Stephen
Phoenix,#2Author of original report
Mon, January 15, 2007
I want to thank Mike and everyone who took the time to send in their comments. I am sure the information contained in these rebuttals will open some eyes and help protect military people from purchasing what they think are insurance policy, but are certificates. Unless someone has been through the devastation caused by these companies not keeping their promise you just don't understand. Thank you.
Mike
San Antonio,#3UPDATE Employee
Mon, January 15, 2007
stephen, first off my most sincere condolences on the loss of your wife and your friend. i do want to correct some misconceptions you made in your post because in it you slander a fine company (NY Life). first off, with all due respect, if you purchased a life insurance product from USBA then you purchased a certificate ... not a POLICY. the differences between a certificate and a policy are light and day. unfortunately, you discoverd that you have no contract with an insurance company when you have a "certificate". this is not a matter of NY Life not paying a benefit, because you had no policy with them. what you have is a certificate with USBA who issues thousands of certificates and then negotiates on its own behalf, insurance on certain of its own clients. again, while i cannot say for certainty what transpired, there are 2 year exclusionary periods in EVERY reputable insurance contract. even if someone dies in that two years, the insurance company should pay out UNLESS the person took their own life (suicide) or unless the person lied in the application. if neither of these two issues is true in your situation, i would recommend either re-contacting the company or filing suit. finally, i have little to no experience with USBA so please take my comments accordingly. however, by purchasing a certificate you save yourself maybe $10 per month. with that savings you add another entire level of beauracracy to the mix and you further do not even get a policy (which is a legal binding contract). for those looking to cover their families; keep this in mind ... penny wise yet pound foolish. even though you are experiencing tragedy in your own life (such that i cannot comprehend) i implore you to understand the situation you are in and not blame others for something that is not their fault. NY Life remains one of the three best insurance companies in the WORLD and your beef is not with them. regards, Mike
Thomas
Anderson,#4Consumer Comment
Tue, December 12, 2006
exclusion and they might define death within two years (or death within some other time period) as a pre-existing mortal condition. Then they refund your premiums. I have seen the 2-year exclusion before, but read your policy. Getting shot or blown up in Iraq is not a pre-existing mortal condition at any insurance company that I know.... Disclaimer: I do not sell nor have I ever sold insurance of any kind.
Thomas
Anderson,#5Consumer Comment
Tue, December 12, 2006
exclusion and they might define death within two years (or death within some other time period) as a pre-existing mortal condition. Then they refund your premiums. I have seen the 2-year exclusion before, but read your policy. Getting shot or blown up in Iraq is not a pre-existing mortal condition at any insurance company that I know.... Disclaimer: I do not sell nor have I ever sold insurance of any kind.
Thomas
Anderson,#6Consumer Comment
Tue, December 12, 2006
exclusion and they might define death within two years (or death within some other time period) as a pre-existing mortal condition. Then they refund your premiums. I have seen the 2-year exclusion before, but read your policy. Getting shot or blown up in Iraq is not a pre-existing mortal condition at any insurance company that I know.... Disclaimer: I do not sell nor have I ever sold insurance of any kind.
Mike
Radford,#7Consumer Suggestion
Tue, December 12, 2006
Is there also a waiting period for death from accidents or combat? A two-year probation for death from illness is fairly common in the industry. I doubt any life insurance company will deny the benefit for someone who is killed in the line of duty, because the negative publicity would be huge. Term insurance in general isn't very reliable protection from death by illness. If you become sick with a disease that causes slow death when the term is about up, they will refuse to renew your policy. You'll end up dying early, without insurance. There is a lot of garbage insurance and other products being sold by "affinity" sales techniques, consumers should be very wary of them.
Mike
Radford,#8Consumer Suggestion
Tue, December 12, 2006
Is there also a waiting period for death from accidents or combat? A two-year probation for death from illness is fairly common in the industry. I doubt any life insurance company will deny the benefit for someone who is killed in the line of duty, because the negative publicity would be huge. Term insurance in general isn't very reliable protection from death by illness. If you become sick with a disease that causes slow death when the term is about up, they will refuse to renew your policy. You'll end up dying early, without insurance. There is a lot of garbage insurance and other products being sold by "affinity" sales techniques, consumers should be very wary of them.
Mike
Radford,#9Consumer Suggestion
Tue, December 12, 2006
Is there also a waiting period for death from accidents or combat? A two-year probation for death from illness is fairly common in the industry. I doubt any life insurance company will deny the benefit for someone who is killed in the line of duty, because the negative publicity would be huge. Term insurance in general isn't very reliable protection from death by illness. If you become sick with a disease that causes slow death when the term is about up, they will refuse to renew your policy. You'll end up dying early, without insurance. There is a lot of garbage insurance and other products being sold by "affinity" sales techniques, consumers should be very wary of them.
Mike
Radford,#10Consumer Suggestion
Tue, December 12, 2006
Is there also a waiting period for death from accidents or combat? A two-year probation for death from illness is fairly common in the industry. I doubt any life insurance company will deny the benefit for someone who is killed in the line of duty, because the negative publicity would be huge. Term insurance in general isn't very reliable protection from death by illness. If you become sick with a disease that causes slow death when the term is about up, they will refuse to renew your policy. You'll end up dying early, without insurance. There is a lot of garbage insurance and other products being sold by "affinity" sales techniques, consumers should be very wary of them.