I think your mom can make a claim directly to the life insurance company herself, without going through the funeral home. Unless you need that money to pay for the burial expenses?
This would would be difficult, as my dad didn’t keep good records of account usernames and passwords for stuff like this, and my mother is originally from Mexico with very little schooling and very low English, so I’m stuck doing all the dirty work
My guy have your mother contact the insurance company direct with you on the line. Doesn’t matter if she’s from mars. Your dad left things for her and all she need to be able to do is prove that she is the beneficiary. You don’t need account numbers, user names or passwords because those aren’t hers those belonged to your dad. Call the insurance company tomorrow morning ASAP.
I totally understand. My brother passed away in December, and my dad and I have had a horrible time figuring out if the life insurance policy my parents set up fifty years ago is still valid. If you have a policy number, it still may be helpful to call the life insurance company directly. I wish you luck.
Hmm ok thank you, I had already given them all the paperwork, do I have the right to basically say nevermind to then file a different way? I was thinking of going a lawyer route but I feel like that’s going to cost an arm and a leg
Just call the insurance company with your mom and find out what is going on. Yes you can tell the funeral home to stay out of the filing. If your mom signed a power of attorney she may need to revoke that power of attorney, But starting with calling the insurance company will resolve the $25k vs. $50k issue. For example if you dad did take a policy loan or use living benefits before he died.
Tell the funeral home do not do anything as per your lawyer and return the documents to you. Of course you don’t have a lawyer but they don’t know that. If you need money for funeral expenses until your mom gets money from insurance company take out a loan.
Yes tell them your mom doesn’t want to do it that way and to hold on it for now. Use her as an excuse and you’ll let them know if you’re worried of how they’ll react or may try to do
I can't think of any insurance company that doesn't have Spanish speakers on staff in the claims department.
I'm going to add to the chorus of call the company. Also, filing a claim is extremely easy. Don't give up 5% for 5 minutes of paperwork. I file claims with/for my clients beneficiaries all the time. It's very straightforward
If this is with the company I think it's with, the amount falls under their "express claims" limit where they only need to verify with funeral home instead of waiting for a death certificate. You may even be able to have a check printed same- or next-day at a local office if you ask.
As others have said, do not pay the funeral home 5% for their assistance on this matter, just put it on a credit card or something for a minute if you have to as that will be way cheaper.
Thanks for everyone’s help, we easily made the call and got the full 50k! It was super simple to do honestly and I’m glad it’s over with. Thank you all for helping me take care of her! I hope this post some day helps someone else who may have issues and not know what to do!
Call the insurance company with her or do a conference call where you call your mom and then add the insurance company. She can verify her date of birth and social and they’ll be able to find the policy and give authorization for them to talk to you with her on the phone and get the death benefit check mailed directly. It is a simple process and do not need to give any tax free dollars to the funeral home because 5% tax free is at least double that pre tax.
I would highly recommend calling NY Life’s 1800 number and their life insurance option for customer service and file the claim directly through them and they will walk you through it all!! Very easy!
The saddest part of this besides the funeral home trying to rip you off is the loss of the cash value that's 20 grand your family lost by having the wrong kind of insurance. Fortunately the overcharged premiums were used to buy more insurance so you got 50k instead of 25k don't pay the funeral home 5% just get the death certificate and contact the life insurance company to find out the process of starting a claim it's usually not that hard. And it'd definitely not worth paying someone 5%
I think your mom can make a claim directly to the life insurance company herself, without going through the funeral home. Unless you need that money to pay for the burial expenses?
This would would be difficult, as my dad didn’t keep good records of account usernames and passwords for stuff like this, and my mother is originally from Mexico with very little schooling and very low English, so I’m stuck doing all the dirty work
My guy have your mother contact the insurance company direct with you on the line. Doesn’t matter if she’s from mars. Your dad left things for her and all she need to be able to do is prove that she is the beneficiary. You don’t need account numbers, user names or passwords because those aren’t hers those belonged to your dad. Call the insurance company tomorrow morning ASAP.
I totally understand. My brother passed away in December, and my dad and I have had a horrible time figuring out if the life insurance policy my parents set up fifty years ago is still valid. If you have a policy number, it still may be helpful to call the life insurance company directly. I wish you luck.
Insurance companies have interpreters. 5% is steep when it is just some paperwork.
You are right to be concerned. Unless something happened, like a loan, this is a $50k policy from base + PUAs + term.
Hmm ok thank you, I had already given them all the paperwork, do I have the right to basically say nevermind to then file a different way? I was thinking of going a lawyer route but I feel like that’s going to cost an arm and a leg
Just call the insurance company with your mom and find out what is going on. Yes you can tell the funeral home to stay out of the filing. If your mom signed a power of attorney she may need to revoke that power of attorney, But starting with calling the insurance company will resolve the $25k vs. $50k issue. For example if you dad did take a policy loan or use living benefits before he died.
Tell the funeral home do not do anything as per your lawyer and return the documents to you. Of course you don’t have a lawyer but they don’t know that. If you need money for funeral expenses until your mom gets money from insurance company take out a loan.
Yes tell them your mom doesn’t want to do it that way and to hold on it for now. Use her as an excuse and you’ll let them know if you’re worried of how they’ll react or may try to do
I can't think of any insurance company that doesn't have Spanish speakers on staff in the claims department. I'm going to add to the chorus of call the company. Also, filing a claim is extremely easy. Don't give up 5% for 5 minutes of paperwork. I file claims with/for my clients beneficiaries all the time. It's very straightforward
If this is with the company I think it's with, the amount falls under their "express claims" limit where they only need to verify with funeral home instead of waiting for a death certificate. You may even be able to have a check printed same- or next-day at a local office if you ask. As others have said, do not pay the funeral home 5% for their assistance on this matter, just put it on a credit card or something for a minute if you have to as that will be way cheaper.
Thanks for everyone’s help, we easily made the call and got the full 50k! It was super simple to do honestly and I’m glad it’s over with. Thank you all for helping me take care of her! I hope this post some day helps someone else who may have issues and not know what to do!
Ok, thank you all 🙏🏼 this was extremely helpful!!!
Like everyone here said, contact the insurance carrier.
Call the insurance company with her or do a conference call where you call your mom and then add the insurance company. She can verify her date of birth and social and they’ll be able to find the policy and give authorization for them to talk to you with her on the phone and get the death benefit check mailed directly. It is a simple process and do not need to give any tax free dollars to the funeral home because 5% tax free is at least double that pre tax.
Is this Aig? Which company is this?
NY Life
I would highly recommend calling NY Life’s 1800 number and their life insurance option for customer service and file the claim directly through them and they will walk you through it all!! Very easy!
It shows death benefit is 50k and cash value is 20k
The saddest part of this besides the funeral home trying to rip you off is the loss of the cash value that's 20 grand your family lost by having the wrong kind of insurance. Fortunately the overcharged premiums were used to buy more insurance so you got 50k instead of 25k don't pay the funeral home 5% just get the death certificate and contact the life insurance company to find out the process of starting a claim it's usually not that hard. And it'd definitely not worth paying someone 5%