions, death during contestability period, disputes over beneficiary designations, administrative errors.Prudential
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Miscommunication regarding death cause, policy exclusions (e.g., deaths related to substance abuse), claims under contestability period, beneficiary discrepancies, failure to meet premium payment terms.American Income Life
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Claims made during contestability period, errors in beneficiary designation, non-payment of premiums, misinterpretation of policy’s exclusions, unclear cause of death.Midland National
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Claims under contestability period, administrative errors, beneficiary designation discrepancies, non-payment of premiums, policy exclusions for certain causes of death (e.g., suicides).The Hartford
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Non-payment of premiums, policy lapse due to missed payments, beneficiary designation issues, claims under contestability period, misinterpretation of policy exclusions.Zander
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Claims denied based on beneficiary errors, miscommunication regarding policy terms, administrative errors, exclusion clauses related to cause of death (e.g., suicide).Farmers
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Death during contestability period, policy lapse, misinterpretation of death benefit terms, exclusion clauses, beneficiary disputes, late or incomplete documentation.Northwestern Mutual
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Claims during contestability period, misrepresentation or omission of information on application, lapsed policies, administrative errors, misinterpretation of exclusions.Gerber Life
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Non-payment of premiums, failure to meet eligibility requirements, beneficiary discrepancies, policy exclusions for certain causes of death, administrative delays.New York Life
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Claims made during contestability period, beneficiary designation issues, non-payment of premiums, misinterpretation of death benefit conditions, miscommunication regarding the cause of death.Freedom Life
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Policy lapse, failure to meet policy terms, claims under contestability period, exclusion clauses, administrative errors, beneficiary disputes.Mutual of Omaha
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Non-payment of premiums, misinterpretation of policy exclusions, beneficiary designation errors, policy cancellation, claims made during contestability period.Aetna
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Miscommunication regarding death cause, claims under contestability period, beneficiary disputes, failure to provide required documentation, administrative delays.True Stage
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Misrepresentation or incomplete information on the application, claims during contestability period, lapses in coverage, beneficiary disputes, administrative errors.Simplified Life
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Death during contestability period, failure to submit required documents, beneficiary discrepancies, non-payment of premiums, exclusions for certain causes of death.Nationwide
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Policy lapses, failure to disclose accurate beneficiary information, claims under contestability period, administrative delays, misinterpretation of policy terms.Guardian
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Non-payment of premiums, failure to meet eligibility requirements, beneficiary disputes, claims under contestability period, administrative errors.Assurity
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Misinterpretation of exclusions, administrative errors, miscommunication of beneficiary details, policy lapses, claims during contestability period.Illinois Mutual
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Claims under contestability period, beneficiary discrepancies, non-payment of premiums, administrative errors, policy exclusions.American United
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Misrepresentation on the application, non-payment of premiums, beneficiary disputes, claims made during contestability period, administrative delays.State Farm
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Claims under contestability period, non-payment of premiums, beneficiary disputes, policy lapse, miscommunication regarding cause of death.Foresters Financial
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Administrative delays, beneficiary discrepancies, death occurring during contestability period, misinterpretation of policy exclusions.Haven Life
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Non-disclosure of risk factors, failure to meet premium payment terms, beneficiary errors, claims under contestability period.Fidelity Life
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Non-payment of premiums, claims under contestability period, beneficiary errors, misinterpretation of exclusions.AAA Life
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Policy lapses due to non-payment of premiums, death during contestability period, administrative delays, miscommunication regarding the cause of death.Voya Financial
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Claims made during contestability period, policy exclusions for specific causes of death, failure to submit necessary documents, beneficiary disputes.Lincoln Heritage
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Contestability period claims, beneficiary issues, non-payment of premiums, ambiguity in policy exclusions.Navy Mutual
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Miscommunication regarding policy terms, beneficiary disputes, death under contested causes, claims under contestability period.AXA
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Claims made during contestability period, misrepresentation on applications, beneficiary issues, exclusions for certain causes of death.Global Atlantic
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Death occurring during contestability period, miscommunication about policy requirements, beneficiary issues, exclusion clauses.Amica
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Policy exclusions for certain causes of death, failure to meet premium requirements, administrative errors, beneficiary discrepancies.Securian Financial
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Death during contestability period, beneficiary disputes, misinterpretation of policy terms, policy lapses.American General
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Death during contestability period, beneficiary discrepancies, exclusion clauses, misrepresentation on the application.Principal Financial
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Failure to meet premium requirements, claims under contestability period, beneficiary disputes, exclusions.Liberty National
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Administrative delays, death during contestability period, beneficiary discrepancies, misinterpretation of policy exclusions.American Family
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Claims under contestability period, misinterpretation of exclusions, non-payment of premiums.John Hancock
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Miscommunication regarding death cause, administrative delays, beneficiary disputes, policy exclusions.Americo
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Policy lapses, beneficiary errors, claims under contestability period.Pacific Life
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Administrative delays, death under contestability period, non-payment of premiums, beneficiary issues.Genworth
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Policy lapses, contestability period issues, misrepresentation on applications, beneficiary issues.Bestow
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Non-payment of premiums, beneficiary errors, failure to meet policy terms.United Home
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Claims under contestability period, policy exclusions, beneficiary issues.Ameriprise
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Misinterpretation of policy exclusions, claims under contestability period, beneficiary discrepancies.Progressive
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Death under contested exclusions, miscommunication about coverage, beneficiary issues.MassMutual
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Claims under contestability period, failure to meet premium requirements, beneficiary disputes.AARP
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Misinterpretation of policy clauses, non-payment of premiums, beneficiary issues.Vantis
Common Denials: Life insurance claims
Reasons for Denial: Claims under contestability period, exclusion clauses for certain types of deaths, administrative errors.
