What to do when a CNO Financial account holder dies
Report the death to CNO Financial's Life Claims Department at 1-800-525-7662
A death claim on a CNO Financial policy is filed through the Life Claims Department (1-800-525-7662). Because insurance proceeds pass directly to named beneficiaries, this process is separate from probate. The required documentation and timeline vary by policy type.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with CNO Financial:
Filing a claim
- Washington National Insurance Company: Life Claims Department, PO Box 1917, Carmel, IN 46082-1917; phone (800) 525-7662, fax (317) 817-4431
- Bankers Life and Casualty Company: Life Claims Department, PO Box 1937, Carmel, IN 46082-1937; phone (800) 621-3724, fax (312) 396-6629
- Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company: Life Claims Department, PO Box 1918, Carmel, IN 46082-1918; phone (800) 523-9100, fax (215) 928-6052
- Bankers Conseco Life Insurance Company (BCLIC), the New York issuer: general inquiries (800) 845-5512; claims are handled through Bankers Life
- The current life and annuity claim forms are printed under Conseco Life Insurance Company of Texas, at the same PO Box 1917
- The my.washingtonnational.com portal also administers policies of Wilcac Life, Jefferson National Life and Primerica Life, so an unfamiliar company name does not mean the wrong portal
- If you do not know which company issued the policy, call any of these numbers and ask to be routed
- Life claims with several claimants: add an addendum or another claim form
- Annuity claims: one claimant per form; each additional claimant submits another form
- Complete Section A (the deceased person and the policy, including cause and place of death) and Section B (the claimant, with a Social Security number, or an EIN for an entity, trust or estate)
Required Documents
- Life Insurance Claim Form (LLC-002) or Annuity Death Benefit Claim Form (AA114BN-CLTX)One claimant per annuity form. For a life claim with several claimants, add an addendum or another claim form.
- Certified death certificateIt must bear the seal of the validating authority; photocopies are not valid. If a beneficiary has also died, include a copy of that beneficiary's death certificate.
- Original policy or contract, all pagesIf it is lost, sign the Certificate of Lost Policy / Lost Contract statement on the claim form instead.
- Taxpayer certificationIRS Form W-9, or the certification section on the claim form (Section D on the life form, Section C on the annuity form).
- Letters testamentary or of administration, or an affidavit of small estate or heirship, if the estate is the beneficiaryThe estate's legal representative signs the claim form, with a copy of the appointment papers. If no estate will be opened, the claimant is directed to an attorney or the probate court clerk for an affidavit.
- Trust documents, if a trust is the beneficiaryLife claims: a copy of the trust and any amendments. Annuity claims: the trust's first page, the page naming the trustee or successor trustee, and the signature page.
- Certified guardianship paperwork, if a minor child is the beneficiary
- Notarized list of the children, if the insured's children are named as a class rather than by nameWith each child's current mailing address, telephone number, date of birth and Social Security number.
- Corporate resolution, if a corporation is the beneficiaryAn authorized officer signs with title following the signature, with a corporate resolution or other supporting documentation for each officer signature.
- Assignment and itemized billing statement, if proceeds are assigned to a funeral home or cemeteryThe assignment is on the assignee's letterhead, signed by all beneficiaries and an officer of the company. Check the assignment box in Section A.
- Copy of the power of attorney, if an attorney-in-fact files for a named beneficiary
- Medical Authorization Form (LIFEMEDAUTH), both pages, for an accidental death, or a policy in force less than two yearsSigned by the legal representative (executor or next of kin) with documentation of authority, such as estate paperwork, a marriage license or an affidavit of next of kin. Invalid unless both pages are enclosed.
- State consent form, for an annuity death claim where the deceased person lived in Indiana or Ohio
- Divorce decree, if requested during review and the deceased person was divorced
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
Forms CNO Financial issues2
- Life Insurance Claim Form (Form LLC-002, 02/17)
Completed by the claimant. Available to download.1
- Annuity Death Benefit Claim Form (Form AA114BN-CLTX, 11/16)
Completed by each claimant, one per form. Available to download.2
What happens to each kind of account1
- Annuity
Annuity claims add spousal continuation, annuitization and deferred payment to the payment options. Spousal continuation is for a spouse only: the survivor becomes the new owner and annuitant and must name new beneficiaries, which voids all previous designations.2
State requirements CNO Financial statesNew York, Indiana, Ohio
- New York
Policies in New York are issued by Bankers Conseco Life Insurance Company (BCLIC), whose claims are handled through Bankers Life. Bankers Life, Colonial Penn and Washington National issue in every other state.3
- Indiana
For an annuity death claim, Washington National requires a state consent form when a spouse is named as co-beneficiary, and for any beneficiary other than a spouse.3
- Ohio
For an annuity death claim, Washington National requires a state consent form when the proceeds exceed $25,000.3
Accounts handled elsewhere6
- Bankers Life and Casualty Company, Life Claims Department
Death claims on Bankers Life policies, and claims on New York policies issued by BCLIC3
- Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company, Life Claims Department
Death claims on Colonial Penn policies3
- Bankers Conseco Life Insurance Company (BCLIC)
Policies issued in New York; general inquiries only, with claims handled through Bankers Life3
Phone: 1-800-845-5512
- Washington National supplemental health claims
Cancer, critical illness, accident, heart and stroke, and hospital policies3
Fax: 1-317-208-8656
Mailing address: PO Box 2024, Carmel, IN 46082-2024
- Washington National Medicare Supplement claims
Medicare Supplement policies3
Fax: 1-317-208-8662
Mailing address: PO Box 2034, Carmel, IN 46082-2034
- Washington National long-term care Intake Unit
Long-term care and short-term care claims3
What CNO Financial's agreement and guidance say4
- How proceeds are paid
The BenefitNOW Account, an interest-bearing draft account, is the primary way proceeds over $5,000.00 are paid. If no other option is selected on the claim form, a BenefitNOW account may be set up by default.1, 2
The other options are a single check, or proceeds left on deposit with the company to earn interest for an agreed period. Once a disbursement has been made, the other options are no longer available.1, 2
- What it says about taxes
Washington National's claim forms say every beneficiary must give a Social Security, Employer, Trust or Estate Tax Identification Number. If the certification section is left blank, interest earned may be subject to federal or state withholding.1, 2
The annuity claim form says annuity death benefits carry a mandatory 10% federal withholding unless the claimant elects out or is subject to backup withholding.2
- Payment to a minor or incapacitated beneficiary
If guardianship documents cannot be obtained for a minor beneficiary, the company works with the parents or legal guardian and their counsel on an alternative, and payment may be possible under the state's Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.3
- Contestability of a recent policy
A claim on a policy in force less than two years requires the medical history section and a signed two-page Medical Authorization Form.3
About 1-2 weeks for a claims associate to be assigned, then about 1-2 weeks for a determination. CNO states these time frames are estimates only.
CNO Financial's Life Claims Department can be reached by phone at 1-800-525-7662 and fax at 1-317-817-4431 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from CNO Financial primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
CNO Financial death claims support
Life Claims Department (Washington National Insurance Company)
Phone
Toll-free
Bankers Life Life Claims
Colonial Penn Life Claims
Long-Term / Short-Term Care Claims Intake Unit
Bankers Conseco Life (BCLIC, New York) General Inquiries
Supplemental Health Claims Fax
Medicare Supplement Claims Fax
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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