Life & viatical settlements in West Virginia

How life settlements work in West Virginia

West Virginia regulates life settlement transactions under state insurance law, with licensing required for providers and brokers operating in the state. West Virginia follows the NAIC Viatical Settlements Model Act's five-year policy waiting period, longer than the two-year period used in most states.

The West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner licenses life settlement providers and brokers and serves as the primary regulatory authority for West Virginia consumers with insurance-related questions. West Virginia law gives policy owners the right to rescind a life settlement contract within 60 days after the contract is executed.

For cancer patients in West Virginia, the most common path is a viatical settlement under IRS §101(g), where proceeds are generally tax-free at the federal level if the insured is certified as terminally or chronically ill. West Virginia generally follows federal income tax treatment for qualifying viatical settlements.

Medicaid impact in West Virginia

A life or viatical settlement can affect eligibility for Medicaid and other means-tested public assistance programs. West Virginia's Medicaid asset limit for individuals is currently $2,000 (2026). Because Medicaid rules vary by program and individual circumstances, West Virginia residents should review current eligibility requirements through the West Virginia Medicaid before accepting a settlement.

Depending on your situation, planning tools such as special needs trusts or pooled trusts may help preserve eligibility for certain public benefits. These arrangements generally should be established before settlement proceeds are received.

This is often the most important planning consideration for West Virginia cancer patients considering a life or viatical settlement. We can help connect you with a West Virginia elder law attorney if additional guidance is needed.

What’s different about West Virginia

• West Virginia regulates life settlements through licensing requirements for providers and brokers
• Owners have a statutory right to rescind a life settlement contract within 60 days of execution
• State oversight rests with the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner
• Medical and policy information remain protected under HIPAA privacy requirements
• Federal tax-free treatment may apply to qualifying viatical settlements under IRS §101(g)
• Medicaid eligibility may be affected by settlement proceeds depending on the recipient's circumstances

Major West Virginia cities we serve

Statewide. Our licensed specialists work with policies throughout West Virginia, including Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Parkersburg, Wheeling, and Weirton, and surrounding communities. No in-person meetings are required. Documentation, signatures, and notarization can all be completed remotely.