When a loved one passes away, families expect the life insurance policy they paid for to provide financial security. Unfortunately, many Florida beneficiaries are shocked to learn that the insurance company is denying or delaying payment based on an exclusion buried in the policy. Some of the most commonly disputed exclusions involve suicide, homicide, and risky activities—and each comes with complex rules, deadlines, and legal protections.
If your claim is being questioned or denied, here’s what you need to know.
What Are Life Insurance Exclusions?
A life insurance exclusion is a clause that allows the insurer to refuse payment if the death results from a specifically listed cause. Florida law allows insurers to include exclusions, but they must be clearly stated in the policy and cannot violate public policy.
The three categories that most frequently lead to disputes are:
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Suicide exclusions
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Homicide-related claim investigations
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Exclusions for dangerous or high-risk activities
Let’s break each of them down.
1. Suicide Exclusions in Florida Life Insurance Policies
Most life insurance policies contain a two-year suicide exclusion, allowed under Florida Statutes. This means:
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If the insured dies by suicide within the first two years of the policy, the insurer may deny the claim.
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After two years, suicide cannot be used as a basis for denial.
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The insurer must prove the exclusion applies.
Important: Many claims are wrongfully denied because insurers label an unclear or unexplained death as “suicide.” Families often must challenge these conclusions with medical evidence, witness statements, or forensic review.
Common issues that lead to litigation
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Insufficient evidence that the death was intentional
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Conflicts in the autopsy or investigative reports
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Mental-health disputes relating to intent
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Whether the two-year window actually expired
If a suicide exclusion is being applied unfairly, Florida beneficiaries may still be entitled to full policy benefits.
2. Homicide and Criminal-Act Investigations: Why Claims Get Delayed
When a death is ruled or suspected to be a homicide, Florida insurers often delay payment until law enforcement confirms that the beneficiary did not intentionally cause the death.
This delay stems from the Florida Slayer Statute, which bars anyone who intentionally kills the insured from collecting life insurance proceeds.
What beneficiaries should expect
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The insurer may request police reports, autopsy findings, or prosecutor statements.
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Payments may be delayed until the beneficiary is cleared.
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If multiple beneficiaries exist, payouts may proceed to others while one is under investigation.
However, delays cannot be indefinite. If the insurer drags its feet without justification, beneficiaries may have grounds for a bad-faith claim.
When homicide-related denials become improper
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When there is no evidence linking the beneficiary to the death
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When the insurer refuses to pay even after criminal authorities clear the beneficiary
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When the insurer misinterprets ambiguous circumstances as wrongdoing
A Florida life insurance lawyer can help push the claim forward and enforce legal timelines.
3. Exclusions for Risky or Dangerous Activities
Some life insurance policies—especially accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) policies—exclude deaths caused by high-risk activities, such as:
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Skydiving
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Scuba diving
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Aviation (non-commercial flights or private pilots)
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Rock climbing
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Motocross or extreme sports
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Auto racing
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Certain hazardous occupations
Why claims get denied under this exclusion
Insurers often argue the insured was engaged in a “hazardous activity,” even when the facts are unclear. Disputes commonly arise when:
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The activity is not clearly listed in the policy
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The insurer stretches the definition to fit the denial
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The death occurred during a recreational activity not actually considered “hazardous”
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The insured did not voluntarily assume a known risk
Florida courts require exclusions to be interpreted narrowly—and any ambiguity favors the beneficiary.
How Florida Beneficiaries Can Fight an Exclusion-Based Denial
You may still be entitled to benefits if:
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The exclusion language is vague or inconsistent
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The insurer misinterprets medical or investigative findings
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The claim is denied during the two-year contestability period without proof of material misrepresentation
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The insurer failed to conduct a full, fair, and timely investigation
Beneficiaries in Florida have strong legal rights, including the ability to sue for:
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Breach of contract
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Insurance bad faith
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Wrongful denial or delay of benefits
When to Speak With a Life Insurance Claims Attorney
Life insurance exclusions are one of the most common reasons insurers deny valid claims. If you are dealing with a suicide exclusion, homicide investigation delay, or denial based on a “risky activity,” you should consult an attorney who understands Florida’s insurance laws.
An attorney can help by:
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Reviewing the full policy and exclusion clauses
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Challenging unsupported conclusions by the insurer
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Gathering medical, investigative, and expert evidence
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Negotiating with the insurance company
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Filing suit if your claim continues to be wrongfully delayed or denied
You do not have to accept the insurer’s interpretation at face value.
Final Thoughts
Life insurance is meant to protect families—not leave them fighting with insurance companies during the most difficult moments of their lives. If your claim has been denied or delayed based on an exclusion in Florida, legal help is available.
Have you or someone you know been denied a life insurance claim? Contact Florida Life Insurance Claims Lawyer J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by dialing his direct number at (786) 272-5841, calling the main office at (305) 461-1095, or Toll Free at 1 (866) 71-CLAIM or email Miami Attorney Gonzalez-Sirgo directly at jp@yourattorneys.com or by text at (305) 929-8935.
