Life insurance companies change names more often than most policyholders realize. Some rebrand for marketing reasons. Others merge, spin off business units, or sell blocks of life insurance policies to entirely different insurers. Years later, beneficiaries are often left holding a policy issued by a company that appears to no longer exist.
When a life insurance claim is delayed or denied, a prior name change can add an extra layer of confusion. Beneficiaries may struggle to identify who actually owns the policy, which company is responsible for paying the claim, and where to direct appeals or legal notices. Understanding how insurer name changes work can help avoid costly mistakes and unnecessary delays.
Common Reasons Life Insurance Companies Change Names
Insurance company name changes usually fall into a few categories.
Some companies rebrand after corporate restructuring or regulatory changes. Others separate retirement products from life insurance products and create new entities. In many cases, insurers sell older life insurance policies to runoff companies that specialize in managing long term obligations.
While the name on the policy may change, the contractual obligations usually remain in force. Problems arise when insurers use corporate transitions as a shield to delay, deflect, or deny claims.
Life Insurance Companies That Have Changed Names or Ownership
Below are examples of major life insurance companies that have changed names, merged, or transferred their life insurance business. This list is not exhaustive, but it reflects many of the insurers that frequently appear in claim disputes.
• MetLife became Brighthouse Financial in 2017
• Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company became Empower Retirement Life Insurance Company in 2022
• Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company of New York became Empower Life & Annuity Insurance Company of New York in 2022
• Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company became Empower Annuity Insurance Company of America in 2022
• Protective Life and Annuity Insurance Company became Pacific Guardian Life Insurance Company in 2019
• Genworth Financial sold its life insurance business to Resolution Life Group in 2019
• AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company became Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company in 2019
• ING U.S. became Voya Financial in 2014
• Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company became Talcott Resolution Life and Annuity Insurance Company in 2018
• American General Life and Accident Insurance Company became American General Life Insurance Company in 2013
• Aviva USA Corporation became Athene USA Corporation in 2013
• Conseco became CNO Financial Group in 2010
• Jefferson-Pilot Corporation merged with Lincoln National Corporation in 2006
• Liberty Mutual sold its life insurance business to Lincoln Financial Group in 2018
• Monumental Life Insurance Company became Transamerica Premier Life Insurance Company in 2014
• Phoenix Home Life Mutual Insurance Company became The Phoenix Companies after demutualization
• ReliaStar Life Insurance Company of New York merged into Security Life of Denver Insurance Company and later became Voya Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company
• Security Benefit Life Insurance Company sold its life insurance business to a Kuvare subsidiary operating as Oceanview Life and Annuity Company
• SunAmerica sold its life insurance business to Protective Life in 2015
• Symetra Financial Corporation sold its life insurance business to Resolution Life Group in 2021
Why Name Changes Create Problems for Life Insurance Claims
When a company changes names or transfers policies, beneficiaries often encounter practical problems that insurers rarely warn about in advance.
Confusion About Who Owns the Policy
Policy documents may still display the original insurer’s name even though another company now administers the policy. Claimants may submit paperwork to the wrong entity, causing delays or missed deadlines.
Shifting Claims Departments and Procedures
A successor insurer may use different claim forms, documentation requirements, or internal review processes. Some beneficiaries only learn this after a claim is denied for procedural reasons rather than coverage issues.
Legacy Denials and Old Claim Decisions
In some cases, the original insurer denied or underpaid a claim before the business was transferred. The new insurer may attempt to distance itself from those decisions, even though it assumed the liabilities along with the policies.
Recordkeeping and Lost Policy Issues
Name changes increase the risk of missing records, especially for older policies. Beneficiaries may be told that documents cannot be located or that the policy terms are unclear, even when premiums were paid for decades.
Practical Steps to Take If Your Insurer Changed Names
If you discover that your insurer no longer operates under the name listed on the policy, a few steps can help protect your claim.
Confirm the current legal entity responsible for the policy
Request written confirmation of policy ownership
Keep copies of all correspondence and claim submissions
Do not assume a denial is final simply because a different company issued it
Many claim disputes involving name changes are procedural rather than substantive and can often be challenged successfully.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if my life insurance policy was transferred to another company?
Annual statements, premium notices, or regulatory filings often reflect the new insurer. State insurance departments can also confirm policy transfers.
Is a successor insurer required to honor the original policy terms?
In most cases, yes. The purchasing insurer generally assumes the contractual obligations of the original company.
Can a name change affect claim deadlines or appeal rights?
It should not, but confusion about where to file claims can cause delays. That is why written confirmation matters.
What if the insurer claims it is not responsible for an old policy?
That argument is often incorrect and depends on the terms of the transfer and applicable state law.