(Nashville, TN – Insurance News 360) – The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance returned or located more than $17.9 million in 2019 through mediation and recovery of lost life insurance benefits, the department announced on Jan. 10.

Tennessee residents received more than $5.6 million through mediation, where TDCI insurance investigators worked with insurance companies and policy holders to overturn and pay wrongfully denied claims. In 2017, consumers received more than $6.5 million through those efforts.

Additionally, $11,695,834 in life insurance benefits was located in 2018 through the Life Insurance Policy Locator Service. This free service, which is provided by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) via TDCI’s Insurance Division, assists consumers in finding insurance policies or annuities for deceased loves ones. In 2017, nearly $3 million was returned to consumers through the Life Insurance Policy Locator Service.

“I’m proud of the efforts this year by our Insurance Division to help deserving consumers get the benefits of their insurance coverages,” said TDCI Commissioner and NAIC Past President Julie Mix McPeak. “We encourage Tennesseans to always remember to call our team with questions about their insurance coverages or to learn what resources may be available.”

In addition to the Department’s mediation and recovery efforts, the Insurance Division levied over $600,000 in civil penalties through disciplinary actions taken on behalf of Tennessee consumers against licensees who were found to be in violation of state insurance laws.

TDCI encourages consumers to contact the Department if they feel they have been unjustly denied a claim, if they have experienced unlicensed or unlawful activity, or even if they have a question or concern about their insurance policies.

If you have questions about insurance, visit the department’s website or call 1-800-342-4029 or (615) 741-2218.

Source: Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance.