Iowa Life Insurance Lawyer

Life Insurance Lawyers Serving All 99 Iowa Counties

Christian Lassen, Esq. | 25 Years Experience | Hundreds of Millions Recovered

If your life insurance claim was denied in Iowa, you're not alone and you're not without options. At The Lassen Law Firm, we focus exclusively on life insurance litigation and have helped families throughout Iowa recover millions in wrongfully denied death benefits. Whether your case involves a policy lapse, misrepresentation allegation, or a contested beneficiary change, we have the experience to challenge the denial and pursue the full payout.

Led by nationally recognized life insurance attorney Christian Lassen, quoted by The Wall Street Journal and rated 10.0 by AVVO, our firm serves clients in every region of Iowa. We handle denied life insurance claims in all 99 counties and never charge a fee unless we recover for you.

Denied Life Insurance Claim in Iowa? You’re Not Alone.

In Iowa, beneficiaries can be blindsided when a life insurance provider refuses to pay after a loved one’s death. If you’re dealing with a rejected life insurance claim in Iowa, The Lassen Law Firm can help you challenge the denial and pursue the benefits your family was promised.

In Iowa, beneficiary disputes often surface when life insurance policies name outdated or contested recipients, creating confusion and legal conflict. If you're facing a life insurance beneficiary dispute in Iowa, The Lassen Law Firm can step in to clarify your rights and fight for the benefits you're entitled to.

When there’s uncertainty over who should receive life insurance proceeds in Iowa, insurers often initiate an interpleader lawsuit in Iowa, placing the decision in the hands of the court.

Life insurance claims in Iowa can be challenging, especially when insurance companies deny benefits or act in bad faith. That’s where The Lassen Law Firm comes in. We proudly serve clients across the Hawkeye State.

As experienced life insurance attorneys handling cases nationwide, our results speak volumes, with hundreds of millions in policies recovered. At The Lassen Law Firm, we combine legal expertise with compassionate, results-driven representation to ensure justice for every client. Call now for a free consultation to see if we can help you recover your life insurance benefits. No obligation.

Unlike other firms, The Lassen Law Firm exclusively handles denied life insurance claims. With 25 years of experience in this niche, we are recognized as top experts in the field. Our lawyers have earned prestigious awards, including membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and a 10.0 rating on AVVO. No other firm offers the same level of dedication and expertise in denied life insurance cases.

Life Insurance Claim Denied in Iowa? We’re Ready to Stand with You

Life insurance is a promise designed to protect loved ones after a loss. Unfortunately, in Iowa, insurance companies sometimes fail to honor that promise. If you are dealing with a denied life insurance claim, you don’t have to face the battle alone. Our Iowa life insurance attorneys are prepared to stand up to the insurance company and fight for the benefits you deserve. Beneficiaries facing a denied accidental death and dismemberment claim in Iowa should know they may have strong grounds to appeal with legal assistance.

Insurance companies know that families are vulnerable after a death. They sometimes deny claims based on technicalities, vague policy language, or disputed facts, hoping beneficiaries will walk away. You have legal rights under Iowa law, and with experienced representation, many denials can be successfully challenged. We offer free consultations and only collect a fee if we recover money for you.

Why Life Insurance Companies Deny Claims in Iowa

Each denial has its own story, but there are familiar patterns in the reasons insurers give for rejecting life insurance claims. In Iowa, common issues include:

Alleged Misstatements on the Application

Insurers may claim the insured failed to disclose critical information such as a pre-existing condition, lifestyle risks, or smoking history.

Lapses Due to Nonpayment

In Iowa, claim denials for missed payments are common, but many are based on a contested lapse in coverage that could have been avoided with proper notice or premium handling.

Exclusions for Certain Types of Deaths

Policies may exclude deaths from suicide (within a set period), drug overdose, aviation activities, or criminal acts, depending on the policy language.

Beneficiary Challenges

Disputes between current spouses, former spouses, and children can lead insurers to delay or withhold payment.

Mistakes in Employer-Sponsored Group Life Insurance

Administrative errors in group plans can leave families without the coverage they were promised.

Delays Tied to Criminal Investigations

f the insured’s death is under investigation, insurers may delay payment, but delays must be reasonable and not open-ended.

Just because a claim is denied does not mean the insurer’s decision will hold up. Our attorneys are skilled at finding the weaknesses in their reasoning and demanding full benefits.

Understanding the Contestability Period in Iowa Life Insurance Policies

In Iowa, most life insurance policies include a two-year contestability period following their issuance. During this time, insurers may investigate claims and rescind policies if they discover material misrepresentations made on the application. After the two-year window closes, insurers generally cannot deny claims unless they can prove outright fraud.

It’s critical to understand that not every error or omission will support a denial. Only material misstatements, ones that would have influenced the insurer’s decision to issue the policy or set premiums, qualify under Iowa law. Honest mistakes, misunderstandings, or irrelevant omissions usually cannot be used as valid grounds for denial.

If your claim has been denied based on contestability issues, legal review is essential. Many insurers overreach, hoping beneficiaries won’t push back.

