Should and will the insurance company pay a claim for an accidental suicide?

[titeye]

Real Case:
Parents had life insurance on child through employer. Prior to the policy's 2 year anniversary, the kid accidentally hangs himself resulting from some type of Tik Tok challenge. From a claim perspective, is this an accidental death, with a possibility of paying double, or is this a suicide, and therefore a denial of claim entirely?

 

[jdeasy]

Real Case:
Parents had life insurance on child through employer. Prior to the policy's 2 year anniversary, the kid accidentally hangs himself resulting from some type of Tik Tok challenge. From a claim perspective, is this an accidental death, with a possibility of paying double, or is this a suicide, and therefore a denial of claim entirely?

Really comes down to how it’s ruled by the authorities.

Is it a double indemnity policy?

Is there a suicide exclusion in the policy?

And what state? If there is a suicide exclusion it might not be 2 years. Missouri, for one example, is 1 year.

 

[titeye]

Really comes down to how it’s ruled by the authorities.

Is it a double indemnity policy?

Is there a suicide exclusion in the policy?

And what state? If there is a suicide exclusion it might not be 2 years. Missouri, for one example, is 1 year.

I ask because some insurers decide base on what is stated on death certificate, and I don't think that is always fair.

 

[jdeasy]

I ask because some insurers decide base on what is stated on death certificate, and I don't think that is always fair.

They all decide by the death certificate. But they can only decide by what’s in the contract too.

 

[titeye]

This occurred in Tennessee. Not sure of the answers to the
other questions

 

[jdeasy]

Other factors come into play too. Especially on employer coverage.

I know of one here that happened well before I was in this business. Guy was killed in the commission of a crime. He had life insurance at work.

The company was well within their right to challenge it because of the circumstances.

For whatever reason they just quietly paid the claim and never raised an issue.

 

[titeye]

Wow, I would not have expected them to do that.

 

[adjusterjack]

Real Case:
Parents had life insurance on child through employer. Prior to the policy's 2 year anniversary, the kid accidentally hangs himself resulting from some type of Tik Tok challenge. From a claim perspective, is this an accidental death, with a possibility of paying double, or is this a suicide, and therefore a denial of claim entirely?

I would have to read the policy. Speculation without information is futile.

Other factors come into play too. Especially on employer coverage.

I know of one here that happened well before I was in this business. Guy was killed in the commission of a crime. He had life insurance at work.

The company was well within their right to challenge it because of the circumstances.

For whatever reason they just quietly paid the claim and never raised an issue.

Again, depends on the terms and conditions of the policy.

 

[jdeasy]

I would have to read the policy. Speculation without information is futile.



Again, depends on the terms and conditions of the policy.

In the case I mentioned the language was pretty clear that they could have refused to pay.

And it was expected they would fight.

I was the local union president. I asked what their position was going to be. They simply said, “we have made an executive decision to settle the claim without incident”.

I didn’t inquire further.

 

[Lloyds of Lubbock]

This is the definition of suicide "Suicide is defined as the intentional taking of one's own life".
If you take your own life by accident is it suicide?
I am not a 100% sure but I believe there is no suicide clause on a group owned policy.