Losing someone you love is devastating. But when a life insurance claim gets denied in the aftermath, the pain quickly turns into frustration, panic, and financial strain. Life insurance is meant to provide security for families in their most difficult moments. Unfortunately, countless valid claims are denied each year by major insurers like Prudential, or under federal programs like SGLI (Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance), VGLI (Veterans’ Group Life Insurance), or TSGLI (Traumatic Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance). These denials often come when families are least prepared to fight back. If your life insurance payout was denied, here’s exactly what you need to do next—and why it’s critical to act quickly. If you want to know how to how to appeal a life insurance denial in Vermont you have come to the right place.
Why Are Life Insurance Claims Like SGLI or VGLI So Often Denied?
Federal life insurance programs for service members and veterans are complicated. Unlike private policies, SGLI, VGLI, and TSGLI are governed by strict federal rules and military documentation requirements. Prudential, which underwrites these policies, routinely denies claims due to administrative errors, missed premium conversions, beneficiary conflicts, or alleged misrepresentations.
Example: A U.S. Army veteran passed away six months after leaving active duty. His family filed a VGLI claim, only to be told the policy was never properly converted from SGLI coverage. The application had been processed incorrectly, and the insurer used that error to deny the benefit.
This kind of situation is all too common—and entirely preventable with experienced legal help.
First Step: Gather Every Document Related to the Life Insurance Policy
Before doing anything else, gather and organize all documents related to the policy. This includes:
The original life insurance policy
Any enrollment or conversion forms (especially for SGLI or VGLI)
Premium payment records
Denial letters
Death certificate and service-related records if applicable
Scan and save everything digitally. These documents will be critical in identifying whether the denial was valid—or if the insurer acted improperly.
Understand Why the Life Insurance Claim Was Denied
Insurers are required to give a reason for denial. Understanding that reason will shape how your appeal is handled. Common denial reasons include:
Lapsed coverage due to missed premium payments: Especially common with elderly policyholders or veterans transitioning from SGLI to VGLI.
Misrepresentation on the application: This could involve age, health, tobacco use, or undisclosed conditions. Even minor errors are often used to deny claims during the contestability period.
Policy exclusions: Some policies exclude coverage for suicide (within 2 years), high-risk activities, or deaths during illegal activity.
Employer or military administrative errors: Group life coverage may be denied due to clerical errors, missed enrollment windows, or lost paperwork—especially for military members and federal employees.
Beneficiary designation problems: If the listed beneficiary conflicts with a divorce decree, will, or court order, the insurer may delay or deny the payout and file an interpleader.
Example: A Navy service member divorced his first wife but never updated the SGLI beneficiary form. Years later, he passed away unexpectedly. His current spouse filed the claim, but the ex-wife was still listed. The insurer delayed payment while the dispute was resolved in court.
Why Handling an Appeal Without an Attorney Can Be a Critical Mistake
Group life insurance denials under ERISA, SGLI, or VGLI typically allow only one appeal. That appeal must be strong, legally sound, and supported by documentation. If it’s incomplete or poorly argued, your chances of overturning the denial drop significantly.
Appealing on your own may feel faster or less costly at first—but it can lead to a permanent loss of benefits. An experienced life insurance attorney will know how to structure your appeal, obtain internal claim files, challenge vague policy language, and apply federal and state law to your advantage.
Our firm routinely drafts 100-200 page legal briefs that include everything from medical expert reviews to military benefit analysis. These comprehensive appeals often resolve denials without ever going to court.
Why Experience Matters in Life Insurance Denial Cases
You don’t want just any attorney—you want one who focuses exclusively on life insurance claims and has at least two decades of experience. Handling a Prudential SGLI denial isn’t like a typical insurance case. These claims involve federal law, military regulations, and complex contract interpretation. Our firm has fought—and won—thousands of denials from insurers like Prudential, MetLife, Lincoln Financial, and more.
We’ve handled everything from:
Missed VGLI premium conversions
Claims denied during SGLI contestability
TSGLI benefit disputes over injury severity
Federal life insurance beneficiary challenges
ERISA-based group life denial appeals for postal workers, government employees, and private-sector workers
What to Do Right Now If Your Life Insurance Claim Was Denied
Here’s what you need to do immediately:
Save every document related to the policy, denial, and communication with the insurer.
Request the insurer’s claim file under federal law (if ERISA applies).
Avoid submitting an appeal until you speak to a life insurance lawyer. You only get one appeal under many plans—don’t waste it.
Contact an attorney who specializes in denied life insurance claims. This is not a general practice case—specific knowledge of federal insurance law, SGLI/VGLI rules, and ERISA is essential.
Let Us Help You Recover What You’re Owed
If you’re dealing with a denied life insurance claim—whether through Prudential, VGLI, SGLI, or a private group policy—don’t go it alone. We understand the pain, stress, and financial toll that claim denials bring. Our legal team has decades of experience recovering denied life insurance benefits, and we don’t charge a fee unless we win your case.
Call us today for a free consultation, and let us take the burden off your shoulders. Your loved one paid for this protection. We’ll fight to make sure the benefits are paid—fully and fairly.