Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, November 24, 2016
(INDIANAPOLIS) - The Indiana Department of Insurance and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is announcing a national service that provides consumers with search capabilities to help find a deceased person’s lost life insurance policies and annuities.
The NAIC's Life Insurance Policy Locator (https://eapps.naic.org/life-policy-locator) provides nationwide access for assistance with finding life insurance policies and annuities. An estimated $1 billion in benefits from life insurance policies are unclaimed, according to Consumer Reports. The new tool builds on the life insurance policy locator programs developed separately in a number of states before this launch.
"The Department often hears from Hoosiers who don't know where to begin when searching for a lost life insurance policy or annuity," said Indiana Department of Insurance Commissioner Stephen W. Robertson. "This new locator tool streamlines and simplifies the process, which will help consumers during what can be a difficult time."
Consumer requests are encrypted and secured to maintain confidentiality. Participating insurers will compare submitted requests with available policyholder information and report all matches to state insurance departments through the locator. Companies will then contact beneficiaries or their authorized representatives.
In 2015, life insurers paid more than $74 billion in insurance policy benefits to consumers nationwide. Since 2010, state insurance regulators have investigated unclaimed life insurance benefits. To date, nearly 23 regulatory actions have resulted in returning more than $6.75 billion life insurance proceeds to U.S. consumers.
About the Indiana Department of Insurance
The Indiana Department of Insurance protects Indiana's insurance consumers by monitoring and regulating the financial strengths and market conduct activities of insurance companies and agents. The department monitors insurance companies and agents for compliance with state laws to protect consumers and to offer them the best array of insurance products available. The department also assists Hoosiers with insurance questions and provides guidance in understanding how insurance policies work.
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