The Fayetteville Observer, N.C., Live Wire column [The Fayetteville Observer, N.C.]

Jan. 04--Q: When a relative dies, is there any way you can find out if they had any kind of life insurance that you didn't know about? -- W.F., Fayetteville

A: In such a case, you'd have to do some detective work -- and hope you're lucky.

If you don't find a policy among your deceased relative's papers, look through his canceled checks or credit card statements to see if you can find premium payments. You could also check his income tax filings to see if it listed any indication of a policy. If he had a financial adviser, you could ask that person. And watch his mail.

If he had a job, you can check with his employer to see if he was covered by group life insurance through that company.

You could also contact insurers to try to find out if your relative held a policy with them. The N.C. Department of Insurance has a list of insurers that have been approved to sell individual life insurance products in the state. But before you start planning to make cold calls, beware: There are 263 companies on the list.

Q: Would you check out Prize Intelligence Agency out of Miami, Fla.? It appears to be a sham. Firstly, we never entered a $2.5 million contest. Second, they gave you only about two days to respond. And third, you had to send a $20 transfer fee. -- W.M., Red Springs

A: We don't even need to check after reading your description. But we went ahead and did so and, of course, this claim is bogus and associated online with multiple complaints and ripoff reports.

Red flags should fly any time you're notified that you've "won" a big prize, especially if you have no memory of entering anything, if you're given only a brief window of time in which to respond or if you're supposed to send money first to cover alleged fees or taxes. Legitimate sweepstakes companies never require winners to pay taxes or fees upfront.

Q: Will a generic equivalent for Plavix start being issued this year? -- F.P., Garland

A: Possibly.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. has held the rights to the blood thinner in this country, but its patent protection was scheduled to expire late last year. In October, a report from the Bloomberg business news agency said Plavix generics are expected to be on the U.S. market by May.

Plavix is the brand name for clopidogrel. Bloomberg said Plavix is the second biggest-selling drug in the world and accounted for 34 percent of Bristol-Myers' revenues last year. Plavix is sold elsewhere in the world by Paris-based Sanofi.

Live Wire seeks to answer questions of general interest and consumer topics within two weeks. Initials are used to identify questioners when names are given. Contact Live Wire at [email protected], http://blogs.fayobserver.com/livewire or 486-3516.

___

(c)2012 The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, N.C.)

Visit The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, N.C.) at www.fayobserver.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services