Has anyone had to deal with these sham life insurance companies?

Let this be a lesson to each of us. Record all invrstments you have w policy #, telephone #, person to speak to, & where you have filed policy. Takes time but your kids will love you for it. I have told all 4 where they are hoping 1 will remember.

When my Mom passed away, I called the life insurance company and told them. They looked up her policy # and I was not required to send in the "original" policy as it was raken out 45 years ago. I had no idea where the original was. As I was the sole beneficiary, they emailed me a claim form which I filled out, had it notarized and returned it to them along with a certified copy of her death certificate. A couple of weeks later I received a check. No problem.

Let me give you one example. We had a disability insurance policy. When my husband had a trauma that left him completely blind in one eye, the insurance company wasn't going to pay. Knowing that they were wrong, I stayed on the phone and they paid out one half of the policy's protocol. IF YOU KNOW YOU'RE CORRECT, DON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER!

In fact, here's proof to back up what I'm saying. I found this information by accident right after I started dealing with UniCARE, right at a time I really didn't need this

Be very wary of UniCARE, they have a very low customer rating! I pity each and every family of ford workers who must deal with them

Katie, you cannot income average unless you meet specific criteria. That option was repealed in the 1980's other than VERY specific circumstances for federal taxes.
"For most Americans, income averaging is a thing of the past. However, if you are in the farming business as an individual or as a partner in a partnership or a shareholder in an S corporation, you can still income average; but farming corporations, the farming partnership itself, the farming S corporation itself and a farming trust cannot income average. Even if you qualify, you can only average over three years, not five."

Veronica. Use income averaging....that will spread the income back over those years and avoid the higher income bracket

My experience has been that most insurance companies will try not to pay and if they do hang on to the money as long as possible. We had a problem getting hubby's disability paid for his third year and had to go the legal route and the lawyer kept 25% then to punish us the Ins Co paid two years in the same year so we had a huge tax bill when we could least afford it.

I just filed the paper work for my Mother after my Dad passed.

Bankerslife allowed me to sign an affidavit that I would send them the original policy when I found it. With the death certificate (I got 10 right from the beginning), they paid no problem. I later found and mailed the policy

MInnesota life required me to provide the original policy. It took a month of digging thought mountains of crates...but, I found it...and filed. Then they paid, no problem

I have a suspicion you might not have found the original policy? Given it is sooo old, I would bet it is lost forever or buried deep in the papers of a lifetime. Keep looking

So, supply them with the "mountain" of paperwork and get the claim settled. Did you think they would just hand over money without proof? Read the policy very carefully as there may be some "exclusions" in there you did not know about, and then proceed. Buyer beware!

We have an insurance commissioner in our state. You might want to check in your state.

I should have said "Get several certified copies of the death certificate." Most places that require death certificates want them to be certified.

Listen to pamstegma. Take action and so what she describes. Get several copies of the death certificate. Many entities may ask for them over time.

They all require you to produce the policy and the death certificate. If you have done this and they did not pay, report them to your state attorney general.