Can a life insurance claim be denied?

Yes. Common reasons for denial include the policyholder misrepresenting health information on the application, the cause of death falling under a policy exclusion (such as suicide within the first two years), the policy lapsing due to non-payment before death, or fraud. If a claim is denied, the beneficiary has the right to appeal the decision and, if necessary, file a complaint with the state insurance commissioner or pursue legal action.