At death of a single person with no assets can the IRS get life insurance money left to a sister?

STILL ONE OF THE GREATEST BENEFITS AVAILABLE: Life insurance with a named beneficiary is paid outside the estate, directly to that beneficiary. It is not subject to any other claims by anyone involving the decedent. (It is also not taxed). Unfortunately, some insureds name themselves or their estate (which is the same) as the beneficiary. Then it simply becomes another asset of the estate to be taxed, and distributed after handling the claims against the estate. Like anything else in estates/law, it is not what any/everyone says the person wanted, but what the documents, (or lack of), show.