What to do when a CNO Financial account holder dies
Contact CNO Financial — 7-step process, 7 required documents, and most life insurance claims are processed within 30 days of receiving all required documentation. state insurance regulations may require payment within a specified timeframe, typically 30-60 days after proof of loss is received.
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
A death claim on a CNO Financial policy is filed through the Washington National Life & Annuity Claims (800-525-7662). Because insurance proceeds pass directly to named beneficiaries, this process is separate from probate. The required documentation and timeline vary by policy type.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting CNO Financial. A certified death certificate is the primary document required to start any claim.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with CNO Financial:
Filing a claim
1
Call Washington National at 800-525-7662 to report the death and initiate a claim
2
Provide the following information to the representative:
- Policy number(s)
- Full name and date of death of the insured
- Cause of death
- Claimant (beneficiary) name and contact information
3
Washington National will mail a claim packet to the beneficiary
4
Complete the claim forms and gather required documents:
- Completed and signed claimant statement
- Certified death certificate (original or certified copy)
- Copy of the insurance policy if available
- Claimant identification (government-issued photo ID)
- IRS Form W-9 from the claimant
5
Submit the completed claim packet:
- Life insurance and annuity death claims: mail to Washington National Insurance Company, Life & Annuity Claims, PO Box 1917, Carmel, IN 46082-1917, or fax to (317) 817-4431
- Medicare Supplement claims: mail to PO Box 2034, Carmel, IN 46082-2034, or fax to (317) 208-8662
- Supplemental health claims (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, etc.): mail to PO Box 2024, Carmel, IN 46082-2024, or fax to (317) 208-8656
- Express mail (any claim type): 11825 N. Pennsylvania St., Carmel, IN 46032
6
Washington National will review the claim and contact the beneficiary if additional information is needed
7
Upon approval, benefits are paid by check or direct deposit to the named beneficiary
Required Documents
- Completed claimant statement form (provided by Washington National)
- Certified death certificate (original or certified copy)
- Copy of the insurance policy (if available)
- Government-issued photo identification of the claimant
- IRS Form W-9 from the claimant
- Letters testamentary or letters of administration (if claim is made by an estate)
- Trust certification (if beneficiary is a trust)
Claims Contact
Each CNO subsidiary (Bankers Life, Washington National, Colonial Penn) handles death claims through its own policyholder services department. For Bankers Life policies, call 800-621-3724. For Colonial Penn policies, call 877-877-8052. For Washington National policies, call 800-525-7662. For long-term care or short-term care claims, call 1-800-541-2254. Washington National uses purpose-specific PO Boxes: Life & Annuity Claims at PO Box 1917, Carmel, IN 46082-1917 (fax (317) 817-4431); Medicare Supplement Claims at PO Box 2034, Carmel, IN 46082-2034 (fax (317) 208-8662); all other (supplemental health) claims at PO Box 2024, Carmel, IN 46082-2024 (fax (317) 208-8656); and Policy Services / general correspondence at PO Box 2022, Carmel, IN 46082-2022 (fax (800) 757-6324). Claims for policies issued by Bankers Conseco Life Insurance Company of New York follow the same process through Bankers Life. If you are unsure which subsidiary issued a policy, call the CNO general inquiry line or any subsidiary and they can direct you to the correct department. Claim forms are available at https://my.washingtonnational.com/forms.
How long the process takes at CNO Financial: Most life insurance claims are processed within 30 days of receiving all required documentation. State insurance regulations may require payment within a specified timeframe, typically 30-60 days after proof of loss 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 CNO Financial includes Completed claimant statement form (provided by Washington National), Certified death certificate (original or certified copy), and Copy of the insurance policy (if available), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Most life insurance death claims are processed within 30 days of Washington National, Bankers Life, or Colonial Penn receiving all required documentation. State insurance regulations typically require insurers to pay claims within 30-60 days after satisfactory proof of loss is received. Delays may occur if documentation is incomplete, the death occurred within the contestability period (first two years of the policy), or additional investigation is required.
Yes. Washington National offers fixed annuities and fixed indexed annuities that support trust ownership for non-qualified contracts. A revocable living trust can be named as the annuity owner, which allows the annuity to avoid probate at the owner's death and pass directly to the trust beneficiaries. A trust can also be named as the beneficiary of an annuity without transferring ownership. Contact your Washington National agent or call 800-525-7662 for the ownership change forms and specific requirements.
Washington National routes claims to product-specific PO Boxes in Carmel, IN. Life insurance and annuity death benefits go to Life & Annuity Claims, PO Box 1917, Carmel, IN 46082-1917 (fax (317) 817-4431) - this is the address most estate beneficiaries will use. Medicare Supplement claims go to PO Box 2034, Carmel, IN 46082-2034 (fax (317) 208-8662). All other supplemental health claims (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity) go to PO Box 2024, Carmel, IN 46082-2024 (fax (317) 208-8656). Express delivery for any claim type: 11825 N. Pennsylvania St., Carmel, IN 46032. Call 800-525-7662 first to report the death and have the correct packet mailed; claim forms are also at https://my.washingtonnational.com/forms.
Yes. Bankers Conseco Life Insurance Company of New York (BCLIC) is a CNO Financial subsidiary that issues life insurance and annuity policies for New York residents because Bankers Life and Casualty Company and Washington National are not licensed to sell in New York. BCLIC policies are administered through Bankers Life and follow the same death-claim process. Call 800-845-5512 (BCLIC general inquiries) or 800-621-3724 (Bankers Life claims) to report a death and request a claim packet. The beneficiary, policy ownership, and trust assignment rules are the same as for other CNO life and annuity policies.
CNO Financial's Washington National Life & Annuity Claims can be reached by phone at 800-525-7662 and fax at (317) 817-4431 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple CNO Financial policies may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Washington National Life & Annuity Claims to confirm what applies.
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
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