An autopsy may be requested by an accident and health insurer under which circumstance?

• A. Always
• B. When not prohibited by state law
• C. When the insured consents
• D. When the claim is denied

Answer: (B)

Autopsy requests by an accident and health insurer are controlled by state law. An insurer may request an autopsy to help determine the cause of death and to properly adjudicate a claim, but that request is permissible only if the state has no prohibition against autopsies in such cases. Some states may require the consent of the deceased’s next of kin or may place other conditions on when an autopsy can be performed, while others may allow it without consent in certain circumstances. Therefore, the determining factor is whether state law allows autopsies; if not prohibited, the insurer may request one.

The other options aren’t universally applicable: autopsies aren’t guaranteed in all cases (not always), consent requirements vary by state (not universally required), and a claim denial isn’t the sole trigger for an autopsy.