What to do when an Americo account holder dies
Report the death to Americo's Claims Department at 1-816-641-2850
Filing a death claim on a Americo policy begins with notifying the Claims Department at 1-816-641-2850. 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.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Americo:
Filing a claim
- For a claim below $150,000: upload on the claims page, email a PDF to forms@americo.com, or fax to 800.395.9238
- Life claim questions and documents may also be emailed to claims.operations@americo.com
- Regular mail: Americo Financial Life and Annuity Insurance Company, PO Box 410288, Kansas City, MO 64141-0288
- Overnight mail: Americo, 300 W. 11th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105
- The original policy and an original certified death certificate cannot be faxed or emailed; they must be mailed
- Missing or incomplete forms
- Illegible information
- Discrepancies between the policy records and the claim documents
- A pending investigation
- Multiple or complex beneficiary designations
- Contested claims
- Policy number, and its prefix if the policy has one
- The insured's name, date of birth, date of death, cause of death, manner of death (natural, accidental, homicide, suicide, undetermined) and marital status
- Your name, relationship to the insured, Social Security number or TIN, and contact information
- Individual: each beneficiary completes and signs their own claim form
- Trust: the trustee(s) complete the form, give the full trust name, and enclose the trust documents or a certification of trust
- Estate: the executor(s) or administrator(s) complete the form and enclose the Letters issued by the court appointing them
- Company or corporation: two officers sign, each with their title, and a copy of the corporate resolution is enclosed
- Minor: the court-appointed guardian of the minor's estate completes it with a copy of the court appointment, or as applicable state law otherwise allows
- Assignee: if the policy was collaterally assigned before the death, a statement of the assignee's interest is required, obtained from Americo's office
Required Documents
- Claim form, completed and signed by each beneficiary"Claiming Life Insurance Benefits" for a life policy, or the Annuity Claim Form (Form 24-039-2) for an annuity.
- Authorization and Consent to Disclosure (Form 21-057-1), signedIncluded in the packet. It is HIPAA-compliant, is valid for two years, and cannot be revoked during the policy's contestability period.
- Death certificate showing the final cause and manner of deathOne covers all beneficiaries. An original certified copy, sent by mail, is required when the claim is more than $150,000 or the death occurred outside the United States; a copy is not accepted then.
- Original policy or contract, if it can be locatedIf it cannot be located, check the box on the form.
- Copy of the obituary
- Marriage certificate, divorce decree or government-issued ID, if a beneficiary's name has changed
- Trust documents or a certification of trust, if a trust is the beneficiaryThe trustee(s) complete the form and give the full trust name.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration issued by the court, if the estate is the beneficiaryThe executor(s) or administrator(s) complete the form.
- Copy of the corporate resolution, if a company or corporation is the beneficiaryTwo officers sign the form, each giving their title.
- Copy of the court appointment of the guardian of the minor's estate, if a minor is the beneficiaryThe guardian completes the form, or it is completed as applicable state law otherwise allows.
- Statement of the assignee's interest, if the policy was collaterally assigned before the deathObtained from Americo's office.
- Copy of the appointment papers naming you as attorney-in-fact, if you sign for a beneficiary under a power of attorney
- Police reports, medical reports and other supporting documentation, for an accidental death benefit claim
- Copy of the assignment authorization and the total amount assigned, if proceeds were assigned to a funeral home or funding companyAmerico asks funeral providers to run its online Verification Request Form before accepting an assignment.
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
Forms Americo issues5
- Claiming Life Insurance Benefits
Completed by each beneficiary of a life policy. Available to download.1
- Annuity Claim Form (Form 24-039-2, "Guide to Making Your Annuity Claim")
Completed by each beneficiary of an annuity. Available to download.2
- Foreign Claim (Form 15-085-1)
Completed by the claimant, where the death occurred or the beneficiary lives outside the United States. Available to download.3
- Affidavit of Next of Kin (Form 15-148-1)
Completed by the next of kin, where no beneficiary survives and the estate has not been opened. Available to download.4
What happens to each kind of account1
- Annuity
A surviving spouse who is the sole beneficiary may continue the contract as the new owner (spousal continuation).5
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- Legacy companies administered by Americo
Policies issued by a legacy company Americo administers; the claim still runs through the Kansas City office5
Phone: 1-800-366-6100
What Americo's agreement and guidance say3
- How proceeds are paid
The Financial Access Account is an interest-bearing draft account opened in the beneficiary's name with a book of personalized drafts. Americo gives its current rate as 0.50%, compounded daily and credited monthly, with a 0% guaranteed minimum, no monthly service charge, and statements in any month with activity.5
Proceeds can be assigned to a funeral home or funeral funding company. Each participating beneficiary signs the provider's assignment form, which must reach Americo with each claim form before payment; some jurisdictions require the funeral bill with it.5
- Dormant and unclaimed accounts
A Financial Access Account with no activity or contact for three years is turned over under the account holder's state unclaimed property law. Policies issued in California follow the California Unclaimed Property Law.5
- Indemnity a claimant may have to give
Signing the claim form binds the beneficiary to repay any overpayment, including through legal action.5
Most claims are paid within three weeks of receipt of all the documents needed. Three weeks is the average; some take longer and some may be expedited.
Americo's Claims Department can be reached by phone at 1-816-641-2850, email at claims.operations@americo.com, and fax at 1-800-395-9238 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Americo primary sources (21 pages reviewed). How we research.
Americo death claims support
Claims Department
Phone
Claims - press 4 in the prompts
Claims and claim status - press 4 in the prompts
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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