Estate planning at CNO Financial
How to protect 9 CNO Financial accounts — manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust by mail, and file death claims
CNO Financial Group Corporate
Phone317-817-2893
Toll-Free800-426-6732
Mailing Address
CNO Financial Group, Inc., 11299 Illinois Street, Suite 200, Carmel, IN 46032
Washington National Policyholder Services
Washington National General Inquiries
Bankers Life Policyholder Services
Colonial Penn Policyholder Services
Bankers Conseco Life
CNO Tell CNO Hotline (24/7)
WebsiteLearn more→
CNO Financial Group Corporate
Phone317-817-2893
Toll-Free800-426-6732
Mailing Address
CNO Financial Group, Inc., 11299 Illinois Street, Suite 200, Carmel, IN 46032
Washington National Policyholder Services
Washington National General Inquiries
Bankers Life Policyholder Services
Colonial Penn Policyholder Services
Bankers Conseco Life
CNO Tell CNO Hotline (24/7)
WebsiteLearn more→
Washington National Life & Annuity Claims
Phone800-525-7662
Toll-Free800-525-7662
Fax(317) 817-4431
Mailing Address
Washington National Insurance Company, Life & Annuity Claims, PO Box 1917, Carmel, IN 46082-1917
Bankers Life Claims
Colonial Penn Claims
Washington National General Policyholder Services
Long-Term Care / Short-Term Care Claims
Supplemental Health Claims Fax (PO Box 2024)
Medicare Supplement Claims Fax (PO Box 2034)
Verified May 2026
With 9 products relevant to estate planning, CNO Financial policyholders need to understand how beneficiary designations control where proceeds go. These designations override a will, so the names on file with CNO Financial are what determine who receives the death benefit.
Managing beneficiaries at CNO Financial is straightforward—changes can be made online, by mail, and by phone, typically taking 15-20 minutes to complete; 2-4 weeks for processing. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to name a trust as the policy beneficiary or establish an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT).
CNO Financial provides specific procedures for both proactive estate planning and filing claims after a death.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust by mail, and review 9 account types at CNO Financial.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
7-step process, 7 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →Frequently asked questions
CNO Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: CNO) is the publicly traded holding company that owns Bankers Life and Casualty Company, Washington National Insurance Company, and Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company. Each subsidiary operates independently with its own products, agents, and policyholder services, but all are part of the CNO corporate family. CNO also owns Optavise (employee benefits solutions), PMA USA (voluntary benefits distribution), myHealthPolicy.com (online insurance marketplace), and 40|86 Advisors (investment management).
You have three options: (1) Log in at https://my.washingtonnational.com and use the self-service forms section to submit the change online; (2) download the form at https://my.washingtonnational.com/forms; or (3) call 800-525-7662 to have a form mailed. Complete it with beneficiary names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, relationships, and percentage allocations totaling 100%. Only the policy owner can change beneficiary designations. Mail completed paper forms to Washington National Insurance Company, Policy Services, PO Box 2022, Carmel, IN 46082-2022, or fax to (800) 757-6324. Processing typically takes 2-4 weeks.
Yes. You can change the beneficiary designations on your annuity or life policy by logging in to your account at my.washingtonnational.com and using the self-service forms section. If you have trouble accessing your account, downloadable forms are available at my.washingtonnational.com/forms. You can also call policyholder services at 800-525-7662 to request a beneficiary change form by mail. All changes must be submitted in writing; percentage allocations must total 100% for each beneficiary tier.
Permanent life insurance policies with cash value, such as Washington National Universal Life Insurance, may be assigned to an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT). This removes the policy from the insured's taxable estate. Term life and whole life policies cannot be retitled to a trust, but a trust can be named as beneficiary on any life insurance policy. Contact Washington National at 800-525-7662 or your agent for the ownership assignment forms.
Generally yes for non-qualified annuities (not IRAs). IRC Section 72(u) treats annuities owned by a non-natural person (such as a trust) as not eligible for tax deferral, but the IRS has consistently treated a revocable grantor trust as an "agent of a natural person" so deferral is preserved. To make the assignment, call 800-525-7662 to request the ownership change form, then mail the completed form with a Certificate of Trust and trust EIN to Washington National Insurance Company, Policy Services, PO Box 2022, Carmel, IN 46082-2022, or fax to (800) 757-6324. Qualified annuities (IRAs) cannot be retitled to a trust under IRS rules. Always confirm tax treatment with your own tax advisor before transferring.
Sources
Data sourced from CNO Financial primary sources (19 pages reviewed). How we research.
CNO Financial Group Corporate
Phone317-817-2893
Toll-Free800-426-6732
Mailing Address
CNO Financial Group, Inc., 11299 Illinois Street, Suite 200, Carmel, IN 46032
Washington National Policyholder Services
Washington National General Inquiries
Bankers Life Policyholder Services
Colonial Penn Policyholder Services
Bankers Conseco Life
CNO Tell CNO Hotline (24/7)
WebsiteLearn more→
CNO Financial Group Corporate
Phone317-817-2893
Toll-Free800-426-6732
Mailing Address
CNO Financial Group, Inc., 11299 Illinois Street, Suite 200, Carmel, IN 46032
Washington National Policyholder Services
Washington National General Inquiries
Bankers Life Policyholder Services
Colonial Penn Policyholder Services
Bankers Conseco Life
CNO Tell CNO Hotline (24/7)
WebsiteLearn more→
Washington National Life & Annuity Claims
Phone800-525-7662
Toll-Free800-525-7662
Fax(317) 817-4431
Mailing Address
Washington National Insurance Company, Life & Annuity Claims, PO Box 1917, Carmel, IN 46082-1917
Bankers Life Claims
Colonial Penn Claims
Washington National General Policyholder Services
Long-Term Care / Short-Term Care Claims
Supplemental Health Claims Fax (PO Box 2024)
Medicare Supplement Claims Fax (PO Box 2034)
Verified May 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your CNO Financial accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
