I need some advice on suspicions I have on my sister-in-law. Her and her husband are going though some financial troubles. She took out a $50,000 insurance policy on her 8 year old son. Suddenly out of the blue he starts having heart problems. Have I been watching too much TV? Why would anyone need a $50,000 life insurance policy on a child?

I sell insurance and can tell you that most parents add the children as riders unto their own policy with they are infants.

It is RARE that a $50,000 life policy be taken out on a 8 yr old child. I have been doing this 20plus years and have NEVER seen it.

So, is it odd??? YES Are you watching to much TV??? YES. :0) But you know...keep your eyes open ALWAYS.....because we never really do know someone that well.

Thanks for your reply.

Another odd thing is they don't have health insurance on the child. They have Peach Care..a state run free insurance for children. This whole thing is odd to me.

Miss Marple, I think a most important question would be what would I do BEFORE some "misfortune" happens to that poor child. What can you do about it as prevention?

I would be suspicious even if the 8 year old wasn't having heart problems..

If you are having money problems than why take an insurance policy out?? Especially on an eight year old?? Unless she has intentions of cashing in..

Maybe a little bit of both.
When I read your post the first thing I thought of is the movie the "Sixth Sense"
Plus with all the parents out there that think their children are disposable.
I remember years ago when I was small there was a story of a man that needed money. He did the same thing, took an insurance policy out on his son. Well during Halloween, years ago, everyone went trick-or-treating. We never had functions at churches or town buildings or schools, well that father took one of thos pixie straws that have the sugar in them, he proceeded to crush glass very fine. Took his son out trick-or-treating and the little boy died, but they caught the father. Gosh why do parents see their children as disposable, dispensible, a way out?
Do these parents treat their child good?
Does he have bruises or marks that are unexplainable?
Does their child smile and seem happy?
It would be hard to not watch and keep a good eye on behaviors.
If, God forbid, something happens I think that I would be the first to go and tell the police your suspicions.
There is not much preventitive that you can do. If they are good parents then if you accuse or ask or act suspicious you will alienate your family.

I would try to be inconspicuous about it, but I would ask questions about their finding out about a heart condition. I would try to get some details about their doctor visits, what kinds of tests that the doctor use to diagnose this. What were the child's symptoms? And if things seemed really hinky, I would try to ask the child a few questions about their symptoms.

It would not seem strange to ask questions because of the serious and unusual nature to be concerned about a child with a "heart problem". I think you will be able to tell if this "heart condition" was made up.

I would try to get a piece of the child's hair (with root) and have it tested to see if he has ingested something poisonous in the last few months..

Miss Marple...It seems something has given you an instinct(or gut feeling)..and I think it is best to go with your instincts.

Blaze..that is a good idea..imo

Miss Marple..Good luck..and I pray, you are wrong.

I would straight up ask her, so that she knows (if she is up to no good) that you're wise to it. As a preventative measure.

How long ago was the life policy taken out???
Also, I am not a doctor...but it seems odd that suddenly an 8 yr old has heart issues....
And do the parents not have primary health care....because that is odd if they have it through their company, and the child is on state provided health care....

Just some food for thought....

-You should keep a log of dates and visits to the hospital as well as log the information of the insurance policy.

- Seek out legal advice on what you should do, if you have any legal rights that you could have to become a temporary Guardian etc.
As well as what avenues you should take to have them investigated.

- Call child services, the worst case they check into it and find nothing,but at least they would have a file on record.

- See if you can take the child for a visit, and then have him checked by your family doctor to have a second opinion on record.


These are just Idea's,i hope they help.

Canadianmom

Who told you about the life insurance policy? At any rate,I would ask your sister-in-law straight up the details about her son's condition, is he not expected to live, and is that the reason she felt the need to take out the policy, although $50,000 is a HUGE amount for such a young child. I had policies on my children from infancy until they were adults (then let them lapse) just in case I needed funeral expenses, I think the policies were about $5,000 a piece then.

Becky is right.....usually the policies are taken out/or the kids are added as riders on the parents policy when they are infants. The policies are usually for around $5,000 (enough to cover funeral costs)

The amount of the policy and his age both strike me as odd.