How can a life insurance agent reduce NIGO submissions?
NIGO submissions are reduced by addressing the most frequent causes: address mismatches, beneficiaries missing DOB, incomplete physician info, unclear tobacco answers, and replacement questions left blank. Use a pre-submission checklist and software that validates required fields and suggests follow-up questions.
Key points
- Address mismatches between applicant, beneficiary, and form
- Beneficiary missing date of birth
- Physician info incomplete or incorrect
- Tobacco answer unclear (e.g., “vape” without clarification)
- Replacement questions incomplete
- Missing signatures or consent disclosures
Specific causes and fixes
Addresses: Verify the applicant’s address matches exactly between the application and ID documents. Sometimes the beneficiary lives in another state—ensure you have a complete, valid address.
Beneficiaries: Most NIGOs include beneficiaries missing date of birth. Ask explicitly during the call and confirm before submission.
Tobacco: Answers like “I vape occasionally” or “I quit a year ago” need clarification. Carriers have different rules; document the exact response.
Signatures and consent: Ensure required disclosures are signed and the format meets carrier requirements.
Frequently asked questions
- What applicant data is most often missing from life insurance apps?
- Beneficiary date of birth, beneficiary address, primary physician name and phone, prescribed medication history, and complete replacement question answers. A pre-submission checklist reduces these omissions.