Norwich Union, the UK’s largest insurer, today confirmed that the payout on a Norwich Union life insurance policy, for a policyholder killed by the tsunami tragedy, does not have to be subject to the seven year legal rule in relation to the issue of a death certificate if a body cannot be found.
Norwich Union, the UK’s largest insurer, today confirmed that the payout on a Norwich Union life insurance policy, for a policyholder killed by the tsunami tragedy, does not have to be subject to the seven year legal rule in relation to the issue of a death certificate if a body cannot be found.
Norwich Union will be applying a "reasonable evidence" test to substantiate that a policyholder has been killed in the tragedy, in relation to a life insurance claim. This does not include the need for a death certificate to be issued. Insurers can seek to establish the facts for a life insurance claim using information and evidence such as airline bookings, hotel bookings, immigration records and also the use of credit cards.
Mike Kirsch, operations director for Norwich Union, said: "Everyone has been shocked at the scale of the Tsunami tragedy and the level of human loss and suffering it has caused. There is clearly confusion at the current time around how a relative can claim on a life insurance policy if no body can be found and therefore no death certificate issued.
"Norwich Union’s position is that the lack of a death certificate will not prevent us from investigating and paying a claim. We will be doing our utmost to ensure that claims are handled sensitively and as quickly as possible during what will be a very difficult time for the relatives of victims of the tragedy."
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Notes to Editors
- Norwich Union is the UK’s largest insurer. It is a leading provider of life, pensions and investment products and one of the leading IFA providers. IFAs provide around 75% of the company’s long-term savings business.
- Norwich Union has strategic alliances with building societies and other leading UK brand names including Tesco Personal Finance and The Royal Bank of Scotland Group.
- Norwich Union’s news releases and a selection of images are available from Aviva's internet press centre at www.aviva.com/media.