How do I found out if my disabled mother (in a nursing home) has life insurance?

[Thersa Thorpe]

My mother is in a nursing home, she gave power of attorney to my brother who took everything she had. He sold her home and got rid of all the contents of the home. Including all of her information: Social Security card, any files she had for bills, all of her insurance information, She believes she has some life insurance somewhere but, she cannot remember how much or whom she has a policy with. (She feels like there may be two different policies). How do I find out if and where she has life insurance and through what company if she does? My brother has stopped speaking to her and he has no information about her personal business. I live in Kentucky however, my mother is in Indiana. I am now her power of attorney.

 

[Tahoe Ray]

If you have POA, look at her bank statements and see if a carrier is auto-drafting. That's how many people pay their premiums. Be sure to look back for at least a year because the draft "mode" could be monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual.

Once you have the carrier, you can reach out to them and see if the policy is still in force and get all of the details. They're going to require POA docs and verification that you have the authority to act on your mother's behalf.

Good luck and sorry to hear about what your brother did.

 

[Thersa Thorpe]

That is a great but, she can't remember what bank(s) she had or what insurance companies she had.

 

[Tahoe Ray]

That is a great but, she can't remember what bank(s) she had or what insurance companies she had.

You don't need to know the insurance company, just the bank.

I would literally just start with the big banks and just see if you get lucky. There is no really easy way to do this, unfortunately.

How is she/you paying for the nursing facility? Is she on medicaid?

 

[DHK]

These links won't help you now, but after your mom passes, the death certificate is uploaded to the Master Death File. Then you can search for life insurance policies on behalf of a deceased family member:

Life Insurance Policy Locator

MIB, Inc. - Assistance Finding Lost Life Insurance

 

[scagnt83]

These links won't help you now, but after your mom passes, the death certificate is uploaded to the Master Death File. Then you can search for life insurance policies on behalf of a deceased family member:

Life Insurance Policy Locator

MIB, Inc. - Assistance Finding Lost Life Insurance

I dont think those are just for deceased family members David. At least the MIB search. Its for the living as well. Its a MIB search for any policy past the mid 80s.

 

[DHK]

It's certainly worth a shot. Thanks.

 

[Thersa Thorpe]

You don't need to know the insurance company, just the bank.

I would literally just start with the big banks and just see if you get lucky. There is no really easy way to do this, unfortunately.

How is she/you paying for the nursing facility? Is she on medicaid?

 

[Thersa Thorpe]

Yes she is on Medicaid

 

[fed up]

If what you say is true about your brother, he had better be able to show receipts for the bills he paid for Mom. After that I hope he puts some of the money away for after he gets out of jail for selling the home and keeping the money