What to do when a Cigna account holder dies
Contact Cigna — 7-step process, 9 required documents, and claims are typically processed within 5-10 business days after receipt of all required documentation. beneficiaries receiving payments of $5,000 or more from new york life gbs gain access to a survivor assurance interest-bearing account plus counseling and financial support services.
Cigna Healthcare Customer Service
Phone1-800-997-1654
Toll-Free1-800-997-1654
Group Universal Life
Supplemental Health Claims (Limited-Benefit Plans)
Coverage & Claims (24/7)
Website Assistance (24/7)
TTY/TDD
WebsiteLearn more→
Cigna Healthcare Customer Service
Phone1-800-997-1654
Toll-Free1-800-997-1654
Group Universal Life
Supplemental Health Claims (Limited-Benefit Plans)
Coverage & Claims (24/7)
Website Assistance (24/7)
TTY/TDD
WebsiteLearn more→
New York Life Group Benefit Solutions (formerly Cigna Group Life & Disability)
Phone1-888-842-4462
Toll-Free1-888-842-4462
Fax1-877-300-6770
Mailing Address
New York Life Group Benefit Solutions, P.O. Box 22328, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-0328
Alternate Claims Line
Spanish Language Life/AD&D Claims
Cigna Group Universal Life Claims
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
Filing a death claim on a Cigna policy begins with notifying the New York Life Group Benefit Solutions (formerly Cigna Group Life & Disability) at 1-888-842-4462. 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.
Cigna offers an online claims portal that makes the initial filing process more straightforward. Survivors can also initiate claims by phone or by mailing documentation directly.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Cigna:
Filing a claim
1
Locate the group life insurance certificate or policy documents and note the policy/certificate number and employer name
2
For legacy Cigna group life/AD&D policies (now administered by New York Life GBS):
- Notify the deceased employee's employer HR department, who will initiate the claim with New York Life Group Benefit Solutions
- The employer or plan administrator can file the claim online at myNYLGBS.com or call New York Life GBS at 1-888-842-4462 (Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. CT)
- Claims can also be filed by calling 1-800-238-2125 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. ET)
3
A claims representative will provide the necessary claim forms to the beneficiary
4
Gather required documentation:
- Obtain certified copies of the death certificate from the vital records office or funeral home
- Complete and return the claim form with the certified death certificate and any additional required documentation
5
Settlement paths based on beneficiary type:
- If benefits are payable to a trust, each trustee must sign the claim form and provide trustee certification
- If benefits are payable to an estate, a court-appointed personal representative must complete the claim form and provide letters of administration or letters testamentary
- If a beneficiary is a minor, a court-appointed guardian of the minor's estate or custodian under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act must be designated to receive proceeds
6
Claims can also be submitted via fax or mail using forms from the New York Life GBS Forms Resources page
7
For Cigna Group Universal Life claims: call 1-800-828-3485 to report a death and initiate the claims process
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate (original or certified copy)
- Completed claim form (provided by New York Life GBS or Cigna)
- Policy or certificate number and employer/group name
- Deceased employee's full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and date of death
- Beneficiary's full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, address, and contact information
- Trustee certification and trustee identification (if benefits are payable to a trust)
- Letters of administration or letters testamentary (if benefits are payable to an estate)
- Court appointment documentation for guardian (if beneficiary is a minor)
- Marriage certificate or divorce decree (if applicable for name changes or spousal claims)
Claims Contact
What to know at this institution
The employer HR department is typically the first point of contact for group life insurance death claims. The employer initiates the claim process with New York Life Group Benefit Solutions (for legacy Cigna group life/AD&D policies) or with Cigna directly (for Group Universal Life policies). Beneficiaries of New York Life GBS policies have access to the Employee Assistance & Wellness Support program, Financial, Legal & Estate Support program (unlimited consultations), and beneficiary grief resources. Payment options may include lump sum, interest-bearing Survivor Assurance Account, or installment settlements. Life insurance death benefit proceeds are generally not subject to federal income tax. If a trust is the beneficiary, proceeds are paid to the trustee for distribution according to the trust terms.
Prepare your letter of instruction to Cigna
Cigna provides its own letter-of-instruction form. Answer a few questions and we complete that official form for you to print and sign.