What to Do After a Life Insurance Claim Denial in Iowa

Time is a crucial factor after receiving a life insurance denial. Here’s how you can protect your rights:

• Request and keep copies of the full policy, application documents, and any amendments.
• Carefully review the denial letter and document the insurer’s stated reasons.
• Preserve all correspondence and communications with the insurance company.
• Avoid providing further information to the insurer without consulting an attorney first.
• Contact an Iowa life insurance lawyer immediately to assess your options and begin building your case.

Strict deadlines often apply, especially in cases involving employer-sponsored (ERISA-governed) policies. Taking action promptly can make a significant difference in the outcome of your claim.

How Our Iowa Life Insurance Attorneys Help Beneficiaries

Our team focuses exclusively on assisting beneficiaries who face denied or delayed life insurance claims. When you choose us, we will:

• Conduct a detailed review of your policy and the insurer’s denial.
• Investigate all relevant facts, communications, and legal defenses.
• Handle direct negotiations with the insurer on your behalf.
• Prepare and submit appeals when required under ERISA or policy terms.
• File lawsuits against insurers who refuse to pay legitimate claims.
• Pursue bad faith claims when the insurance company’s conduct violates Iowa law.

We are committed to delivering the results you deserve full policy benefits, prompt action, and, when warranted, additional compensation for bad faith behavior.

Federal life insurance programs like SGLI for service members and FEGLI for government employees are sometimes mishandled, resulting in denied claims. We help Iowa families dispute denied military life insurance claims and recover benefits wrongfully withheld under the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance system.

Many employer-sponsored life insurance policies fall under ERISA, a federal law that governs how claims are processed and appealed. If you’re facing a denial under an ERISA-regulated plan in Iowa, our firm can guide you through the process and fight for the benefits owed to you.

Iowa Denied Life Insurance Claims: Answers to Common Questions

What should I do if my life insurance claim was denied in Iowa?

Contact an Iowa life insurance attorney immediately. We recently reversed a denial for a Des Moines family where the insurer cited a technicality that didn't apply to the case.

What happens if I’ve been named in a life insurance interpleader lawsuit in Iowa?

Hire legal counsel. In Cedar Rapids, we helped a daughter secure her rightful share when an insurer filed interpleader between her and a distant cousin.

Can a lawyer help me resolve a beneficiary dispute over a life insurance policy in Iowa?

Absolutely. We handled a case in Davenport where a late-stage caregiver change was overturned, restoring the original adult children as beneficiaries.

Why do insurers deny AD&D life insurance claims in Iowa?

They often blame medical causes or alcohol. In Council Bluffs, we overturned a denial where a farming accident was wrongfully classified as a heart attack.

Is a policy lapse a legitimate reason for denial in Iowa?

Not always. We forced reinstatement of a policy after proving an insurer failed to properly notify the insured about an alleged missed payment in Ames.

Can misstatements on a life insurance application cause a denial in Iowa?

Only if they're material and intentional. We reversed a denial in Sioux City where the insurer claimed a minor undisclosed allergy was enough to void the policy.

Does Iowa law allow insurers to deny claims based on alcohol exclusions?

They can try, but we fought and won a case where alcohol was not the true cause of a boating accident that led to death.

What should I do if my ERISA life insurance claim is denied in Iowa?

Act fast. We recently filed a winning appeal for an Iowa City nurse whose hospital-provided ERISA policy was wrongly denied based on a minor paperwork error.

Can I appeal a denial based on the contestability period in Iowa?

Yes. We successfully defeated a contestability denial where the insurer accused the insured of misrepresenting cholesterol levels that had nothing to do with the cause of death.

My claim was denied based on Iowa law, can I still fight it?

Definitely. In one West Des Moines case, we proved the insurer incorrectly applied Iowa Code §633.264 regarding beneficiary rights.

Which life insurance companies deny the most claims in Iowa?

We see frequent denials from Fidelity & Guarantee Life, American Equity Investment Life, and Principal Life Insurance Company.

Does Iowa revoke ex-spouse beneficiary designations after divorce?

Yes. We helped a widow recover proceeds after an ex-spouse wrongfully claimed benefits under an outdated designation in Waterloo.

Is Iowa a community property state, and does that impact life insurance?

No. But we enforced a spouse’s financial interest when a disputed policy involved marital funds used to pay premiums.

What should I do if the insured died while abroad and the insurer is delaying payment?

We helped a family in Cedar Falls collect after a wrongful denial involving a death during missionary work in Mexico.

Can a last-minute beneficiary change be challenged in Iowa?

Yes. We invalidated a suspicious change made two days before death, restoring the insured's daughter as the rightful beneficiary.

What if the insurer is delaying the claim for no clear reason?

Delays over 30 days often signal bad faith. We secured penalties and interest in a Mason City case where an insurer stalled payout for months.

How do insurers reclassify deaths to avoid paying AD&D benefits in Iowa?

They often label accidents as "health-related." We disproved this in a fatal ATV rollover case outside Cedar Rapids.

Can a policy still be valid if the insurance agent made a mistake?

