Frequently Asked Questions
A claim is a request made to an insurance company to receive the benefits from a policy after the insured person has passed away. If approved, the beneficiary (or beneficiaries), the person or organization named in the policy, can receive the policy’s death benefit.
A beneficiary is the person or entity named in the insurance policy to receive the benefit after the insured person passes away. There can be one or more beneficiaries, and they are typically chosen by the policyholder when the policy is set up.
Once a claim is initiated, a review of the contract will confirm the beneficiary or beneficiaries. If you're unsure whether you're named as a beneficiary on a policy, there are a few ways to find out:
- Contact us directly. We may ask for information about the deceased and request a copy of the death certificate. We cannot confirm a beneficiary if the claim has not been initiated yet.
- Talk to the deceased’s financial representative. They may have access to the policy or know who was listed.
- Check personal records. Policy documents are often kept with wills, in safe deposit boxes, or among other important paperwork.
Once we verify your identity and documentation, we can confirm your status and help you move forward with a claim.
Each beneficiary should complete a separate claim form. If you don’t know who the other beneficiaries are, send in your form to start the process. We’ll take it from there.
Anyone can start a claim after someone passes away. This includes a loved one, beneficiary, family friend, or funeral home. Once the claim is filed, our Claims Department will follow up with all listed beneficiaries.
To submit claim forms, you can either:
Western & Southern Life Insurance Company
Claims Department
P.O. Box 1399
Cincinnati, OH 45273-9425
That's okay. You can still submit the claim form to get started. Depending on the policy, we may be able to accept alternate documents, but we will follow up with you if a death certificate is needed.
A certified death certificate may not be required for all claims. For fastest processing, please submit a copy of the death certificate, and a representative will contact you if a certified death certificate is required.
Timing varies by case, but we’ll start our review as soon as we receive all required documents. Claims involving contestability, foreign death, or higher dollar amounts may take longer to process.
Once your claim is approved, you’ll receive the payment based on the option you selected on the claim form. If you elect to receive a check, you will receive it via USPS mail. Unsure what option is right for you? A financial representative can help.
You can receive the life insurance benefit in one payment or through scheduled installments. Here are the available options:
- Lump Sum Check: A one-time payment issued as a check.
- Lump Sum to WS Life Account: A single payment deposited into a Western & Southern Life account for convenient access (dependent on the amount)
- Interest Income / Income Payments: Receive interest earned on the benefit as regular income.
- Interest Accumulation: Leave the benefit to earn interest, with access to the full amount when needed.
- Installments (Fixed Period or Fixed Amount): Receive payments over a set number of years or in fixed dollar amounts.
- Life Income with Period Certain: Guaranteed payments for life, with a minimum number of years guaranteed.
- Life Income, No Refund: Payments continue for the rest of your life, with no refund after death.
Not sure which option is right for you? A financial representative can help guide your decision.
An assignment is when the policy owner or beneficiary authorizes the insurance payment to go directly to a third party, such as a funeral home, to help cover final expenses. If no assignment has been made, the payment will be issued directly to the beneficiary.
There are several types of insurance claims, and the right one depends on the kind of policy and the event that occurred. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- A life insurance claim notifies the insurer that the policyholder has died, allowing the beneficiary to receive the death benefit. Some policies may include riders, such as extra payouts for accidental death or early access to benefits for terminal illness.
- An annuity claim is filed when the contract owner passes away or when the payout phase of the contract begins. Depending on the contract, the annuity may pay out as a lump sum or in regular, scheduled payments.
- Other types of claims may include critical illness, disability, long-term care, or cancer insurance, depending on the coverage in place.
If you’re not sure which type of claim to file, we’re here to help walk you through it.