Build your letter of instructionProcessing timelines at Cigna: Claims are typically processed within 5-10 business days after receipt of all required documentation. Beneficiaries receiving payments of $5,000 or more from New York Life GBS gain access to a Survivor Assurance interest-bearing account plus counseling and financial support services. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Documentation required by Cigna includes Certified death certificate (original or certified copy), Completed claim form (provided by New York Life GBS or Cigna), and Policy or certificate number and employer/group name, along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Cigna sold its group life, accident, and disability insurance business to New York Life in a $6.3 billion transaction completed in December 2020. All legacy Cigna group term life, supplemental life, and AD&D policies formerly issued by Cigna or Life Insurance Company of North America (LINA) are now administered by New York Life Group Benefit Solutions. Contact New York Life GBS at 1-888-842-4462 for claims or policy questions. Cigna Healthcare continues to offer Group Universal Life insurance separately; call 1-800-828-3485 for those policies.
Contact your employer HR department or benefits administrator to obtain a beneficiary designation form. Many employers allow beneficiary changes through their online benefits enrollment portal during open enrollment or after a qualifying life event (marriage, divorce, birth, death). Complete the form with full legal names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, relationships, and percentage allocations for primary and contingent beneficiaries. For Cigna Group Universal Life policies, call 1-800-828-3485 directly to request a beneficiary change form. Beneficiary designations on group life policies override instructions in a will.
Cigna Healthcare offers three supplemental health insurance products through employer plans: Accidental Injury Insurance (pays benefits for injuries from a covered accident), Critical Illness Insurance (pays a lump-sum payment upon diagnosis of a covered critical illness), and Hospital Care/Indemnity Insurance (pays a fixed benefit for covered hospital stays). These are limited-benefit plans that do not constitute comprehensive health coverage. Cigna also continues to offer Group Universal Life insurance. For supplemental health claims, call 1-800-754-3207 or visit SuppHealthClaims.com.
File your claim online at SuppHealthClaims.com, or log in to myCigna.com, select "Coverages," find "Supplemental Health," and submit a claim there. You can also download, print, and complete the appropriate claim form and email it to SuppHealthClaims@CignaHealthcare.com, fax it to 1-866-304-3001, or mail it to Cigna Supplemental Health Solutions, P.O. Box 188028, Chattanooga, TN 37422. For questions or assistance, call 1-800-754-3207 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. ET). Claims can be tracked through myCigna.com under the Supplemental Health section.
Start by contacting the deceased person's current or most recent employer HR department, as group life insurance is an employer-sponsored benefit and the employer maintains enrollment records. Check pay stubs for premium deductions labeled as life insurance. If the employer is unknown or no longer exists, use the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator at eapps.naic.org/life-policy-locator, a free service that searches participating insurance company records. For legacy Cigna policies, contact New York Life Group Benefit Solutions at 1-888-842-4462, as they now administer all former Cigna group life policies. Review the deceased's tax returns, bank statements, and personal files for any insurance correspondence.
Cigna supplemental health insurance (accidental injury, critical illness, hospital care) pays cash benefits for qualifying health events and is still administered by Cigna Healthcare through employer plans. These are limited-benefit plans that do not constitute comprehensive health coverage. Cigna group life insurance (term life, AD&D), on the other hand, was sold to New York Life in December 2020 and is now administered by New York Life Group Benefit Solutions. Contact 1-800-754-3207 for supplemental health claims, 1-888-842-4462 for group life/AD&D claims through New York Life GBS, and 1-800-828-3485 for Group Universal Life (still with Cigna).
Cigna's New York Life Group Benefit Solutions (formerly Cigna Group Life & Disability) can be reached by phone at 1-888-842-4462 and fax at 1-877-300-6770 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Cigna policies, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The New York Life Group Benefit Solutions (formerly Cigna Group Life & Disability) can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Sources
Data sourced from Cigna primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Cigna Healthcare Customer Service
Phone1-800-997-1654
Toll-Free1-800-997-1654
Group Universal Life
Supplemental Health Claims (Limited-Benefit Plans)
Coverage & Claims (24/7)
Website Assistance (24/7)
TTY/TDD
WebsiteLearn more→
Cigna Healthcare Customer Service
Phone1-800-997-1654
Toll-Free1-800-997-1654
Group Universal Life
Supplemental Health Claims (Limited-Benefit Plans)
Coverage & Claims (24/7)
Website Assistance (24/7)
TTY/TDD
WebsiteLearn more→
New York Life Group Benefit Solutions (formerly Cigna Group Life & Disability)
Phone1-888-842-4462
Toll-Free1-888-842-4462
Fax1-877-300-6770
Mailing Address
New York Life Group Benefit Solutions, P.O. Box 22328, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-0328
Alternate Claims Line
Spanish Language Life/AD&D Claims
Cigna Group Universal Life Claims
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
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