There are many ways to acquire life insurance: You can buy it directly from a provider, receive it as part of an employment benefits package, or buy it through a trade association, professional organization or union. Because life insurance is not something most people think about every day, it is common to lose track of your policies after you move or change jobs. Fortunately, there are several ways you can find life insurance policies that are in effect on you.
Instructions
Step 1
Call the human resources departments of your current employer and each of your former employers. Ask them if you bought or received life insurance during your term of employment. Many life insurance benefits provided by companies terminate as soon as you stop working for the company; the human resources representative will let you know if the policy carried with you after you quit.
Step 2
Search your records for evidence of payments or credits for life insurance policies. Check old bank statements, account ledgers, safe deposit boxes, income tax returns and bills. Life insurance providers send you a hard copy of all policies, so make sure you thoroughly search any files containing your past or current financial information.
Step 3
Contact any professional organizations, such as a union or trade association, to which you have ever belonged. Such organizations often have special programs through which members can buy life insurance, and likely would keep a record of the sale.
Step 4
Perform a search for lost policies through an online database such as the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) or a risk-management company such as MIB Solutions. Both entities keep extensive records that are used by the entire insurance industry when locating policies or policyholders. Consumers can search the NAUPA records free of charge. As of 2010, MIB Solutions charges a fee of $75 for each search.
Step 5
Contact your state's insurance department and ask for a list of companies selling life insurance in your state. You can then contact each of those insurers to determine whether they have any active policies involving you. Some states also provide search mechanisms through which you can look for lost policies. Ask the customer service office of your state's insurance department if such resources exist.
Step 6
Ask your attorney, financial adviser or accountant if you have ever bought any life insurance policies. He will have copies of any such records.
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