Consumer Frequently Asked Questions

DISCLAIMER: The information provided here is based upon the information provided by consumers, which may be limited, and may not apply in all cases. Please contact us with any specific questions you may have:

If you are a licensee of the Department, please visit Frequently Asked Questions for Licensees.

No, however, companies licensed to sell life insurance, health insurance, and annuities in Utah are required by law to be a member of the Utah Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association (ULHIGA). If a company licensed in Utah becomes insolvent and is unable to pay claims, the law requires ULHIGA to pay some of the claims. The benefits are for residents of Utah; if you move to another state, you may be eligible for benefits from that state’s guaranty association. The caps are $200,000 for net cash surrender value, $500,000 for death benefits, and $250,000 for annuities. See the Notice that is required to accompany an insurance policy for specific details.

The Department regulates the business of insurance in Utah. We do not have records for individual policies and there is no national registry for life insurance policies. If you believe a person was insured but are unable to locate the policy, we suggest that you:

search bank and credit card records for at least the previous year for premium payments to any insurance company.
contact current and previous employers to see if life insurance was provided.
contact union or association if a member.
ask family and friends if the name of an insurance company was ever mentioned.
contact the insurance company that provided auto and homeowner’s insurance in case life insurance was also purchased.
as a last resort, consider using a search company. An internet search on “lost life insurance” will provide companies that will contact insurance companies for you. Be sure to ask what service is offered and the cost.

The Department has no authority to make an insurance company pay a claim. The Department does, however, require insurance companies to follow claim practices set forth in Rule R590-191.

Generally, an insurance company must act within 15 days of receipt of the claim. If additional information is needed by the insurance company to evaluate the claim, the insurance company must inform the claimant of the investigation and must keep the claimant informed every 30 days.

If claim payment is delayed more than 60 days, please contact the Life Insurance Section for assistance.