How to designate beneficiaries at Elevance Health (Anthem)
Covers 4 insurance accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
Anthem health plan member services (use the number on the back of the member ID card) and Anthem Life administrative office
Anthem Life Group Administration Service Center, P.O. Box 2753, Portland, OR 97208-9830
Anthem health plan member services (use the number on the back of the member ID card) and Anthem Life administrative office
Anthem Life Group Administration Service Center, P.O. Box 2753, Portland, OR 97208-9830
Anthem Life — Life Claims Service Center (group life and AD&D death benefits). Anthem HEALTH deaths are reported to member services at the number on the ID card, or to the employer.
Anthem Life, Attn: Life Claims Service Center, P.O. Box 2717, Portland, OR 97208-9830
Estate planning with Elevance Health (Anthem) policies centers on beneficiary designations—the single most important step for ensuring life insurance proceeds and annuity benefits reach the intended recipients without probate involvement. Unlike bank or brokerage accounts, insurance products are not retitled into trusts; instead, trusts are named as beneficiaries when estate tax planning or controlled distributions are needed.
The transfer rules at Elevance Health (Anthem) vary across 4 policies. Below is a breakdown of beneficiary options, trust funding, and which products support each method.
- Primary and contingent beneficiaries with percentage allocations totaling 100%
- For a trust: name the trust as beneficiary and enter the full legal trust name and date established
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- This beneficiary process applies ONLY to the Anthem Life group life, supplemental life, and AD&D coverage. Anthem HEALTH coverage has no beneficiary designation — a health plan pays nothing at death and cannot be left to anyone
- Group life beneficiary designations are administered through the employer / plan, not filed directly with the insurer
- A trust can be named as beneficiary using the full legal trust name and date established. The group policy itself cannot be assigned to an irrevocable life insurance trust — the employer owns it
- Beneficiary designations control who receives the death benefit and are separate from instructions in a will
- Percentage allocations must total 100% for each beneficiary tier
- Minor children generally cannot receive benefits directly; a custodian or trust is named instead
- Supplemental amounts above the guaranteed-issue level go through evidence of insurability (Medical Evidence Underwriting, 844-594-6183), so an increase elected late may not be in force at death
Sources
Data sourced from Elevance Health (Anthem) primary sources (12 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Elevance Health (Anthem) instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Elevance Health (Anthem) primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Anthem health plan member services (use the number on the back of the member ID card) and Anthem Life administrative office
Anthem Life Group Administration Service Center, P.O. Box 2753, Portland, OR 97208-9830
Anthem health plan member services (use the number on the back of the member ID card) and Anthem Life administrative office
Anthem Life Group Administration Service Center, P.O. Box 2753, Portland, OR 97208-9830
Anthem Life — Life Claims Service Center (group life and AD&D death benefits). Anthem HEALTH deaths are reported to member services at the number on the ID card, or to the employer.
Anthem Life, Attn: Life Claims Service Center, P.O. Box 2717, Portland, OR 97208-9830
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