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Before I go further with fighting my auto insurance company, I wanted to get a little more information. I live in Texas. I purchased auto insurance from USAA several years ago. In December last year, I split my policy from my husbands as we were getting divorced. At the this time (and on all policy renewals prior), my policy offered a death benefit under the PI coverage for any covered person who dies in an auto accident while wearing a seat belt. On May 17, 2007 my insurance company sent me my renewal papers for my renewal date of June 22, 2007. I did not review them since I had made no changes to my policy. Never in a million years would I have thought that any insurance company could reduce my benefits without my authorization. On December 1, 2007 my daughter was killed in an accident while wearing her seat belt. When I questioned USAA about the death benefit, they told me that it had been deleted from my policy. I asked them how they could do that without my authorization. They said that they petitioned the state of Texas and were given the right by Texas to remove this benefit from all of their policies. When asked for documentation (proof) of this, they said that they could not provide it to me. I was told by the insurance company that as long as they notified me in writing before my renewal that they could reduce my benefits. I'm sorry, but I can't just take their word that I can no longer collect the death benefit. What about those individuals who do not have any other insurance and are soley relying on that to cover funeral expenses?
(by the way, she was only driving an $8000 vehicle, so the claim is not excessive)
Any response will be greatly appreciated.
Thank You,
Virginia W
Before I go further with fighting my auto insurance company, I wanted to get a little more information. I live in Texas. I purchased auto insurance from USAA several years ago. In December last year, I split my policy from my husbands as we were getting divorced. At the this time (and on all policy renewals prior), my policy offered a death benefit under the PI coverage for any covered person who dies in an auto accident while wearing a seat belt. On May 17, 2007 my insurance company sent me my renewal papers for my renewal date of June 22, 2007. I did not review them since I had made no changes to my policy. Never in a million years would I have thought that any insurance company could reduce my benefits without my authorization. On December 1, 2007 my daughter was killed in an accident while wearing her seat belt. When I questioned USAA about the death benefit, they told me that it had been deleted from my policy. I asked them how they could do that without my authorization. They said that they petitioned the state of Texas and were given the right by Texas to remove this benefit from all of their policies. When asked for documentation (proof) of this, they said that they could not provide it to me. I was told by the insurance company that as long as they notified me in writing before my renewal that they could reduce my benefits. I'm sorry, but I can't just take their word that I can no longer collect the death benefit. What about those individuals who do not have any other insurance and are soley relying on that to cover funeral expenses?
(by the way, she was only driving an $8000 vehicle, so the claim is not excessive)
Any response will be greatly appreciated.
Thank You,
Virginia W