Denied or Disputed Life Insurance Claim?

If you’re facing a denied, delayed, or disputed life insurance claim in New York, you may still be eligible to recover the benefits owed to you. Life insurance is meant to provide financial support after a loved one’s passing—not create more stress during an already difficult time. Unfortunately, insurance companies often use tactics to avoid paying claims, even when families have done everything right.

Our New York life insurance lawyers help clients throughout the state—including New York City, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Long Island, and upstate—fight back against unfair claim denials, delays, and beneficiary disputes. We handle both private and employer-provided (ERISA) policies.

Common Life Insurance Claim Issues in New York

We assist beneficiaries dealing with a wide range of life insurance challenges, such as:

• Denials for alleged misrepresentation, such as inaccurate health or lifestyle disclosures
• Lapsed policy disputes over missed premium payments or grace period violations
• Delayed payments, with no clear explanation or request for excessive documentation
• Contested beneficiary designations, including claims from ex-spouses or relatives
• Claims involving undue influence or last-minute changes
• Exclusions for causes of death, such as suicide or drug overdose
• Slayer Rule issues, where the beneficiary is suspected in the insured’s death
• ERISA claims governed by federal law through employer-provided coverage

Even if the insurance company insists the denial is final, you may still have a valid case.

New York Life Insurance Laws You Should Know

Life insurance claims in New York are subject to both state law and, in many cases, federal ERISA law (if the policy was issued through an employer). Key considerations include:

• Contestability period: In New York, insurers can only challenge a policy for misrepresentation within the first two years—except in cases of fraud.
• Prompt payment requirements: New York law requires life insurance benefits to be paid “promptly”—generally within 30 days of claim submission, or the insurer may owe interest.
• ERISA deadlines: If your policy is governed by ERISA, you may have only 60 or 180 days to file an appeal after denial.

Our firm handles both types of claims and can help ensure all state and federal requirements are met.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

If your life insurance claim is approved or successfully contested, you may be entitled to:

• The full policy benefit
• Interest for delayed payments under New York law
• Legal fees (in some state law cases)
• Potential bad faith damages if the insurer acted improperly

Our team works to recover the full value of the policy and any additional losses resulting from wrongful denial or delay.

Why Choose Our New York Life Insurance Lawyers?

• Free consultation to evaluate your claim or denial letter
• No fees unless we win or settle your case
• Experienced in both New York state courts and federal ERISA claims
• Compassionate, responsive legal support throughout your case
• Serving clients in all five boroughs and statewide

We’ve handled hundreds of life insurance disputes and know how to deal with complex policies, tight deadlines, and tough insurers.

What to Do If Your Life Insurance Claim Was Denied in New York

1. Keep all documentation, including the original policy and denial letter.
2. Avoid giving statements or submitting new paperwork without legal guidance.
3. Do not file an appeal on your own, especially in ERISA cases.
4. Contact a New York life insurance lawyer for a free review.

Time is critical. The sooner we can evaluate your case, the better your chances of recovery.