4 Best Alternatives if Life Insurance Claim is Rejected

A life insurance policy is purchased to provide financial security to your loved ones in the face of an unfortunate event. However, the situation worsens when the claim made for death benefits, maturity benefits or even rider benefits gets rejected by the insurance provider. Some reasons behind the claim rejection of a life insurance policy include disclosing incorrect information by the life assured, poor understanding of terms and conditions, concealing any family history of diseases or any critical illness, or delaying filing the claim application. However, there are provisions to help you in case of such a situation. Read on to find alternative solutions provided to tackle a claim rejection. 

Alternatives if Life Insurance Claim is Rejected

Here are the best alternatives if your claim on the life insurance policy is rejected by the insurer.

1. Contact Your Insurance Provider

It is essential to understand the reason behind your claim rejection to take the necessary step towards mitigating the problem. You can contact your insurance provider and ask for details. Moreover, you can carefully study the terms and conditions of the policy to realize whether your claim came under the plan or was a part of the exclusion list. If you feel that your claim was rejected on an unfair basis, you can file a complaint backed by some valuable facts and necessary details for your grievance to the company. The insurer will review your complaint, and a decision will be made based on that. 

2. Report to the IRDAI

You can report to the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority of India (IRDAI) if you still feel displeased by the decision of your insurance provider. The complaint can be filed on the toll-free number 1800 4254 732 or 155255 or through an email on complaints@irda.gov.in or register through their online portal, Integrated Grievance Management System (IGMS). You can also courier or post your complaint registration form with a letter and necessary documents to the General Manager of the Consumer Affairs Department- Grievance Redressal Cell, IRDAI. 

3. Approach the Insurance Ombudsman

The government has appointed an insurance ombudsman to solve insurance grievances. It is advisable to record every detail regarding all the reports and complaints filed till the issue reached an insurance ombudsman to make a stronger case. However, it must be noted that the insurance ombudsman only handles complaints with a life insurance claim of less than Rs. 30 Lakhs, while the complaint regarding a critical illness and other claims of less than Rs. 20 Lakhs are considered. Furthermore, you must file the complaint within a year of claim rejection faced from the grievance redressal cell of the insurance company. There is no need to hire a lawyer or pay a fee to the ombudsman. 

4. Appeal to the Consumer Forum Or the Court 

You can always knock on the consumer court’s door if you are still unsatisfied. However, the battle can go on for months because of no time constraints. Another way is to directly approach the court to help settle your claim. 

Takeaway

The steps mentioned above clearly show that there are strong provisions to help the individuals in case of claim rejection. Hence, it is essential to keep calm and follow all the steps carefully to get desired results. You can even consult an insurance agent or a financial advisor to help you guide through the process and prepare necessary documents to support your complaints. 

You may also like to read:-

• Most Common Reasons for Rejection of Life Insurance Claims
• Why is Claim Settlement Ratio Important While Buying Life insurance?

Disclaimer: This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. Readers are advised not to rely on the contents of the article as conclusive in nature and should research further or consult an expert in this regard.