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How to file a claim

We’re here to help process your claim as smoothly as possible so you can focus on what matters most — taking care of yourself and those you care about.

Losing someone you love is devastating. Your life insurance claim shouldn’t create stress at this difficult time.

We are here to help.

Start your claim


Give us a call

You can call our toll-free claims number at 1 800 828 1540 to inform us of the death of your loved one and to start the claims process.
Our hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, from Monday to Friday.

Complete your claims form

There are two ways to access the forms:

  1. Download and print the appropriate claim form below. Please be sure to complete the form in full to help ensure a smooth review process.
  2. Life Claimant Statement Contestable  

    Complete this form if the death occurred in first two years of the certificate or if the certificate was reinstated in the last two years.

    Life Claimant Statement Non Contestable    

    Complete this form if the death occurred in certificate year three or after, and the certificate was not reinstated in the last two years.


  3. Our experienced claims representatives can determine the form you’ll need and mail you a claims package to complete. Call us at 1 800 828 1540 with the following information to get started.

    • Name of the deceased member or certificate holder
    • Contact information of the person where forms are being sent
    • The date the member or certificate holder died
    • The cause and manner of death, if available

Collect the information you need

We know this is an emotional time and paperwork can feel overwhelming. To make things easier, here is a list of the basic information you’ll need to gather to submit a complete claim.


Send us your claim

When your claimant’s statement is complete and you have all the other required information, please mail everything to us at:
Foresters, P.O. Box 179, Buffalo, NY 14201-0179


What you can expect

Once your claims forms are received, we will review and contact you if any additional information is required. If the forms and information provided are complete and in good order, we will process your non-contestable claim within 15 business days and not including mail time. Note: If the death occurred outside of the U.S. or Canada, or was the result of an accident, additional information may be required.

If the certificate is contestable (if the death occurred in first two years of the certificate or if the certificate was reinstated in the last two years), we will request medical records from the decedent’s medical providers. Because we rely on medical providers and third parties to obtain this information, the process can take some time. We are committed to keeping you up-to-date with regular updates on the status of our review. Once all the requested medical records are received, we will provide a claims decision within 30 business days.


Questions?

If you have a question, there’s a good chance others have wondered the same thing. Check our Frequently Asked Questions for detailed answers to the most common questions about making a life insurance claim.

If you’re not sure which forms you should complete or you have additional questions, please call us at 1 800 828 1540 (select option 6) between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

418988 CAN/US (10/22)