Controller John Chiang held an investigatory hearing on the claims practices of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) regarding the payment of death benefits under life insurance policies and annuities. Joining the Commissioner and State Controller were regulatory officials from the Florida and Minnesota Departments of Insurance who are also investigating death benefits claims practices.

MetLife was called to the hearing pursuant to the California Department of Insurance’s (“CDI”) investigatory subpoena to appear and provide documents to determine whether the insurer’s practices and procedures relating to its use of its death master file data and related information violates various sections of the Insurance Code.