What to do when a Aetna account holder dies

The deceased's employer initiates the claim. The Aetna Proof of Death claim form (GC-1373-4) must be completed and signed by the employer or an authorized employer representative; it cannot be filled out or signed by the insured or a beneficiary. As the beneficiary, you supply a copy of the certified death certificate (with cause and manner of death) and any minor-child or trust documents. The completed package is mailed to Aetna Voluntary Plans, Attn: Claim Department, PO Box 14079, Lexington, KY 40512-4079, or faxed to 1-859-455-8650. If the deceased had both basic life and AD&D coverage, submit both claims simultaneously. For questions, call Aetna Voluntary Plans at 1-888-772-9682. Claims are typically processed within 30 to 60 days of receiving complete documentation.

The Aetna Accelerated Death Benefit allows members with life-limiting medical conditions to receive up to 75% of their life insurance benefit while still living. Qualifying conditions may include ALS, need for artificial life support, or organ failure where the member is not a transplant candidate. The funds can be used for hospital bills, medications, experimental treatments, daily living expenses, or financial arrangements for the family. Receipt of accelerated benefits may affect eligibility for public assistance programs such as Medicaid, and tax treatment can be complex, so consult a qualified tax advisor.

There are two stages. To name a trust on the Designation of Beneficiary form, you provide the full legal trust name exactly as it appears in the trust document, the date the trust was established, the trustee name, and the trust EIN; a Certificate of Trust or trust abstract is sufficient at this stage. At the time of a death claim, however, Aetna's Proof of Death claim form (GC-1373-4) instructs that a trust beneficiary submit copies of the trust and a letter of acceptance from the trustee, along with the trust tax ID number. Plan for the trustee to provide the full trust document to settle the claim, even though only summary information is needed to set up the designation.

Aetna offers dependent life insurance through employer-sponsored plans, covering spouses and dependent children at flat dollar amounts. The employee must purchase supplemental life coverage to be eligible for dependent life coverage. Benefits are payable to the employee (the certificate holder) upon the death of a covered dependent, not to a named beneficiary. Dependent life insurance is not typically a significant estate planning asset, but if the employee dies, covered dependents have a 31-day conversion window to convert their dependent life coverage to an individual policy.

If no named beneficiary survives the insured, Aetna pays the life insurance proceeds as prescribed in the Group Policy. The typical order of payment is: surviving spouse, then surviving children equally, then surviving parents equally, then the estate of the insured. Where the policy provides for payment to next of kin, Aetna requires a notarized Aetna Affidavit of Sole Survivors completed by a family representative. If proceeds are payable to the estate instead, Aetna requires Letters of Administration or Letters Testamentary from probate court plus the estate EIN, which can delay receipt of benefits. To avoid this, keep beneficiary designations current and always name both primary and contingent beneficiaries with percentage allocations totaling 100%.

It may be. Aetna sold its U.S. group life and disability insurance business to The Hartford in November 2017 (a $1.45 billion indemnity reinsurance transaction), and Aetna no longer sells new group life coverage. Many employer-sponsored group life and AD&D policies that were originally written by Aetna are now administered by The Hartford. However, the Aetna Voluntary Plans book still publishes and processes the GC-1373-4 Proof of Death claim form through its Lexington, Kentucky claims center. When settling a death claim, start with the deceased's employer HR or benefits department to confirm the current claims administrator, or call Aetna Voluntary Plans at 1-888-772-9682, which can direct you to The Hartford if the policy has migrated. Aetna itself remains active as a CVS Health company, focused on health insurance.