Life Insurance Company Phone Numbers (2026)

If you are a beneficiary, the fastest way to start a death claim is usually to call the insurer's claims department or use its online claim form. This directory lists the death claim lines for 26 of the largest US life insurers to help you find the right life insurance claim phone number, confirm where to file, and know what to say when calling the life insurance company after death.

The claim lines, hours, and form links in the table were checked on insurer websites in October 2026. Phone numbers can change, so confirm the number on the policy, a recent statement, or the insurer's website before you send documents.

Life insurance claim phone numbers

Before you dial: carrier details that can save a call

A life insurance company may have more than one claims path. Before you call, look at the policy, the latest annual statement, and any employer benefits papers to confirm which company currently services the policy.

A few common issues:

• Some MetLife retail policies, including older NEF, GenAm, and Travelers policies, are now serviced by Brighthouse Financial. Check who sends the statements before you file.
• Globe Life has several divisions, including Liberty National, American Income, and Family Heritage. Those divisions may use separate claim lines or forms.
• Employer group life insurance often starts with the employer, benefits administrator, or a separate group claims line. If the policy came through work, read our guide to group life insurance after a death.
• Many insurers use separate lines for annuities, variable policies, and retirement products. If the paperwork says annuity, variable universal life, or IRA, ask to be transferred to the right department.
• Primerica generally needs a phone call first so the company can create a claim number before you send paperwork.
• Thrivent and Symetra say that a death can be reported by someone other than the beneficiary. The company will then review its records and contact the proper person.
• Online reports at Protective, MassMutual, and Guardian often take about 5 to 15 minutes if you have the basic details ready.

What to have ready before you call

You do not need every document in hand to make the first call. In many cases, the first call is just a death notification and a request for the claim packet. Still, having a few details nearby can prevent repeat calls.

Try to gather:

• The policy number, certificate number, or account number, if known
• The full legal name of the person who died
• Date of birth and date of death
• Last known address
• Social Security number, if you have lawful access to it
• A certified death certificate, or a funeral home proof of death if the insurer accepts it for the first step
• Your name, address, phone number, and email
• Your relationship to the person who died
• A copy of your government ID, if the insurer asks for it
• Any beneficiary paperwork you already have

If you are the beneficiary, the life insurance company will usually tell you whether it needs an original certified death certificate or a copy. Some claims can begin online with an upload. Others still require documents by mail. If there are multiple beneficiaries, each beneficiary may need to submit a separate claim form.

If you are the executor but not the beneficiary, ask what the company can disclose. Life insurance with a named beneficiary often pays outside probate, so the executor may have limited access to details. If the estate is the beneficiary, the insurer may ask for estate paperwork, such as letters testamentary, letters of administration, or other court proof of authority.

What to say when calling the life insurance company

A short script can help when you are tired or dealing with several estate tasks at once:

"I am calling to report the death of a policyholder and ask how to file a beneficiary claim. I have the policy number if you need it. Can you tell me the claim form, documents required, delivery method, and how benefits are paid?"

Then ask these questions:

• Is this the right department for an individual life insurance death claim?
• Is the policy active, and is there a named beneficiary on file?
• Can you confirm whether I am listed as a beneficiary, or do you need documents first?
• Do you require a certified death certificate?
• Can the claim be filed online, by secure upload, by fax, or by mail?
• Should each beneficiary file a separate form?
• How will the benefit be paid?
• Is the default payment a check, direct deposit, or retained-asset account?
• Is there any loan, premium issue, contestability review, or missing document that could affect the claim?

A retained-asset account is not the same as receiving a check into your bank account. It is an account the insurer may set up to hold claim proceeds until you draw on them. Before choosing that option, ask about fees, interest, FDIC coverage, transfer options, and whether you can request a check instead. For more detail, see our guide to retained-asset accounts after a life insurance claim.

Try to write down the date, time, representative name, claim number, and next step. If the company gives you a claim number, put it on every document you send.

If you do not know the insurer

Many beneficiaries know there was a policy but do not know the company. Start with home files, bank statements, mail, email, safe deposit box records, tax records, and employer benefits papers. Premium drafts may appear under a carrier name, an old carrier name, or an administrator name.

