September was Life Insurance Awareness Month
WASHINGTON (Sept. 30, 2025) —During Life Insurance Awareness Month, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) announced that its Life Insurance Policy Locator tool has helped consumers uncover more than $13 billion in benefits from life insurance policies and annuity contracts since the free tool launched in November 2016.
“The Life Insurance Policy Locator is a powerful example of how state insurance regulators are delivering on our commitment to protect consumers and help demystify the insurance process,” said North Dakota Insurance Commissioner and NAIC President Jon Godfread. “Every match made through this tool is a reminder that insurance regulation is about outcomes. We remain dedicated to helping beneficiaries receive the funds their loved ones intended for them.”
Powered by the NAIC, this online tool has received more than 1.17 million policy search requests. As a result, insurance companies have reported over 611,000 matches with life insurance policies or annuities totaling $13.18 billion through Aug. 31, 2025.
This milestone reflects a $3 billion increase in located benefits since August 31, 2024, underscoring the tool’s growing positive impact.
How the Life Insurance Policy Locator Works
Details about how to use the tool can be found here. Consumers can submit a request through the secure, encrypted portal. After submission, they receive a confirmation email. If a match is found and the requester is identified as the beneficiary, the insurance company will contact them directly. Participating life insurance and annuity companies can access the information through a secure portal.
After submitting a request, consumers receive a “Do Not Reply” email confirming their information. If a policy is located and the requester is the beneficiary, the life insurance or annuity company will contact them directly. Participating insurers are responsible for reporting matches to state or territory insurance departments through the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator.
Searches may take 90 business days or more to complete. A requester will not receive a response if:
- No matches are found.
- They are not the beneficiary.
- They do not have the legal authority to obtain the policy information.
Consumers with questions about life insurance are encouraged to contact their state or territory department of insurance.
