KIA&B 2015 Volume 20, Issue 5 | Page 9

| FROM THE COMMISSIONER | Locating life insurance Commissioner implements new service to improve efficiency for life insurance beneficiaries KEN SELZER Kansas Insurance Commissioner T he new KID Life Insurance Policy and Annuity Search is now available by submitting a request form to the department. Kansans who believe they are beneficiaries, an executor or legal representative of a deceased person can request help through KID. how it works Those submitting a request will need to do the following: • Complete the form available on the KID website: www. ksinsurance.org/healthlife/life/life-policy-search.php. • Have the form notarized. KID will then send the request to all Kansaslicensed life insurance companies to search their records. If a policy or contract is found, we are asking the company to respond directly to the requestor to begin the claims process. • Attach a copy of the certified death certificate of the policyholder. • Send all information to the department address listed on the form. We are pleased that we can provide this service. It enables Kansans who are possible beneficiaries to find benefits from another person’s life insurance or annuity contract. It eliminates the need for multiple searches by individuals because the insurance department will act as a clearinghouse for those requests. I’m sure some of you have been in the situation of trying to help a deceased person’s family locate any life insurance benefits, and you know how cumbersome that process can be. This locator service is designed to alleviate some of that. spreading the word While this service will help those who may be beneficiaries and not realize it, we hope that you as their local agents can stress the need for your life and annuity policyholders to provide information to their beneficiaries before they are unable to do so. That may eliminate unnecessary future delays in finalizing a person’s bequests for their life insurance or annuity proceeds. If you have any questions about the locator service, please contact LeAnn Crow, director of our Consumer Assistance Division, at 785-296-7829. |September-October 2015| KANSAS INSURANCE AGENT & BROKER 7