Questions & answers · Life insurance
The insurer denied a death claim because of the suicide clause. How long does that last?
Life insuranceDeniedTexasChecked Nov 6, 2026
From K.Actuary, founded by Sangmin Kwon, ASA · sources checked 2026-11-06 · Source: TDI View original ↗
In short
- In the first two years, a company usually will not pay if the cause of death is suicide.
- After two years, it must pay no matter the cause.
- A lapsed policy that is reinstated starts a new contestable period.
What this means
Many life policies have a suicide clause. TDI says that in the first two years, a company usually will not pay if the cause of death is suicide [1]. It must give the premiums back to the beneficiary [1].
After the policy has been in effect more than two years, the company must pay no matter the cause [1]. If a policy lapses and is reinstated, a new contestable period starts [1].
Your next step
Check the policy start date and the date of death against the first two years [1]. If the company doesn't pay the benefit, it must return the premiums [1]. TDI can help with complaints against the companies it regulates [2], but it can't settle a dispute when you and the company disagree about the facts [3]. The deadline these sources give is 2 months to pay a death benefit after proof of death [4].
Check it yourself
Open the first source above and read the part quoted. Your own policy papers hold details these sources do not give: "Don't know yet" for your case.
Where this comes from (4)
[1] TDI · checked 2026-11-06
During the first two years of a policy, companies usually won't pay the death benefit if the cause of death is suicide. If the company doesn't pay the benefit, it must return the premiums to your beneficiary. Once your policy has been in effect for more than two years, the company must pay the death benefit regardless of the cause of death. Your policy will have a new contestable period if it lapses and you later rei…
[2] TDI · checked 2026-11-06
We can help with complaints against the insurance companies, agents, and adjusters we regulate
[3] TDI · checked 2026-11-06
Companies have 15 days to respond to us and can ask for a 10-day extension … We also can’t: Make a company pay a claim unless not paying violates a law or the terms of your policy. Help with complaints against another person’s insurance company. Settle disputes when you and the company disagree about the facts
[4] TDI · checked 2026-11-06
Companies must pay the death benefit within two months after getting proof of death and verifying your beneficiary. For an individual life policy, the company must also pay interest on the death benefit from the time it got proof of death to the time it agreed to pay the death benefit. Companies might take longer to pay the death benefit if you die during the policy's contestable period
How we found this
We matched your question to 4 official sources, quoted the exact lines, and re-checked each quote against its source on 2026-11-06.
What we don’t know yet
Your own plan or notice may say something different. If your letter cites another rule, send it and we will look again.
Every answer is checked against the official rule it quotes.
Information only — not legal advice. Your plan, insurer or agency decides.
This answer quotes the official sources listed above, with the date we checked them. Your own policy, notice and state rules control. We are not your lawyer or your insurer. We don’t file, argue or negotiate claims for you — you send any letter or form yourself.
Related answers
- A life insurer denied the death claim because of a mistake on the application, and the policy is 18 months old. Is that allowed?
- Will life insurance pay out if the death was a suicide one year after the policy was purchased?
- The life insurance company denied the death claim, saying the application was wrong. Can they do that?
- My life insurance denied my claim for a death — why, and is that allowed?
Answer id DN4026. Spotted an error? Tell us.