Life insurance claim after death in India: NRI family checklist

What to identify before you call the insurer

Every policy is its own file: insurer, policy number, product type, nominee, and premium-payment trail. A “Papa has insurance” message is not a claim file. Separate health cover from life cover — different desks, different documents.

• Insurer name and policy number(s).
• Product type if known (term / endowment / ULIP / whole life).
• Nominee name as recorded — may differ from bank nominees.
• Where the physical policy bond / e-policy PDF lives.
• Registered mobile for OTPs and premium apps.

Peacetime mapping that prevents claim week chaos

• Photograph policy schedules and first pages into the vault (parents permitting).
• Ask about employer group life cover as well as retail policies.
• Note agent / branch / app used for servicing.
• Update nominees after marriage, divorce, or a family death.
• Invite a sibling so one NRI is not the only policy holder of record in memory.

After death: documents families commonly gather

Exact lists vary by insurer and cause of death. Expect death certificate, claimant KYC, policy details, and nominee / heir proofs. Early intimation often helps — do not wait for “all papers perfect” before the first call.

• Death certificate copies.
• Claimant ID, PAN, and bank details for payout.
• Policy number and bond / e-policy copy.
• Nominee form / relationship proofs as required.
• Medical / hospital records if the insurer requests them for that claim type.
• Police FIR / post-mortem only when the insurer’s checklist asks — not every claim.

Where claims stall

• Unknown policy number — search email for “premium,” “renewal,” and insurer domains.
• Nominee deceased or never updated.
• Name spelling mismatch across death certificate and policy.
• Two siblings filing overlapping claims.
• Paying “claim agents” who ask for advance fees and Aadhaar OTP.

How HeirReady helps

HeirReady stores the insurance inventory and sibling checklist. It does not file claims or approve payouts. Mapped early, claim week starts with policy numbers — not a cupboard search.

• Insurance items with encrypted policy refs.
• Link health vs life covers clearly.
• Shared tracker for intimation and claim numbers.

Disclaimer

Claim rules, exclusions, and timelines are insurer- and fact-specific. Follow that insurer’s official process. This article is educational continuity planning, not insurance or legal advice.