What to do when a American Equity account holder dies
Contact American Equity — 11-step process, 6 required documents, and 7-10 business days after all requirements are complete
Customer Service
Phone1-888-221-1234
Fax1-515-226-3129
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 10343, Des Moines, IA 50306-0343
WebsiteLearn more →
Customer Service
Phone1-888-221-1234
Fax1-515-226-3129
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 10343, Des Moines, IA 50306-0343
WebsiteLearn more →
Beneficiary Support
Phone1-877-542-8847
Fax1-515-457-1837
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 71216, Des Moines, IA 50325-9909
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
Filing a death claim on a American Equity policy begins with notifying the Beneficiary Support at 1-877-542-8847. Life insurance claims are separate from probate—proceeds transfer directly to named beneficiaries regardless of whether the estate goes through court. The timeline and documentation requirements depend on the policy type and cause of death.
American Equity provides an online portal for initiating death claims, which can simplify the initial notification and document submission process. Claims can also be started by phone or by mailing the required documents.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at American Equity:
Filing a claim
1Contact American Equity Beneficiary Support at (877) 542-8847
2Or contact your licensed insurance agent
3Determine claim form type: non-qualified or qualified
4Download claim forms from american-equity.com/beneficiary-support or request by phone
5Complete the beneficiary claim form with required information
6Include a copy of the certified death certificate
7Provide government-issued ID for the beneficiary
8If a trust is the beneficiary, include trust documents and trustee identification
9If filing as an estate representative, provide court-approved Letters of Testamentary or Letters of Administration
10Mail completed forms and documents to American Equity
11Claims are typically paid within 7-10 days once all requirements are complete
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued ID for beneficiary
- Completed Beneficiary Claim Form (non-qualified or qualified version)
- Trust documents and trustee identification (if trust is beneficiary)
- Deceased's contract number and Social Security Number
- Letters of Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if filing as estate representative)
Contact Beneficiary Support at (877) 542-8847 or email claims@american-equity.com. Two claim form types are available: one for non-qualified contracts and one for qualified contracts (IRAs). Forms can be downloaded from the beneficiary support page or requested by phone. Estate representatives must provide court-approved Letters of Testamentary or Letters of Administration. American Equity adheres to state unclaimed property guidelines for claim deadlines. Mail completed documents to P.O. Box 71216, Des Moines, IA 50325-9909 or overnight to 6000 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50266.
Processing timelines at American Equity: 7-10 business days after all requirements are complete. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
American Equity requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate, Government-issued ID for beneficiary, and Completed Beneficiary Claim Form (non-qualified or qualified version), and additional documentation depending on the account type. Certified copies are typically needed—photocopies are generally not accepted for death certificates or court documents.
Frequently asked questions
American Equity currently offers three fixed index annuity products: IncomeShield (guaranteed lifetime income with index-linked crediting, available in multiple term lengths), AssetShield (index-linked growth with a guaranteed premium bonus, available in 5, 7, and 10-year terms), and EstateShield (combines retirement security with enhanced death benefits for legacy planning). They also offer GuaranteeShield, a traditional fixed annuity with guaranteed interest rates in 3-year and 5-year terms.
The American Equity EstateShield Fixed Index Annuity combines retirement security with legacy planning. It protects your money from market loss while offering potential for guaranteed lifetime income and enhanced death benefits. The enhanced death benefit uses the Benefits Account Value (BAV), with a lump sum option at a 75% payout percentage or a five-year installment option at a 100% payout percentage. Available as EstateShield 10 and EstateShield 9 (California only).
Contact American Equity Beneficiary Support at (877) 542-8847 or email claims@american-equity.com. Download the appropriate Beneficiary Claim Form from american-equity.com/beneficiary-support: use the non-qualified form for non-qualified contracts or the qualified form for IRAs and retirement accounts. Include a copy of the death certificate and beneficiary identification. Estate representatives must provide court-approved Letters of Testamentary or Letters of Administration. Claims are typically paid within 7-10 days after all requirements are complete.
To file a beneficiary claim you need: the completed Beneficiary Claim Form (non-qualified or qualified version), a certified death certificate, government-issued ID for the beneficiary, and the deceased's contract number and Social Security Number. If a trust is the beneficiary, trust documents and trustee identification are also required. Estate representatives must provide court-approved Letters of Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
If there are no surviving primary or contingent beneficiaries, the death benefit is paid to the contract owner's estate. It is recommended to keep beneficiary designations current and to name both primary and contingent beneficiaries.
American Equity's Beneficiary Support can be reached by phone at 1-877-542-8847, email at claims@american-equity.com, and fax at 1-515-457-1837 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple American Equity policies, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Beneficiary Support can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Customer Service
Phone1-888-221-1234
Fax1-515-226-3129
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 10343, Des Moines, IA 50306-0343
WebsiteLearn more →
Customer Service
Phone1-888-221-1234
Fax1-515-226-3129
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 10343, Des Moines, IA 50306-0343
WebsiteLearn more →
Beneficiary Support
Phone1-877-542-8847
Fax1-515-457-1837
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 71216, Des Moines, IA 50325-9909
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
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