Yes. In one case, an Ankeny insurance agent misrecorded health details, but we still forced the insurer to honor the policy.

Can I file a bad faith lawsuit against a life insurer in Iowa?

Yes. We sued and recovered extra damages in a Bettendorf case where an insurer flat-out ignored overwhelming medical evidence.

Does a suicide exclusion apply indefinitely in Iowa?

No. We overturned a denial in Dubuque where the death occurred more than four years after the policy began.

Are employer-provided life insurance policies in Iowa governed by ERISA?

Yes. We handle ERISA appeals statewide, including a successful recent case for a teacher in Urbandale.

Can the insurer deny a claim based on a previously undisclosed health condition?

Only if it was intentional and related. We won a case involving an undisclosed knee surgery that had nothing to do with the insured's later accidental death.

What happens if no beneficiary is named on the life insurance policy in Iowa?

Proceeds typically pass to the estate. We helped an estate administrator in Decorah secure payment for heirs.

Can a forged or altered beneficiary designation be challenged in court?

Yes. We successfully invalidated a forged change form submitted by a distant cousin in a Polk County case.

What if the policy was canceled but I never received a notice?

We reinstated a lapsed policy for a grieving spouse in Ottumwa after proving the insurer failed to properly send lapse notices.

Do union or association life insurance policies have different rules in Iowa?

Yes. We resolved a denied claim for a Teamsters union member whose plan had unique administrative appeal requirements.

If I’m one of several beneficiaries, how is the payout divided?

Usually equally unless the policy says otherwise. We protected a co-beneficiary’s 50% share after a dispute in Marion.

Can I file a claim if the insured disappeared and was presumed dead?

Yes. We guided a family through court proceedings after a missing hunter was declared legally deceased in rural Iowa.

How long do I have to appeal a denied life insurance claim in Iowa?

ERISA deadlines can be as short as 60 days; private policies may allow longer. Immediate action is critical.

Are life insurance proceeds protected from creditors in Iowa?

Yes, if paid directly to a named beneficiary. We blocked creditor claims in a Cedar Rapids case where an estate was heavily indebted.

What if the life insurance policy language is unclear?

Ambiguity favors the beneficiary. We used this rule to overturn a vague exclusion denial involving "high-risk hobbies."

Can a canceled policy be reinstated due to improper cancellation procedures?

Yes. We proved procedural errors and secured full payout on a life policy canceled without lawful notice.

Can a child be listed as the life insurance beneficiary in Iowa?

Yes, but we often help families set up custodial trusts, like we did for a minor heir in Johnston.

What happens when multiple people claim the insured promised them the benefit?

Only written designations control. We defended against unsupported verbal promises in a disputed estate case in Sioux Center.

Do life insurance policies exclude deaths that occur during illegal activity in Iowa?

Some do, but exclusions must be specific. We successfully overturned a denial where the alleged "illegal act" was a mere traffic violation.

Can an old denial be reopened in Iowa?

Yes. We reopened and won a denied claim when new medical evidence surfaced after the original appeal deadline passed.

What Denied Life Insurance Claims Look Like in Iowa, and How We Fight Back

Across Iowa, life insurance claim denials often arise from overlooked policy details or insurer overreach. From Des Moines to Cedar Rapids and Sioux City, we’ve helped families challenge denied benefits that were rightfully owed. In one case from Davenport, a $400,000 claim was denied on the grounds that the policy had lapsed. Our investigation revealed that the insurer had mailed the lapse notice to the wrong address, despite having the updated one on file. We successfully argued for policy reinstatement and secured a full payout.

Iowa is not a community property state, but we’ve seen disputes where a surviving spouse was excluded as a beneficiary. In Waterloo, an adult child was named on a group life policy, but the premiums were paid entirely from marital assets. We brought in an Iowa probate attorney to coordinate a spousal claim, ultimately reaching a favorable out-of-court resolution under ERISA guidelines.

We also handle interpleader actions filed in the U.S. District Courts for both the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa. One such case in Sioux City involved conflicting claims between a fiancée and a former spouse. The insurer filed an interpleader, depositing $150,000 with the court. Through discovery and timeline analysis, we proved the ex-spouse had been automatically revoked by operation of Iowa law, and the fiancée received the full amount.

In another recent matter out of Ames, an accidental death and dismemberment claim was denied when the insurer labeled the cause of death a preexisting condition. Our legal team retained a forensic pathologist who confirmed the injury was unrelated to any prior health issue. The insurer reversed its decision shortly after receiving our expert report.

Whether your denied claim involves a lapse notice, a policy exclusion, a dispute between family members, or a federal group plan, we know how to navigate both Iowa insurance law and federal ERISA procedures to get results. With deep knowledge of how claims are litigated in Iowa’s federal courts, we tailor each strategy to your specific circumstances.

Contact us today for a free consulation.

Written & Reviewed by Christian Lassen, Esq., Nationally recognized life insurance lawyer: 25 years experience, hundreds of millions recovered.  Quoted in The Wall Street Journal ( May 17, 2025).

Last reviewed: June 14, 2025 | Contact 800-330-2274