If you are looking to recieve the insurance check and are wondering if you have to have an estate open in order to receive it your answer is here. The thing is you do not have to have an estate open to receive an insurance check if you are a critical thinker. You need one way or another to get the insurance check, so if you have a P.O. Box that is set up or maybe a friend that you can have it mailed to, there is no reason you won't receive the insurance check.