How to designate beneficiaries at Elevance Health (Anthem)
Beneficiaries are managed online or by mail
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.
Beneficiary form at Elevance Health (Anthem)
Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation Form (53967MUMENMUB Rev. 3/24) (for life insurance policys).
Open the form →- 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
- Each beneficiary's type (primary or contingent) and percentage
- Beneficiary's full legal name. "Full given names of each beneficiary must be clearly stated."
- Beneficiary's Social Security number
- Beneficiary's relationship to the applicant
- Beneficiary's date of birth
- Beneficiary's address and phone
- Full legal trust name and date established (for a trust, in the employer portal)
- Employer or group name, policy or certificate number, insured's name and SSN (on the paper form (Section 1))
- Spouse's signed consent (in AZ, CA, ID, LA, NM, NV, TX, WA or WI, when the spouse is not the primary beneficiary for 50% or more)
What Elevance Health (Anthem) says about beneficiaries and trusts
Each section is Elevance Health (Anthem)'s own statement, with the document it comes from numbered under Sources.
Which accounts take a beneficiary2
- Life insurance policy
This beneficiary process applies to the Anthem Life group life, supplemental life and AD&D coverage.1
Group life designations are kept by the employer, not filed directly with the insurer. For voluntary benefits, "a legible copy must be sent to the Insurer."2
- Health, long-term care or disability policy
Anthem health coverage has no beneficiary designation.1
Who can be named1
- A trust
A trust can be named as beneficiary. The form's example names the trustee, then "trustee under the Mary R. Smith Trust dated 01/02/2006".2
How many beneficiaries, and how shares are split
- All accounts
Each beneficiary is named as primary or contingent with a percentage, and the percentages must total 100%.2
Under 100%, "the remaining percentage will be paid in equal shares to all named beneficiaries to total 100%"; over 100%, "each named beneficiary's share will be reduced equally to total 100%"; with none indicated, "the proceeds will be divided equally".2
What a designation takes to be effective
- All accounts
In AZ, CA, ID, LA, NM, NV, TX, WA and WI the form requires the spouse's signed consent when the spouse is not named as primary beneficiary for 50% or more. "The insurance company is not responsible for the validity of a spouse consent for designation."2
Two officers' signatures with title are required if the coverage is corporate owned.2
Beneficiary forms Elevance Health (Anthem) issues1
- Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation Form (53967MUMENMUB Rev. 3/24)
For life insurance policys. Completed by the insured. Available to download.2
What Elevance Health (Anthem)'s agreement says about beneficiaries3
- A beneficiary who dies first
"If no primary beneficiary survives, the proceeds will be paid to the contingent beneficiary(ies) listed above."2
- Changing or revoking a designation
"Beneficiaries may be changed by the insured's written notice to his or her employer."2
- A minor as beneficiary
If a minor is the beneficiary, the claim packet states the benefit "will be deposited into an Access Advantage account unless otherwise directed by a Guardian of the Estate or a court".4
State requirements Elevance Health (Anthem) statesCalifornia, Nevada, Washington
- California
In California the form's spousal consent also covers a registered domestic partner: "Spouse also includes your registered Domestic Partner."2
- Nevada
In Nevada the form's spousal consent also covers a registered domestic partner: "Spouse also includes your registered Domestic Partner."2
- Washington
In Washington the form's spousal consent also covers a registered domestic partner: "Spouse also includes your registered Domestic Partner."2
What Elevance Health (Anthem) says about trust accounts1
- A trust as owner of a policy
The group policy cannot be assigned to an irrevocable life insurance trust; the employer owns it.1
Not in Elevance Health (Anthem)'s published guidance1
- Which trust documents it accepts
Sources4
- 1.Anthem Life forms library
- 2.Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation Form (53967MUMENMUB), Rev. 3/24
- 3.Employer benefits or enrollment portal
- 4.Group Life Claim Package
Sources
Show 2 more sourcesShow fewer sources
Data sourced from Elevance Health (Anthem) primary sources (15 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.
Elevance Health (Anthem) estate support
Anthem Life administrative office
Anthem Life admin — CT, GA, ME, NH, NY, VA
Anthem Life admin — IN, KY, MO, OH, WI
Anthem Life admin — CA, CO, NV
Group life conversion / portability
Evidence of insurability (Medical Evidence Underwriting)
Anthem Life disability claims (not life)
Anthem Life leave services
Elevance Health corporate headquarters
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
Estate requests go through general customer service.
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