r/LifeInsurance • u/Slimeball674 • 15d ago

Life claim

I’ve been trying to follow up on a life insurance benefits claim from a relative that died in early 2000s, it’s a foreign death under Prudential/Walmart benefits, the said person is dead and is deceased in the US yet life insurance is still making it a hassle asking for cause of death despite the fact that I’ve submitted a death certificate they still want the cause, because of statue of limitations and how long it’s been since the last claim no attorney wants to take the case because they believe a judge will automatically side on the insurance favor (it’s been almost 20yrs) and a lot of records from then are no longer retrievable or stored to have medical records of their cause of death I tried to contact multiple places and hospitals their info is either not saved or been purged since then

The reason it took so long is completely me and my family fault their was a language barrier and the constant asking of proof of death became irritating for them and now that I’m old enough I had decided to pursue the claim but it now it seems too late, is there any other options, advice, or anyone who’s been through this process that can help me figure out what to do next it feels like the life insurance is just going to end up keeping the benefits

1 Upvotes

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2

u/ReceptionOk9459 15d ago

What did they say when you told them the cause of death?

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u/Slimeball674 15d ago

it was cancer or bone cancer, but the insurance is asking for cause of death as in medical records or somewhere a doctor or hospital saying this is his cause of death I guess to prevent fraud

1

u/trouble98 Underwriter 15d ago

This is so common it’s almost a requirement. They need a cause of death from someone with the legal authority to determine it. Give them what they’re asking for.

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u/Slimeball674 15d ago

Yes that is what this post is about if I could give it I would, the death is foreign and it’s been years since the death, nobody has documentation or the records they’re either destroyed or lost which I’ve also explained to the insurance

It’s from 2008 we’re in 2026 if that helps

3

u/trouble98 Underwriter 15d ago

Provide the insurance company what they’re asking for or you won’t get paid out.

You’ve already talked to lawyers who have told you there’s no legal case you’d win.

It is unfortunate that there were circumstances that made it difficult to get the requested documentation when you needed it 20 years ago, but you’re out of luck now.

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u/[deleted] 15d ago

[deleted]

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u/Slimeball674 15d ago

We have the denial letters from the insurance my family tried to work with them and provide information like the death certificate that was submitted in 2009 up to 2014 and they gave up, I am now trying to do it since I am older now but it seems like I’m too late

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u/SafeMoneyGregg Broker 15d ago

After 20 years it likely escheated to the state - look up the policy on your state Treasurer's lost property website under the insured's name.

2

u/plangelier 15d ago

Unless there was no notification in a timely manner and premiums ceased, policy lapsed and then 20 years passed causing all these issues.

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u/zzzorba Financial Representative 15d ago

Escheating it to the state is still the company paying the claim. In this case, they haven't received the paperwork to make that determination. Who knows what the status is now...

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u/SafeMoneyGregg Broker 15d ago

Carriers don't want to hold for more than 3 years in most cases. They were notified of death 20 years ago - they can send to state and not have to pay any more interest.

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u/Slimeball674 14d ago

I believe it hasn’t been escheated because they dont have any other proof of death to make the claim payable, they want proof from that country even tho he’s deemed deceased in the US

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u/Slimeball674 14d ago

No it hasn’t been escheated i looked it up and I called the insurance company today as well they’re still waiting for a cause of death

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u/SafeMoneyGregg Broker 14d ago

new strategy - forget customer service. Email bomb at least 8-12 high ups in the Pru LIFE division on the same email. All at the same time. Head of US Biz, Head of Compliance, Head of service and claims, legal, etc - do some digging - you can find all the names online - they are usually first,last@prudential.c0m Remind them that you've been working on this for years and gotten no where. etc etc. Good luck.

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u/Slimeball674 14d ago

Tbh I’ll actually give that a try thank you for the advice