If you or an elderly loved one were pressured into canceling an existing life insurance policy to buy a new “final expense” or “burial” policy — and that policy was later denied, delayed, or left you with less coverage than promised — you may be entitled to compensation.
Cory Watson Attorneys is investigating claims involving high-pressure final expense insurance sales practices that target elderly, low-income, and chronically ill consumers, particularly in rural communities.
What Is Final Expense (Burial) Insurance?
Final expense insurance, sometimes called burial insurance, is a small whole life policy — typically with a face value well under $20,000 — marketed to help families cover funeral and burial costs. Many of these policies are sold as “guaranteed issue,” meaning they are marketed to consumers with health conditions who could not qualify for a traditional life insurance policy.
While final expense insurance can serve a legitimate need, regulators and consumer advocates have identified a pattern of aggressive, commission-driven sales practices in parts of the industry that put consumers, particularly seniors, at risk.
How These Policies Are Often Sold
Common practices reported in this segment of the insurance industry include:
- Lead-generation mailers designed to resemble official government notices, or small checks that, once cashed, trigger an in-home sales visit
- Door-to-door or in-home sales visits following a mailer or phone inquiry
- Agents who control the entire application process, entering answers electronically without reading each question aloud
- Underwriting decisions delivered in under a minute
- Pressure to sign an application before the agent leaves the home
- Encouraging consumers to cancel or replace an existing, long-standing life insurance policy in order to afford the new one
Warning Signs of a Predatory Sale
- You or a family member were convinced to cancel or replace a life insurance policy that had been in place for years
- The new policy was sold as “guaranteed issue” specifically because of a preexisting health condition
- The agent controlled the laptop or tablet and entered your answers without a full, independent interview
- You never received a clear explanation of how the new policy's coverage compared to the one it replaced
- A claim on the policy was denied, delayed, or the insurance company was later placed into receivership or liquidation
- The agent misrepresented their identity, licensing status, or affiliation with a government program
Do You Have a Case?
You may be eligible to pursue a claim if:
- You or a family member purchased a final expense or burial life insurance policy within the last several years
- The sale involved canceling, converting, or replacing an existing life insurance policy
- The agent controlled the application process or failed to fully and accurately record your answers
- You had a preexisting health condition, such as COPD or another chronic illness, that was disclosed at the time of sale
- A claim was later denied, delayed, or the insurer proved unable to pay
Potential legal claims may involve:
- Negligence and failure to supervise insurance agents
- Wantonness or reckless disregard for policyholders
- Fraud and misrepresentation
- Insurance twisting and churning
- Breach of the duty to properly advise, monitor, and service a policy
How Cory Watson Attorneys Can Help
For more than 45 years, Cory Watson Attorneys has represented individuals and families harmed by dangerous consumer products, defective medical devices, and corporate negligence.
Our attorneys have served in leadership roles in major nationwide litigation and understand the complexities of insurance fraud and consumer protection cases. We are committed to helping policyholders and their families pursue accountability and seek compensation for the losses they have suffered.
About Cory Watson Attorneys
Cory Watson Attorneys is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm with offices in Birmingham, Memphis, and Nashville.
The firm has recovered more than $4 Billion for clients nationwide and has extensive experience handling complex fraud, insurance, and consumer protection litigation.
Get Started Today
If you or a loved one were pressured into replacing an existing life insurance policy with a final expense or burial policy, you may have legal options.
Contact Cory Watson Attorneys today for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn whether you may qualify to pursue a claim.