What to do when a Ameritas account holder dies
Contact Ameritas — 6-step process, 6 required documents, and 30-60 days from receipt of all required documentation. online submission speeds up the process. state laws may require payment within a specific timeframe once all documentation is received.
Life Insurance, Annuity & Disability Income Service
Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., PO Box 81889, Lincoln, NE 68501
Life Insurance, Annuity & Disability Income Service
Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., PO Box 81889, Lincoln, NE 68501
Life Insurance and Annuity Claims
Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., PO Box 81889, Lincoln, NE 68501
When an insured person dies, the beneficiary or executor should contact Ameritas's Life Insurance and Annuity Claims at 1-800-745-1112 to start the claims process. Insurance proceeds are paid directly to the named beneficiary and do not go through probate. How quickly the claim is processed depends on the policy type, documentation, and cause of death.
Ameritas 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
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Ameritas:
Filing a claim
- Certified copies of the death certificate from the local vital records office
- Completed claim form provided by Ameritas
- Government-issued photo identification for the beneficiary
- If a trust is the beneficiary: trust documents and trustee identification
- If the estate is the beneficiary: letters testamentary or letters of administration from the probate court
Required Documents
- Completed Ameritas life insurance claim form
- Certified death certificate (original or certified copy)
- Government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary
- Policy number and insured's full name, date of birth, date of death, and Social Security number
- Trust documents and trustee identification (if trust is the beneficiary)
- Letters testamentary or letters of administration (if estate is the beneficiary)
Claims Contact
What to know at this institution
Claims can be initiated online at ameritas.com/claims or through the Ameritas Claimant Portal at individual-claims.ameritas.com, or by calling 800-745-1112. Online submission speeds up the process and allows you to view status updates and receive benefits more quickly. After the initial claim notification, Ameritas provides an online account for uploading documents and tracking the claim. You can also send a secure message through your Ameritas Accounts portal. Ameritas may request the deceased's medical history to evaluate the claim.
Prepare your letter of instruction to Ameritas
Ameritas asks for a letter of instruction alongside its claim form. We prepare a transmittal cover letter and the enclosure checklist Ameritas requires.
Build your letter of instructionHow long the process takes at Ameritas: 30-60 days from receipt of all required documentation. Online submission speeds up the process. State laws may require payment within a specific timeframe once all documentation is received. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.
Documentation required by Ameritas includes Completed Ameritas life insurance claim form, Certified death certificate (original or certified copy), and Government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary, along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Start the claim online at ameritas.com/claims or call 800-745-1112 (Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. CT). Provide the insured's full name (first, middle, last), date of birth, date of death, Social Security number, and policy number. After the initial submission, Ameritas will provide instructions for creating an online account at the Ameritas Claimant Portal (individual-claims.ameritas.com) to upload documents and track claim status. You will need the completed claim form, a certified death certificate, and government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary. Claims can also be mailed to Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., PO Box 81889, Lincoln, NE 68501.
The Ameritas Value Plus Survivor Index Universal Life Insurance covers two insureds with the death benefit payable at the death of the second insured. It is designed for estate planning purposes, providing resources to settle an estate, pay federal and state estate taxes without selling assets, equalize inheritance among children, or fund a charity or private foundation. The policy includes cash value growth linked to a market index with downside protection. An ILIT can own the survivorship policy to remove the death benefit from both insureds' taxable estates.
Ameritas's Life Insurance and Annuity Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-745-1112 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple Ameritas policies, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Life Insurance and Annuity Claims can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Sources
Data sourced from Ameritas primary sources (27 pages reviewed). How we research.
Life Insurance, Annuity & Disability Income Service
Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., PO Box 81889, Lincoln, NE 68501
Life Insurance, Annuity & Disability Income Service
Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., PO Box 81889, Lincoln, NE 68501
Life Insurance and Annuity Claims
Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., PO Box 81889, Lincoln, NE 68501
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