How Can I Find My Old Life Insurance Policy?

Losing track of a life insurance policy can happen over time, but there are several steps you can take to find your old life insurance policy. Whether you need the policy for personal records or because a loved one has passed, here are effective strategies for locating it.

1. Review Personal Records

• Check Your Files: Start by looking through your personal files, such as old paperwork, filing cabinets, or safe deposit boxes. Life insurance policies are often stored with important financial documents like wills, mortgage papers, or tax returns.
• Emails or Digital Accounts: If you manage your finances online, check your email for communications from insurance companies or your financial institutions. Some insurers also provide policyholders access to their accounts through online portals, where you might find policy details.
  
  

2. Contact the Insurance Company

• Call the Insurer: If you remember the name of the insurance company, reach out to them directly. Provide personal details such as your full name, date of birth, and Social Security number to help them locate your policy.
• Mergers and Acquisitions: Sometimes, insurance companies merge or are acquired by other companies. If you can’t locate the original insurer, search online to see if another company has taken over their policies and contact that company.
  
  

3. Use the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)

• The NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator service is a free tool that can help you locate a lost or forgotten life insurance policy. You can submit a request online, and the NAIC will reach out to participating insurance companies to check if they have a policy in your name. This is particularly useful if you’re searching for a policy of a deceased loved one.
• How to Use:
  • Go to the NAIC website and use their Life Insurance Policy Locator tool.
  • Provide the required information, such as your name, the insured’s name (if different), Social Security number, and other identifying details.
  • You’ll receive responses from insurance companies if they find a matching policy.
    
    

4. Contact Previous Employers

• Employer-Sponsored Policies: If the life insurance policy was provided through an employer, contact the human resources or benefits department. Many employers offer group life insurance policies as part of their benefits packages, and the policy may still be active or accessible.
• Even if you’re no longer employed with the company, they may have records or contact information for the insurance provider.
  
  

5. Check with Financial Advisors or Lawyers

• Financial Advisor: If you used a financial advisor in the past, they may have helped you purchase or manage your life insurance policy. Reach out to them to see if they can locate or have records of your old policy.
• Attorney: If your policy was part of your estate planning, your lawyer might have a copy of it or be able to guide you in finding it, especially if it was linked to a will or trust.
  
  

6. Look Through Bank Records

• Payment Records: If you were paying premiums for your life insurance policy via automatic withdrawals, review your old bank statements. Look for recurring payments to insurance companies, which can help identify the insurer and policy number.
• Checks or Credit Card Statements: If you paid premiums via check or credit card, review old statements for similar payments.
  
  

7. Contact State Insurance Departments

• Many state insurance departments have resources to help you find lost or unclaimed life insurance policies. They might maintain databases or have connections with insurance companies operating in their state. You can contact your state’s insurance department for assistance.
  
  

8. Search for Unclaimed Property

• Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits: If a policyholder passed away and no claim was made, the death benefit might have been turned over to the state as unclaimed property. You can search the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) website or check your state’s unclaimed property database to see if there are any life insurance funds in your name.
• How to Search: Visit your state’s unclaimed property website or go to NAUPA’s website, enter your name and other relevant information, and search for any unclaimed insurance benefits.
  
  

9. Check with Beneficiaries

• If the policy was taken out to benefit someone else, such as a spouse or child, they may have received information or documentation about the life insurance. Ask them if they have any policy details or know where the policy is stored.
  
  

10. Search for Policy Documents in Safe Deposit Boxes

• Sometimes, life insurance policies are stored in safe deposit boxes at banks. If you or a loved one had one, check with the bank to access the box, or inquire with the bank’s legal department if the box was under someone else’s name and they have passed away.

Key Information to Have When Searching:

• Full legal name of the policyholder
• Social Security number
• Date of birth
• Past addresses
• Insurance company name (if known)
• Policy number (if known)
• Proof of relationship if searching for someone else’s policy

Locating an old life insurance policy may require a combination of checking personal records, contacting insurers, and utilizing helpful online tools like the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator. By systematically searching through your documents, financial records, and online resources, you can successfully recover a forgotten or lost policy.