On September 1, 2026, the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance reported that Governor Bill Lee proclaimed September as Life Insurance Awareness Month in Tennessee. TDCI used the proclamation to highlight life insurance as a way families can ease financial burdens after a death, and it pointed consumers to the free NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator Service.
This article restates those published consumer tips. It is informational only. It does not promise coverage, price, eligibility, or that any person is a beneficiary of any policy.
By All Seasons Insurance Group
What did TDCI announce for Life Insurance Awareness Month in September 2026?
TDCI’s September 1 release quotes Commissioner Carter Lawrence supporting the governor’s proclamation and encouraging Tennesseans to assess family financial needs, evaluate current benefits, and seek advice from qualified insurance professionals. Assistant Commissioner for Insurance Scott McAnally encouraged consumers with questions about whether they are beneficiaries to file a search request through the locator service.
How much in life insurance benefits did the NAIC locator help Tennesseans find in 2025?
The September 1, 2026 TDCI release states that in 2025 the service helped locate over $107 million in benefits for Tennesseans. TDCI’s earlier May 29, 2026 news release covers the same 2025 total in more detail.
| Item | Published detail |
|---|---|
| Proclamation | September is Life Insurance Awareness Month in Tennessee (Governor Bill Lee) |
| TDCI news date | September 1, 2026 |
| 2025 locator benefits (TN) | Over $107 million |
| Death-claim payment window (TDCI tip) | 60 days; interest if unpaid within 15 days of date of death |
| Missed-payment grace period (TDCI tip) | 30 days in Tennessee |
| TDCI consumer phones | 1-800-342-4029 or (615) 741-2218 |
What is the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator Service?
It is a free National Association of Insurance Commissioners tool. TDCI says consumers who need help locating a loved one’s life insurance policy can use it to help determine whether an individual is a beneficiary. For more details, TDCI points to the NAIC website and to Consumer Insurance Services at 1-800-342-4029 or (615) 741-2218.
What does TDCI tell policyholders to do after a major life event?
Update policies after major life events — TDCI names examples such as the birth of a child or a divorce — so the appropriate beneficiaries are listed. The department also tells policyholders to place a current copy of the policy with estate paperwork in a place family members can find.
How often should Tennesseans check life insurance beneficiaries?
TDCI advises checking policies once a year to make sure all beneficiaries are included and that contact information for those beneficiaries is correct. The same tip list says to let beneficiaries know about the policies and to provide beneficiaries or trusted advisors with the name of the life insurance company holding the policy.
How long does a Tennessee life insurer have to pay a death claim?
According to TDCI’s September 1 tip list, an insurance company has 60 days to pay a death claim to beneficiaries. If a claim is not paid within 15 days of the date of death, the company must also pay interest.
Is there a grace period for missed life insurance payments in Tennessee?
Yes. TDCI’s September 1 tips state there is a grace period of 30 days for missed payments in Tennessee. If you miss a payment, you will be covered for 30 days even if the missed payment is not made up, according to that published tip list.
Does this article recommend a specific life insurance product?
No. It restates TDCI’s published Life Insurance Awareness Month materials. Product needs vary by household. For department questions, use the TDCI numbers above. For a local conversation about how life coverage sits next to auto and homeowners reviews, call All Seasons Insurance Group at 865-263-1400 or request a review at asigtn.com/get-a-quote.
Seasons change. So should your coverage.
This article is informational only. It does not promise coverage, price, eligibility, or that any person is owed benefits under any policy.
