You bet! The ex-spouse gets the death benefit if she is the beneficiary listed on the policy. A life insurance policy is a contract, so the beneficiary gets the proceeds. This is the case even if the insured remarried and maintained no relationship with his ex-wife before he died.
This is why life insurance professionals urge consumers to review their life insurance policies every few years and especially after major life changes, such as marriage and divorce. In addition to updating individual life insurance, policyholders should evaluate their group life insurance policies to make sure their beneficiary choices are up to date.
Life insurance needs change as you age and as your life changes. You might need more coverage as the years progress and obligations increase, or you might need less coverage once children leave the nest and the mortgage is paid off. Beneficiary choices may change as well, especially after marriage, divorce or loss of a spouse.
Only the policyholder — the person who pays the premiums — can make changes to the policy. Sometimes the policyholder is the same as the insured, but sometimes the owner and the insured are two different people. A husband, for instance, might purchase a policy to insure his wife’s life.
Here’s an explanation of who’s who on a life insurance policy.
Check our life insurance offers for you:
| Everyday Life Life - Eliminate guesswork with tech that makes it easy to find your best value
- Quick and easy online process – no sales calls or medical exams
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- A+ BBB rating
| Get a Quote |
| Bestow - Apply online in as little as 5 minutes
- Rates start around $10/Mo
- Get up to $1.5 million in coverage
- Most applicants get an instant decision
| Get a Quote |
| Globe Life - No Medical Exam - Simple Application
- Get a Free Quote and Apply Online in Minutes
- Monthly Rates as low as $3.49 for Adults/$2.17 for Children
- No Waiting Period – Fast Approval Process
| Get a Quote |
| Life Insurance Pro - View Affordable Life Insurance Plans Side by Side
- MetLife, Prudential, AARP, New York Life, & More
- Term, Whole, Universal, and Variable Insurance Plans
- Get Free Quotes and Speak with a Licensed Agent Today!
| Get a Quote |
| Gerber - 100% guaranteed acceptance
- No medical exam
- No health questions
- Premiums stay the same as long as they're paid on time
| Get a Quote |
| Ethos - Ages 20-65 eligible for instant same day coverage with no exams - just a few online health questions
- No pushy sales reps. You don’t need to talk to an agent – unless you want to
- Rated 4.8 “Excellent” on Trustpilot and Google, along with an A+ rating from the BBB
| Get a Quote |
Can I take out a life insurance policy on my spouse?By Penny Gusner What happens to the cash value of my whole life insurance policy when I die?By Nupur Gambhir What is guaranteed cash value in a life insurance policy?By Laine Adley Can I withdraw money from my term life insurance?By Nupur Gambhir Do life insurance policies pay out if a person dies of old age?By Les Masterson Can you cash in a paid up life insurance policy?By Les Masterson