What to Do If Your Life Insurance Claim Is Denied or Delayed
Receiving a life insurance denial letter during an already painful time can feel overwhelming. But a denial doesn't mean you're out of options. Many life insurance claims are wrongfully denied, and beneficiaries have a legal right to challenge the decision. The key is knowing when to push back and how to do it effectively.
Common Reasons Life Insurance Claims Are Denied
Insurers use a variety of reasons to deny claims—some valid, others more questionable. Among the most common:
Misrepresentation on the Application: Insurers may allege that the insured provided false or incomplete information about their health or lifestyle, even if it was an honest mistake.
Lapsed Policies: If premiums weren’t paid and the policy lapsed, insurers might deny the claim. However, reinstatement and grace period provisions could make the policy enforceable.
Suicide Clause: Many life insurance policies include a two-year contestability period. If the death occurs by suicide during this time, the insurer may deny the claim.
Medical Nondisclosure: If the insurer believes the insured failed to disclose a relevant pre-existing condition, they may claim the policy was obtained fraudulently.
Technicalities and Ambiguities: Vague policy language and overly broad exclusions are often used as a pretext to deny otherwise legitimate claims.
How a Life Insurance Attorney Can Help
Life insurance companies count on beneficiaries not understanding their rights. A skilled life insurance attorney can level the playing field and significantly increase your chances of receiving the benefits your loved one intended for you.
Here’s how legal help makes a difference:
Thorough Policy Review: Attorneys scrutinize policy language, including exclusions and riders, to find openings for appeal.
Claims Investigation: A lawyer will investigate the facts of the case and identify whether the insurer’s reasons for denial are legally defensible.
Appeals Preparation: A strong, evidence-backed appeal can convince an insurer to reverse its decision. Your attorney will build a compelling case tailored to your specific denial.
Litigation, if Needed: If appeals fail, your attorney can file a lawsuit and take the insurer to court to enforce the contract and recover damages.
How the Life Insurance Claims Process Typically Works
Understanding the standard claims process can help you identify when something is going wrong:
Filing the Claim: The beneficiary submits a death certificate and claim form to the insurer.
Review and Verification: The insurer reviews the application and death certificate and may request additional documentation.
Decision: Ideally, the claim is paid within 30–60 days. However, if red flags appear—or if the death occurred within the contestability period—the process can slow or stop altogether.
When Should You Hire a Lawyer for a Life Insurance Claim?
If your claim is:
Delayed for more than 60 days without explanation
Denied due to vague or unclear policy terms
Denied based on allegations of misrepresentation
Rejected due to a lapse in coverage or grace period issue
Questioned because of how the insured died
…it’s time to speak with a life insurance attorney. The sooner you act, the better your chances of recovering the full death benefit.
Why Life Insurance Denials Are Often Worth Challenging
Many life insurance denials are based on weak or ambiguous reasoning. Insurers hope you’ll accept their word and walk away. But in many cases, a denial letter doesn’t reflect the whole truth—or even comply with the law.
Legal intervention has helped thousands of families reverse wrongful denials, especially in cases involving:
Claims filed during the contestability period
Complex medical histories
Disputes over beneficiary designations
Lapsed policies where grace periods or automatic reinstatement clauses apply
Alleged suicides that don’t meet the policy’s threshold for exclusion
Get Legal Help for a Denied Life Insurance Claim
If your life insurance claim has been denied or delayed, don’t wait. Contact a life insurance attorney who focuses on helping beneficiaries recover what they’re owed. With more than 20 years of experience, our firm has helped families across the country secure millions in denied benefits. We know the tactics insurers use—and we know how to fight back.
Whether your issue involves a large insurance company or a lesser-known provider from the list above, we’re here to help you understand your options and take the next step forward.
FAQ: Life Insurance Denials and Delays
How long should a life insurance claim take to process?
Most life insurance claims are processed within 30–60 days. If it takes longer, request a written explanation and contact an attorney if you're not satisfied.
Can an insurance company deny a valid life insurance claim?
They can try, but denials based on flimsy reasoning or policy misinterpretations can often be challenged—and overturned.
What does “contestability period” mean?
It’s typically a two-year window after the policy starts during which the insurer can investigate and potentially deny claims based on misrepresentations.
Do I need a lawyer to appeal a life insurance denial?
You’re not required to have one, but legal representation significantly improves your chances of success—especially when complex issues like misrepresentation, suicide clauses, or grace period lapses are involved.
Can I fight a denial based on non-payment of premiums?
Yes. If there was a grace period, pending reinstatement, or auto-payment issue, an attorney can argue that the policy was still in force.