One of the most common issues with collecting an individual health insurance benefit is that the beneficiaries have no idea how to start the process. With expensive funeral expenses and lost income, most people want to make sure they can receive their proceeds as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the claims process does not always go quickly for everyone. Although, an individual health insurance companies have made filing and collecting a claim much easier over the years, it can still take several weeks or even months to finally collect on a policy.

The first step to collecting the proceeds of a life insurance policy is initiating the process by getting in contact with an individual health insurance provider. All it takes is a simple phone call, and some companies may even provide online support. After you’ve notified them of the death, the company will typically send you claim forms and other important documents to fill out. Yes, be prepared for a significant amount of paperwork here, but it’s all necessary to complete the process. Once all of the paperwork has been submitted, the insurance provider can get started in processing the claim. At this point, the insurance company is simply making sure the claim checks out and that the policy is still in good standing. Depending on the circumstances of the insured individual’s death, some life insurance providers may choose to investigate the claim, especially if it’s still during the contestability period.