AuguStar Life Insurance Company issues life insurance and annuity products in the United States and is affiliated with the Western & Southern Financial Group. Some AuguStar policies were previously issued under older company names, which can create confusion when beneficiaries attempt to file a claim after the insured’s death.
When a policyholder dies, beneficiaries must submit a claim to receive the death benefit. While many claims are paid without issue, disputes sometimes arise when the insurer reviews the application, policy funding history, or beneficiary records connected to the policy.
Attorney Christian Lassen represents beneficiaries nationwide in disputes involving denied and delayed life insurance claims.
AuguStar Life Insurance Policies
AuguStar policies are often sold through financial professionals who assist clients with long term insurance and retirement planning. These policies may include permanent life insurance products designed to remain active for many years.
Common types of policies may include:
Universal life insurance
Indexed universal life policies
Traditional whole life insurance
Life insurance used in estate planning strategies
Because these policies may accumulate value and allow flexible funding, the insurer may examine the policy’s payment history carefully when a claim is filed.
Older Policies Issued Under Different Names
Some AuguStar policies originated under earlier corporate names used by the company before its current branding. As a result, beneficiaries may discover policies that reference older company names even though the claim must now be processed by AuguStar.
This can create confusion when the beneficiary attempts to identify where to submit the claim.
Policy numbers, correspondence from the insurer, or annual statements can help confirm which company currently administers the coverage.
Common Reasons AuguStar Life Insurance Claims Are Denied
Life insurance claims involving AuguStar policies may be denied for several reasons depending on the policy terms and the insurer’s investigation.
Application disclosure disputes
Life insurance applications require disclosure of medical history and other underwriting information. If the insurer later believes the answers were incomplete or inaccurate, it may attempt to deny the claim.
Example:
Medical records obtained during the claim investigation appear inconsistent with the health information listed on the application.
Contestability period investigations
Most life insurance policies contain a contestability period that allows the insurer to review the application if the insured dies during the early years of coverage.
Example:
The insured dies within two years of the policy being issued, and the insurer obtains medical records and prescription history reports to evaluate the application.
Policy lapse or funding disputes
Certain permanent life insurance policies allow flexible premium payments. If the policy value becomes insufficient to cover the cost of insurance, the insurer may claim the policy was no longer active.
Example:
The insurer asserts that policy charges exceeded the accumulated value and the policy terminated before the insured’s death.
Beneficiary designation conflicts
Disputes sometimes arise when beneficiary forms appear inconsistent or when multiple individuals claim the proceeds.
Example:
An older beneficiary designation lists one individual while a later form names someone else.
Claim Investigation and Document Review
When a claim is filed, the insurer may review several types of records before determining whether the benefit should be paid.
These materials may include:
The original life insurance application
Underwriting records created when the policy was issued
Medical records from physicians and hospitals
Prescription history reports from pharmacy databases
Policy billing and premium payment history
Beneficiary designation forms and policy ownership records
Death certificates and related documentation
The insurer uses these records to evaluate whether the claim qualifies under the policy terms.
Long Term Life Insurance Policies and Record Reviews
Because many AuguStar policies are intended to remain active for long periods, the insurer may review policy records that were created years or even decades earlier. Changes to ownership, beneficiary designations, or premium funding arrangements over time can affect how the claim is evaluated.
For example, a beneficiary designation completed many years earlier may still control the policy if no later change was properly recorded.
Legal Help With AuguStar Life Insurance Claim Denials
Life insurance disputes involving AuguStar policies may involve questions about underwriting disclosures, policy funding, and beneficiary rights. Beneficiaries who receive a denial may have options to challenge the insurer’s decision depending on the evidence used during the claim investigation.
The Lassen Law Firm focuses exclusively on life insurance disputes nationwide. Attorney Christian Lassen has more than 25 years of experience representing beneficiaries in denied, delayed, and contested life insurance claims.
If an AuguStar life insurance claim has been denied or delayed, legal review can help determine whether the insurer’s decision can be challenged.