State
Life insurance in New Hampshire
New Hampshire life insurance rules: $300,000 guaranty protection, interest on death claims from the date of death, no estate tax, and lost-policy help.
Guaranty association protection
| Guaranty association | New Hampshire Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association |
|---|---|
| Life insurance death benefits | $300,000 |
| Cash surrender value | $100,000 |
| Annuity benefits | $250,000 |
| Health benefits | $500,000 for basic hospital, medical and surgical or major medical; $300,000 for disability; $300,000 for long-term care; $100,000 for other health coverage |
| Overall limit | $300,000 per life ($500,000 when hospital, medical and surgical or major medical benefits are involved) |
| Notes | Structured settlement annuities are covered up to $250,000 in present value; owners of multiple non-group life policies and unallocated annuity contracts are limited to $5,000,000. |
| Website | nhlifega.org |
Policy rules
| Free-look period | 30 days for a policy that replaces existing life insurance (N.H. Admin. Rules Ins 302.06) |
|---|---|
| Interest on delayed claims | Interest from the date of death at the insurer's deposit rate (or the two-year Treasury rate), plus 10% a year starting 31 days after proof of death or the information needed to pay (RSA 408:11) |
| Community property state | No |
Taxes
| State estate tax | No state estate tax |
|---|---|
| Inheritance tax | No |
Lost policies and unclaimed money
| Unclaimed property office | New Hampshire State Treasury Unclaimed Property |
|---|---|
| Search unclaimed property | findnhmoney.gov |
Regulator
| Insurance regulator | New Hampshire Insurance Department |
|---|---|
| Consumer hotline | 800-852-3416 |
| Website | insurance.nh.gov |
| File a complaint | insurance.nh.gov/consumers/filing-compla… |
| Address | 21 South Fruit Street, Suite 14, Concord, NH 03301 |
How your policy is protected if an insurer fails
If a life or health insurer licensed in New Hampshire is found insolvent and ordered liquidated, the New Hampshire Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association protects New Hampshire residents who own its policies and annuities, usually by moving them to a healthy insurer or by continuing them itself. Keep paying premiums so the coverage stays in force while that happens.
| Coverage (per insured life) | New Hampshire limit |
|---|---|
| Life insurance death benefit | $300,000 |
| Life insurance net cash surrender value | $100,000 |
| Annuity benefits (present value) | $250,000 |
| Structured settlement annuities (present value) | $250,000 |
| Basic hospital, medical and surgical or major medical | $500,000 |
| Disability insurance | $300,000 |
| Long-term care insurance | $300,000 |
| Other health coverage | $100,000 |
| Overall cap | $300,000 ($500,000 when hospital and major medical benefits are involved) |
Limits are as of October 4, 2026, from the association's FAQ. Owners of multiple non-group life policies, such as employers, and holders of unallocated annuity contracts are limited to $5,000,000. The annuity limit is per owner per company: three $100,000 annuities with the same failed insurer are covered for $250,000 in total, and the rest becomes a creditor claim in the receivership.
The association is a private entity whose members are the life and health insurers licensed in New Hampshire; it is not a state agency. New Hampshire law prohibits agents and companies from using it in advertising or as an inducement to buy, and it is not a substitute for choosing a well-managed, financially stable company. See state life and health guaranty associations and what happens if your life insurance company fails.
Who regulates life insurance in New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Insurance Department licenses insurers and producers, reviews policy forms, has a division devoted to life and health insurance, and handles consumer complaints. Its toll-free number is 800-852-3416; the main line is 603-271-2261.
Free look, grace periods and policy rules
New Hampshire rewrote its life insurance law, RSA chapter 408, effective January 1, 2023. Under RSA 408:13, every life policy must include:
- A grace period for each premium after the first, during which the death benefit stays in force unless you gave written notice that you were stopping coverage. The statute lets the insurance commissioner set the length by rule, so check your policy for the exact number of days.
- Incontestability after the policy has been in force for two years during the insured's lifetime, with a separate two-year period for any later increase in coverage that required new evidence of insurability.
- A suicide exclusion limit: any suicide exclusion can't apply after the second anniversary of the policy's effective date. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).
A policy that replaces existing life insurance carries a 30-day free look under N.H. Admin. Rules Ins 302.06, according to the NAIC's state chart of life insurance disclosure rules; we could not confirm the minimum for other new policies, so check the notice on your policy. See the free-look period: returning a policy for a refund.
Interest on death claims: under RSA 408:11, interest accrues from the date of death at the insurer's rate for funds left on deposit, or the two-year Treasury constant maturity rate if it has none. Starting 31 days after the later of the date the insurer receives due proof of death or the date it has enough information to determine its liability and the rightful beneficiary, the insurer owes an additional 10% a year until the claim is paid.
Taxes, estates and community property
New Hampshire has no state estate tax and no inheritance tax. Only the federal estate tax can apply, with a $15,000,000 exclusion per person in 2026 under Public Law 119-21, the 2025 tax law known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. See state estate and inheritance taxes and life insurance.
New Hampshire is not a community property state.
Finding a lost policy or unclaimed benefits
The Insurance Department links to the free NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator, which sends your request to participating insurers. Also check bank statements, mail and tax returns for premium payments. Benefits that are never claimed go to the state; search New Hampshire's official unclaimed property site, FindNHMoney.gov. If the insured lived or worked in Massachusetts, Maine or Vermont, search those states too. See how to find a lost life insurance policy and unclaimed life insurance money and state unclaimed property.
Where to get help
- New Hampshire Insurance Department: 800-852-3416, insurance.nh.gov, 21 South Fruit Street, Suite 14, Concord, NH 03301. Start with the department's complaint page, and see our guide to how to file a complaint against a life insurer.
- New Hampshire Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association: 603-472-3734, nhlifega.org, P.O. Box 10606, Bedford, NH 03110.
- Unclaimed property: FindNHMoney.gov, the state's official search.
Sources
- nhlifega.org/FAQ
- nolhga.com/policyholders/how-youre-protected/
- nolhga.com/policyholders/contact-my-guaranty-association/
- insurance.nh.gov/
- insurance.nh.gov/consumers/filing-complaint
- content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-ins-ou-insurance-directory.pdf
- gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXXVII/408/408-mrg.htm
- findnhmoney.gov/
- content.naic.org/sites/default/files/model-law-chart-li-30-life-insurance-disclosure-pro…
Rules and limits were checked against these sources on the review date below. Laws change - confirm with the state insurance department or guaranty association.
Profile last reviewed October 4, 2026