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NEWS RELEASE
COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF REGULATORY AGENCIES
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Each year, millions of dollars in life insurance benefits go unclaimed by beneficiaries who can't find their deceased loved ones' policies, or in some cases may not even know the policies exist. The Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI), part of the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), is reminding people that there is a way to track down such policies.
A free online tool, the Life Insurance Policy Locator, maintained by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), works to remedy this situation for Coloradans, as well as people across the country. Every year, the locator takes thousands of requests and matches people with lost or misplaced life insurance policies or annuities.
“Unlike health, home or auto insurance, life insurance isn’t something people manage every year. It’s easier to forget the details, lose track of the paperwork or neglect to share the necessary information with loved ones,” said Colorado Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway. “As September is National Life Insurance Awareness Month, I am encouraging anyone who thinks there is a family member’s policy out there to visit the Life Insurance Policy Locator and submit a request.”
Policy locator requests are secure, confidential and free. Any matches found by participating insurers are reported to the DOI through the locator. The companies then are responsible for contacting beneficiaries.
Who can use the locator?
Anyone. This service is open to the public, including beneficiaries and legal representatives.
If a requester is a beneficiary and is notified by the company that a lost policy has been found, what information do people need to request their benefits?
Typically, a certified death certificate and company claim form must be submitted to the insurer which found a policy.
How long does it take for a request to be completed?
It may take up to 90 business days to receive a response. Please note a requester will not receive a response if no matches are found, the requester is not the beneficiary, or the requester does not have legal authority to obtain information about the deceased.
Visit the DOI’s “Life Insurance Policy Locator” website to find more information and access the locator itself.
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