You can also use the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator. It is a free tool from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners that asks participating insurers to search for matching policies. If an insurer finds a match and you are authorized to receive information, the company will contact you directly. The locator does not return instant results, and it may not find every policy, but it is a good step when the insurer is unknown.

Sunset can also help with the broader estate search. Life insurance is only one possible asset. Estates can include bank accounts, retirement accounts, taxable investment accounts, vehicles, real estate, debts, refunds, and uncashed checks. Sunset searches 2,500+ financial institutions to help find accounts and assets after a death, which can be helpful before you make final estate decisions.

For a wider view of asset discovery, read what Sunset searches for after a death.

What happens after you file

After the claim is submitted, the insurer reviews the form, beneficiary information, death certificate, and policy status. It may ask for more documents if names do not match, the beneficiary is a trust or estate, the policy is old, or the death occurred during a contestability period.

This article is a directory and call prep guide, not a full timeline. If you want the next step after filing, read our guide to life insurance claim timing and appeals. That topic covers common delays, follow-up steps, and what to do if a claim is denied.

Also separate individual policies from employer group policies. A policy bought directly from New York Life, Northwestern Mutual, or State Farm is handled differently from basic life insurance provided through work. Employer coverage may involve HR, a benefits portal, an ERISA plan administrator, and deadlines under the plan documents.

How life insurance fits into the estate

Life insurance with a named living beneficiary usually pays to that beneficiary directly. It may not need to pass through probate. That does not mean it is disconnected from the estate settlement. The executor may still need to identify all assets and liabilities, pay valid estate expenses, file tax returns, handle probate paperwork, and communicate with heirs.

If the beneficiary is the estate, or if no named beneficiary is alive, the death benefit may become part of the probate estate. The insurer may then require court papers before it will release funds. State rules vary, so treat this as general information, not legal advice.

Sunset starts with an assets-and-liabilities-first approach: find what exists, understand what is owed, and then work through the paperwork in the right order. Sunset can generate state- and county-specific probate packets, refer families to a local probate attorney when counsel is needed, and provide an FDIC-insured estate account for estate funds. More than 15,000 families have used Sunset to settle estates.

If you are acting as executor, our guide to how long it takes to settle an estate can help you see how insurance claims fit into the larger job.

FAQ

How do I contact a life insurance company after death?

Call the insurer's death claims department or use its online claim form. Have the policy number, the name of the person who died, date of death, your contact information, and your relationship to the person who died. Ask whether you need a certified death certificate and where to send the claim form.

What is the life insurance claim phone number?

There is no single life insurance claim phone number for every company. Each insurer has its own death claim line, and some companies have different lines for individual life, group life, annuities, and older policies serviced by another company. Use the carrier table above, then confirm the number on the policy or insurer website.

Can anyone call a life insurance company to report a death?

Often, yes. Some insurers allow any person to report a death, even if the company can only release claim details to a beneficiary, executor, trustee, or other authorized person. The insurer may take the report and then contact the beneficiary on file.

What if I cannot find the policy number?

You can still call the insurer with the person's full name, date of birth, date of death, and last address. The company may ask for more details before it can search. If you do not know the insurer, use the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator and check bank records for premium payments.

Does life insurance go through probate?

Life insurance with a named living beneficiary usually pays outside probate. If the estate is the beneficiary, or if there is no valid beneficiary, the benefit may need to go through probate. Ask the insurer what beneficiary it has on file and what documents it needs.

Sunset can help with the rest of the estate

Calling life insurance companies is one task in a larger estate settlement. You may also need to find accounts, understand debts, prepare probate forms, open an estate account, and transfer assets.

Sunset helps families search for accounts and assets across 2,500+ financial institutions, prepare probate packets based on the state and county, and organize estate funds in an FDIC-insured estate account. If attorney help is needed, Sunset can refer you to local probate counsel.

Start with the bigger picture: what the person owned, what they owed, and what paperwork is needed next. Sunset can help you turn scattered calls and documents into a clear list of what comes next.