Division of Insurance, NAIC Launch Nationwide Life Insurance Policy Locator Tool to Help Consumers Find Lost Life Insurance Policies, Annuities

CARSON CITY, Nev., Dec. 6 -- The Nevada Department of Business and Industry's Insurance Division issued the following news release:

The Nevada Division of Insurance and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) announced a national service that provides consumers with search capabilities to help find a deceased person's lost life insurance policies and annuities.

The NAIC's Life Insurance Policy Locator provides nationwide access for assistance with finding life insurance policies and annuities. An estimated $1 billion in benefits from life insurance policies are unclaimed, according to Consumer Reports. The new tool builds on the life insurance policy locator programs developed separately in a number of states before this launch.

"There are many people who don't know where to begin when searching for a lost life insurance policy or annuity," said Insurance Commissioner Barbara Richardson. "The life insurance policy locator streamlines and simplifies the process for consumers and insurance companies."

Consumer requests are encrypted and secured to maintain confidentiality. Participating insurers will compare submitted requests with available policyholder information and report all matches to state insurance departments through the locator. Companies will then contact beneficiaries or their authorized representatives.

Nevadans can access this tool by visiting the Division's website at http://doi.nv.gov/Consumers/ clicking on the Life Insurance & Annuities tab or by using the below link: http://doi.nv.gov/Consumers/Life_Insurance_and_Annuities/Life_Insurance___Annuity_Policy_Locator/

In 2015, life insurers paid more than $74 billion in insurance policy benefits to consumers nationwide. Since 2010, state insurance regulators have investigated unclaimed life insurance benefits. To date, nearly 23 regulatory actions have resulted in returning more than $6.75 billion life insurance proceeds to U.S. consumers.

About the Nevada Division of Insurance

The State of Nevada Division of Insurance, a Division of the Nevada Department of Business and Industry, protects the rights of Nevada consumers and regulates Nevada's $13 billion insurance industry. The Division of Insurance has offices in Carson City and Las Vegas. In 2015, the Division investigated more than 3,200 consumer complaints and recovered nearly $5 million on behalf of consumers. For more information about the Division of Insurance, visit DOI.NV.GOV or download the Division's smartphone app NDOI Connect today in the Apple App Store and Google Play.

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